For many, the phrase “term paper” has little to no meaning, but for the juniors at Lincoln this phrase is associated with stress, late nights and hours of writing. If you decide to take the AP English Language and Composition class, you will have to do many different assignments such as documentaries, speeches, debates, and argumentative essays, but the most important and lengthy project is the Term Paper.
The Term Paper is an essay that encapsulates the whole year of the AP Lang curriculum, assessing a student’s ability to analyze themes from multiple sources and connecting them together into a final paper. In this essay, students must read two texts, one of which is in a book club with other classmates, and the other is chosen and read on their own.
For example, Jack Lewis (27’) is reading the novels 1984 and We, to analyze how totalitarian governments eradicate opposition through the destruction of critical thought, and the dissolution of interpersonal connection and individuality.
This assignment spans the entire year of classwork; building on skills developed during different projects. The format is extremely structured, with each deadline written on a strict contract that students must sign to agree they will meet each requirement. This is something completely unique to the term paper project, and even the AP Lang class as a whole.
During the AP test, students are required to write three different essays. One about rhetorical analysis, another about synthesizing sources to build an argument, and the third being an argumentative essay based on evidence students draw from their own lives and knowledge. As Lincoln student Theo Lerner (‘27) says “The Term Paper encapsulates all of these essays in one.”
Due to the rigor of this project, many AP Lang students feel that this project is a waste of valuable time. Although, other students have found an appreciation, or upside too the assignment.
When asked what he believes to be a benefit of writing the term paper, Arshan Shahabi (‘27) stated “Yeah, it’ll be a ton of work, but this is also the kind of thing we will have to do in college, so its good to get practice.”
This is a big reason students take AP classes. Yes, it will look good on college applications, but it’s also a good way to get an idea of what university will look like.
The Term Paper is a stressful and grueling assignment that has sat in the back of the minds of AP Lang students for the whole school year, and many think it’s over the top with its requirements. But this essay – if taken seriously – will be a great way for juniors to hone their writing skills and be prepared for the college assignments looming in their futures.
