Tandem sophomores have completed their semester-long research projects, presented their work to their classmates over a two-week period, then completed the final stage of their Sophomore Seminar academic rite of passage with an evening Sophomore Seminar Capstone event this week. The community was invited to come and hear about their research, and each sophomore set up an information station complete with display, then answered questions from anyone who stopped by to chat. Students spent second semester researching and writing a 15+ page academic paper on a subject of their choosing. Completed papers include detailed footnotes and bibliographies; topics/papers are argumentative, so students had to make some sort of defensible argument about their topic. They provided some really interesting insights into their topics and displayed their academic maturity over the course of the semester. Well done, sophomores! Check out a list of their impressive and interesting topics below as well as some photos from their Capstone Night.
LGBTQ+ representation and symbolism in horror films
Impact of Irish immigration on US culture
Happiness, depression, and midlife crises
Modern creation and distribution methods for music
Diagnosis and accommodation for learning disorders
Objectification of women and girls in media
Influence of hip-hop on fashion trends
Psychology of power and control
Police brutality in the USA
Adoption and influence of electric vehicles
Stock investing and the realism of high returns
Effects of healthy/unhealthy relationships on teenagers
Ecological importance of insects
Business culture's effects on consumers and suppliers
How conspiracy theories spread
History and influence of the electric guitar on pop music
Effects and social stigma of ADHD
Marathon running and prep and straining strategies
Lifelong learning, study strategies, and procrastination
Art therapy for mental health
Societal response to sexual assault and survivorship
Ketamine therapy for depression and anxiety
Effects of public transit on city design and environment
Resource disparities in basketball careers
Dog adoption vs. purchasing from breeders
Effects of short-form and social media on teenagers
Maternal mortality, racism, and alternative approaches to childbirth
Training athletes for track and field
The negative and potential positive effects of pain
Psychological mechanisms and effects of advertising
Economic and environmental impact of tourism
Effectiveness and accessibility of remote and talk therapy
Technology's impact on music consumption
Reasons for and effects of drug and substance abuse