HS research or essay?

My oldest DS (13) is using IEW this year, and his one-year course of IEW has taught him how to do both (and he has done both).  He did the program through a co-op, and they used US History-Based Writing Lessons, but I know all of their themed writing lessons use a similar approach.

So I don’t know if that answers your question, but in my experience IEW has offered him a solid foundation to be able to write either one.

ESSAY FIRST.  Then “expanded, research-noted, much longer” essay next.  If you only have time for one, the basic essay is necessary for college testing and is a first thing that will be needed in a college English class.  You will, however, hit the research paper fairly quickly in a great many college classes–there will likely be some at the end of the terms.

Have used Jump In three times; Power in Your Hands now, although having read through the relevant section, we will do one paper of it, and then still do a more intensive research paper last semester senior year.  You really can’t have too many of them under your belt for the college-bound.