Course Description
This course will equip you with the skills to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments. You will have the opportunity to explore real-world issues from multiple perspectives and consider varied points of view to develop deep understanding of complex issues and topics in order to make connections between these issues and your everyday life. Gain a rich appreciation and understanding of issues by reading articles, listening to speeches or broadcasts, and experiencing artistic and literary works.
The primary goals of the AP Seminar course are to help you understand how to study an issue from multiple perspectives, evaluate source information, and then develop and communicate effectively a logical, evidence-based point of view. You will practice and apply these skills through the exploration of the complex topics and by examining a variety of and often divergent or competing perspectives.
Teachers have the flexibility to choose one or more themes that allow for deep exploration based on:
This course will equip you with the skills to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments. You will have the opportunity to explore real-world issues from multiple perspectives and consider varied points of view to develop deep understanding of complex issues and topics in order to make connections between these issues and your everyday life. Gain a rich appreciation and understanding of issues by reading articles, listening to speeches or broadcasts, and experiencing artistic and literary works.
The primary goals of the AP Seminar course are to help you understand how to study an issue from multiple perspectives, evaluate source information, and then develop and communicate effectively a logical, evidence-based point of view. You will practice and apply these skills through the exploration of the complex topics and by examining a variety of and often divergent or competing perspectives.
Teachers have the flexibility to choose one or more themes that allow for deep exploration based on:
- Concepts or Issues from other AP courses
- Student interests
- Local and/or civic issues
- Global or international topics
- Thoroughly explore different themes while considering diverse perspectives (e.g., cultural and social, artistic and philosophical, political and historical, environmental, economic, and scientific).
- Analyze a wide variety of source material to gain a rich appreciation and understanding of issues, including: articles; research studies; foundational, literary, and philosophical texts; speeches; broadcasts; personal accounts; artistic works; and performances.
- Work collaboratively with a team to identify, investigate, analyze, and evaluate an academic or real-world problem or issue. Consider options, alternatives, or solutions and develop a multimedia presentation to communicate your conclusion or recommendation.
- Work independently to identify a research question based on provided source material and then research that topic. Analyze, evaluate, and select evidence to develop an argument that you will present and defend. Finally, produce a multimedia presentation delivered to your classmates.
What are the prerequisites for the course?
An A or high B in Honors English I and II are needed. This class does require numerous presentations, so students must be willing to stand up in front of the class and deliver presentations of varying lengths.
How is the class scheduled?
In the upcoming school year, AP Seminar will be taught 3rd block as a 45 minute yearlong skinny.
Students will need to also take AP Psychology or Language along with the AP Seminar course.
Students will need to also take AP Psychology or Language along with the AP Seminar course.
What is the class like?
This course is very dependent on cooperative group work. Students will read 3-5 scholarly articles per week and complete daily class discussions. Each nine weeks, 2-4 essays are written (test grades). Students should expect to work hard to improve their grammar and punctuation usage on each written assignment. Strong readers and writers should expect to spend 45 min per night on assignments to be successful.
AP Exam
1. Team Project & Presentation – 20% of the AP Seminar score
Work in teams of three to five to identify, investigate, analyze, and evaluate an academic or real-world problem, question or issue. Your team will design and/or consider options, alternatives, or solutions and develop a multimedia presentation to communicate your conclusion or recommendations. The team project and presentation will be scored by your teacher based on a rubric upon which they have received training by the College Board and will be evaluated based on the following components:
The College Board will provide stimulus material (texts) representing a range of perspectives focused on a single theme or topic. You will use these texts to identify a research question of your own; research, analyze, evaluate, and select evidence to develop a written argument of your own that you will present and then you will defend your conclusion. The Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation will be scored by your teacher based on a rubric upon which they have received training by the College Board and will be evaluated based on the following components:
During the AP Exam administration window, you will take a two-hour exam. The exam consists of four questions (three short answer questions and one essay question). The exam will be scored by College Board trained readers similar to other AP Exams.
1. Team Project & Presentation – 20% of the AP Seminar score
Work in teams of three to five to identify, investigate, analyze, and evaluate an academic or real-world problem, question or issue. Your team will design and/or consider options, alternatives, or solutions and develop a multimedia presentation to communicate your conclusion or recommendations. The team project and presentation will be scored by your teacher based on a rubric upon which they have received training by the College Board and will be evaluated based on the following components:
- Individual Research (1,200 words)
- Team Multimedia Presentation and Defense (8-10 minutes)
The College Board will provide stimulus material (texts) representing a range of perspectives focused on a single theme or topic. You will use these texts to identify a research question of your own; research, analyze, evaluate, and select evidence to develop a written argument of your own that you will present and then you will defend your conclusion. The Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation will be scored by your teacher based on a rubric upon which they have received training by the College Board and will be evaluated based on the following components:
- Individual Written Argument (2,000 words)
- Individual Multimedia Presentation (6-8 minutes)
- Oral Defense (two questions from the teacher)
During the AP Exam administration window, you will take a two-hour exam. The exam consists of four questions (three short answer questions and one essay question). The exam will be scored by College Board trained readers similar to other AP Exams.
- Three Short-Answer Questions
- Argument comprehension and analysis – one source
- One essay question
- Synthesizing and creating an evidence-based argument – four sources (varying perspectives on one theme).
View a past AP exam here:
seminar_performance_task.pdf | |
File Size: | 5598 kb |
File Type: |
seminar_exam.pdf | |
File Size: | 552 kb |
File Type: |