Capstone Course Focus

Question and ExploreUnderstand and Analyze ArgumentsEvaluate Multiple PerspectivesSynthesize IdeasTeam, Transform, and Transmit

Themes

Lenses

Cultural & Social

Artistic & Philosophical

Environmental

Economic

Futuristic Scientific

Political & Historical

Ethical

College Board Expectations

Syllabus Review● Three-part Test Score● Teacher Expectations● Grading vs. Scoring

Evaluating Credibility of Sources

ReputationAbility to ObserveVested InterestExpertiseNeutrality

Teacher Guidelines per the College Board

The following guidelines quoted from AP Seminar Course and Exam Description written by the College Board are given to teachers to follow while students are working on their official Performance Task Projects that count toward the final AP score:

Role of the TeacherPerformance Task One: TeamTeachers

● may explore issues, discuss topics and perspectives, and/ or question students as necessary● oversee the formation of groups

Teachers may not● assign, provide, distribute, or generate research questions for students● conduct or provide research/ articles/ evidence for students● write, revise, amend, or correct student work● reveal defense questions to students prior to the presentation

Performance Task Two: IndividualTeachers

● may lead discussion of the source material, discuss topics and perspectives, and/ or question students as necessaryTeachers may not

● assign, provide, distribute, or generate research questions for students● conduct or provide research/ articles/ evidence for students● write, revise, amend, or correct student work● provide or identify defense questions a student will be asked prior to his or her defense

AP Seminar Performance Assessment Task Requirements

Performance Task 1 (due January 30th)(graded by teacher and uploaded to the College Board by April 1st for back-grading)

1) Individual Research Paper (1,200-word minimum; 25% of task score)2) Team Research Paper (3,000-word minimum; 50% of task score)3) Team Multimedia Presentation/Oral Defense of Research (videotaped; 8-10 minutes; 3 previously-undisclosed

questions from teacher; 25% of task score)4) Individual Reflection Essay (800-word minimum)

Performance Task 2 (Sources arrive from College Board in January; task begins Feb. 2nd and is due Mar. 13th)(graded by teacher and uploaded to the College Board by April 1st for back-grading)

5) Individual Written Argument Research Paper (2,000-word minimum; 60% of task score)6) Individual Multimedia Presentation (videotaped; 6-8 minutes; 30% of task score)7) Individual Oral Defense of Research (videotaped; 10% of task score)

AP Seminar EOC (May 5th)(graded by College Board)

Our Contact Information

Pamela Bladespblades@alvinisd.6net281-245-2232 Ext. 4595979-864-7214

Tracie Leetflee@alvinisd.net