1. Course Overview meeting February 8, 2018
Welcome to
AP Seminar
Course Overview meeting
February 8, 2018

2. Today’s Agenda What is AP Capstone?
What is AP Seminar? What is AP Research?
What will Folsom High School’s AP Seminar class be like?
What will the content be like?
How will I be assessed?
What will the course count for?
Why should I take AP Capstone?
Questions?

3. What is AP Capstone?
The AP Capstone™ program offers students the opportunity to:
• engage with rigorous college-level curricula focused on the skills necessary for successful college completion;
• synthesize information and apply skills in new situations and cross- curricular contexts;
• collect and analyze information with accuracy and precision;
• craft, communicate, and defend evidence-based arguments; and
• practice disciplined and scholarly research skills while exploring topics that appeal to their interests and curiosity.

4. AP Capstone: An Overview
AP Capstone: A Paradigm Shift from Content to Skills
Explore your Interests through AP Capstone

5. AP Capstone: Diploma vs. Certificate Program

6. The QUEST Framework Question and Explore
Questioning begins with an initial exploration of complex topics or issues. leading to an investigation that challenges and expands the boundaries of one's current knowledge.
Understand and Analyze Arguments
Understanding various perspectives requires contextualizing arguments and evaluating the authors’ claims and lines of reasoning.
Evaluate Multiple Perspectives
Evaluating an issue involves considering and evaluating multiple perspectives, both individually and in comparison to one another.
Synthesize Ideas
Synthesizing others’ ideas with one’s own may lead to new understandings and is the foundation of a well-reasoned argument that conveys one’s perspective.
Team, Transform, and Transmit
Teaming allows one to combine personal strengths and talents with those of others to reach a common goal. Transformation and growth occur upon thoughtful reflection. Transmitting requires the adaptation of one’s message based on audience and context.

7. What is AP Research? (PROPOSED for 19-20)
In AP Research, students develop the skills and discipline necessary to conduct independent research to produce and defend a scholarly academic thesis.
This second course in the AP Capstone experience allows students to explore deeply an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest and through this inquiry, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long mentored, research-based investigation. Students must complete AP Seminar in order to take AP Research.
The course culminates in an academic thesis paper of approximately 5,000 words and a presentation, performance, or exhibition with an oral defense.

8. What is AP Seminar? (OFFERED BEGINNING 18-19)
AP Seminar provides sustained practice of investigating issues from multiple perspectives and cultivates student writing abilities so they can craft, communicate, and defend evidence-based arguments.
Students are empowered to collect and analyze information with accuracy and precision and are assessed through
a team project and presentation,
an individual written essay and presentation, and
a written exam
Here is the link to the AP Student Page describing AP Seminar IN DEPTH.

9. What will you learn? Developing a Research Question
Encouraging & Forming a Question
What is an Argument?
Looking at topics and issues through different lenses.
Understanding different perspectives of each lense.
Identify line of reasoning.
How to use evidence to support an argument.

10. What will you learn? -Advanced research skills
-Improved reading skills
-Analysis of source credibility
-Analysis & evaluation of evidence
-Citing sources appropriately
-Current MLA documentation style
-Interpreting explicit, specific task instructions
-Interpreting, following, and using scoring rubrics
-Synthesizing of information/sources
-Speech & presentation construction
-Effective speech & presentation delivery
-Team collaboration
-Grit

11. What kind of student is successful in this class?
-Intellectually curious
-Desires academic challenge
-Manages time and tasks well
-Utilizes class time
-Perseveres
-Can be comfortable being uncomfortable
-Motivated
-Committed
-Takes initiative
-Exhibits leadership skills
-Is a critical thinker
-Willing to put in the time & effort

12. How will you be assessed?
COURSE ASSESSMENTS/FHS GRADES
Formative/Summative Assessments
Based on skills required for success on AP Assessments
For Example:
Reading quizzes
Skills quizzes
Mock Writing Assignments
Mock Media Presentations
Mock End of Course Exams
EMPHASIS: sKILLS MASTERY, PARTICIPATION, AND TEAMWORK!
AP ASSESSMENTS: Beginning in February
Performance Task 1 (20%)
Individual Research Report (College Board graded)
Team Media Presentation (Teacher graded & then recommended to College Board)
Performance Task 2 (35%)
Individual Written Argument (College Board graded)
Individual Media Presentation (Teacher graded & then recommended to CB)
End of Course Exam (45%)
(College Board graded)

13. Proposed Course Outline: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
FALL SEMESTER: FIRST QUARTER
Team Building and Collaboration
Introduce the QUEST process
Entering the Conversation,
Global Theme 1
Teacher Selected Theme
Teacher and Student-Selected Texts
Creating a Mock Team Media Presentation
Creating a Mock Individual Research Report
End of Course Practice Exams, Part A
FALL SEMESTER: SECOND QUARTER
Entering the Conversation,
Global Theme 2
Teacher Selected Theme
Student Generated Topics
Teacher and Student Selected Texts
Creating Mock Individual Arguments
Creating Mock Media Presentations
End of Course Practice Exam, Part B
Form Teams and Select Topics for Spring Semester
MOST DIRECT INSTRUCTION TAKES PLACE IN THE FIRST SEMESTER, AS STUDENTS ARE TRAINED AND PROVIDED WITH EXTENSIVE PRACTICE IN THE SKILLS THEY WILL NEED TO SUCCEED WITH THE ASSESSMENT TASKS IN THE SPRING.

14. Proposed Course Outline: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
Ongoing review of skills while students engage in two “through-course” assessments (submitted to College Board by no later than April 30) followed by an End-of-Course Exam during AP Exams .
SPRING SEMESTER: 3RD QUARTER
FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE TASK 1
Ongoing Whole-Class Skills Review
Finalize team topics
Develop research questions
Conduct individual research
Prepare team presentations
SUBMIT:
Team Media Presentations AND
Individual Research Reports
Read College Board Stimulus Materials Packet
SPRING SEMESTER; 4TH QUARTER
FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE TASK 2
Ongoing Whole-Class Skills Review
Discuss Stimulus Materials Packet
Develop Individual Topics
Write Individual Written Argument
Work on Individual Presentations
SUBMIT:
Individual Written Argument AND Individual Media Presentation
FOCUS ON END OF COURSE EXAM
Review
AP Exam

15. The Reality……student perspectives & advice
AP Seminar is a challenging class that you should only take if you are up for the challenge
First Semester homework load will greatly depend on productivity and mastery during class time.
Some outside reading, research, writing, and review
Second Semester homework will primarily be driven by your work on PT I and PT II.
Be willing to open your mind to different ideas and concepts
Make sure that you are up for a challenge and are willing to collaborate with others. This is not easy; you need to be focused and organized.
VIDEO: AP Capstone--A Student Perspective

16. For Ongoing Updates: SUBSCRIBE TO REMIND text @apsem1819 to 81010