Advanced Placement Seminar Syllabus Notes

AP Capstone Program and Course Overview

AP Capstone is a diploma program from the College Board consisting of two courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. AP Seminar is a foundational, skills-based course focused on cross-curricular inquiry, academic research, and evidence-based arguments. Unlike traditional disciplinary AP courses, students and instructors co-select themes for investigation.

The QUEST Framework

The curriculum is organized around five core "Big Ideas" known as QUEST:

• Question and Explore: Identifying research questions and framing issues.

• Understand and Analyze: Reading and evaluating texts, artistic works, and broadcasts.

• Evaluate Multiple Perspectives: Exploring divergent views and lenses such as cultural, political, environmental, and ethical.

• Synthesize Ideas: Developing perspectives and crafting evidence-based conclusions.

• Team, Transform, and Transmit: Collaborating with teams and communicating findings through multimedia presentations.

Grading and Assessment Tasks

Course performance is evaluated through internal school grades and College Board performance tasks:

• Internal Weighting: Exams and Projects ($45\%$), Quizzes and Major Checkpoints ($25\%$), and Homework ($15\%$) alongside Collaborative Discussions ($15\%$).

• Task 1: Team Project and Presentation ($20\%$): Conducted from October to December. Includes an Individual Research Report and a Team Multimedia Presentation with oral defense.

• Task 2: Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation ($35\%$): Conducted from February to April. Students use College Board stimulus material released on January 2 to write an Individual Written Argument and deliver a multimedia presentation.

• End-of-Course Exam ($45\%$): Divided into Part A ($13.5\%$ for argument analysis) and Part B ($31.5\%$ for argument construction using sources).

Academic Integrity and Ethics

The AP Capstone Policy on Plagiarism and Falsification or Fabrication of Information dictates that failure to properly cite or attribute sources results in a score of $0$ on that component. In the Team Multimedia Presentation, plagiarism by any member results in a group score of $0$. Falsifying data or evidence also results in a score of $0$ for the task.

Examination Policies and Requirements

Enrollment in AP courses requires participation in the end-of-year examination. At Somerset Academy Charter High School, the following policies apply as per Broward County Public Schools regulations:

• Missing a regularly scheduled exam results in a $100.00$ fee.

• Missing a late-testing exam results in a $140.00$ fee.

• Failure to sit for the exam leads to a reduction in the GPA quality point weighting from $2.0$ additional points to $1.0$.

• Required course materials include a Duo-Tang Folder and a spiral notebook.