Capstone Course Focus
Question and Explore
Understand and Analyze Arguments
Evaluate Multiple Perspectives
Synthesize Ideas
Team, Transform, and Transmit
Themes
Lenses
Environmental
Artistic &
Philosophical
Ethical
Cultural
& Social
Political &
Historical
Economic
Futuristic
Scientific
College Board Expectations
Syllabus Review
● Three-part Test Score
● Teacher Expectations
● Grading vs. Scoring
Evaluating Credibility of Sources
Reputation
Ability to Observe
Vested Interest
Expertise
Neutrality
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 Teacher
Performance Task One: Team
Teachers
● 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: Individual
Teachers
● may lead discussion of the source material, discuss topics and perspectives, and/ or question students as necessary
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
● 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)
2)
3)
4)
Individual Research Paper (1,200-word minimum; 25% of task score)
Team Research Paper (3,000-word minimum; 50% of task score)
Team Multimedia Presentation/Oral Defense of Research (videotaped; 8-10 minutes; 3 previously-undisclosed
questions from teacher; 25% of task score)
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)
1)
2)
3)
Individual Written Argument Research Paper (2,000-word minimum; 60% of task score)
Individual Multimedia Presentation (videotaped; 6-8 minutes; 30% of task score)
Individual Oral Defense of Research (videotaped; 10% of task score)
AP Seminar EOC (May 5th)
(graded by College Board)
Our Contact Information
Pamela Blades
pblades@alvinisd.6net
281-245-2232 Ext. 4595
979-864-7214
Tracie Lee
tflee@alvinisd.net