The AP Capstone Diploma Program is a two-year program based on two AP courses, AP Seminar and AP Research. Students who fulfill the requirements can earn academic awards recognized by colleges around the world. AP Seminar has students develop and practice the skills in research, collaboration, and communication that you’ll need in any academic discipline. You’ll investigate topics in a variety of subject areas, write research-based essays, and design and give presentations both individually and as part of a team. AP Research builds on what students learn in AP Seminar to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students will design, plan, and conduct a year-long research-based investigation to address a research question. After the completion of both Seminar and Research, and a passing score of at least 4 other AP Exams, students can earn the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma.
The AP Capstone Diploma is designed to be achieved in 2 years, starting as Sophomores or Juniors and continuing into their next year. In the first year, students will take AP Seminar with at least 2 other AP Courses; it would be advantageous to take more. In their second year, students will take AP Research with the remaining 2 classes. Many colleges and universities recognize the diploma to give college credit or a leg up in the admissions process
AP Capstone is a two-year program based on two AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Other AP courses teach you, in-depth, about a specific subject, like biology or U.S. history. However, AP Seminar and AP Research focus on helping you develop academic skills you can use in any discipline. These skills include:
Critical thinking: View issues from multiple perspectives and create arguments based on evidence.
Collaboration: Work alone, in a group, and with expert advisers to communicate your ideas.
Conducting research: Explore various research methods and complete research projects on topics of your own choosing.
Public speaking: Present and defend your work as a group and individually.
Exam Structure
Seminar:
The exam structure is different compared to other AP courses. It is based on three individual components to make up the final score. The performance tasks are done throughout the entire year.
Performance Task 1 (20%)
Individual Research Report (50% of 20%): Students work with a group to determine a topic. Students will then branch off to write a research report based on a certain perspective of that topic (1200 Words)
Team Multimedia Presentation (50% of 20%): Students reconvene after writing their individual reports to create and give a presentation using technology to answer a research question by exploring it through the different perspectives that they decided to write their paper about (8-10 Minutes)
Performance Task 2 (35%)
Individual Written Argument (70% of 30%): Students read and analyze a stimulus packet with select sources on one cohesive theme and then utilize those sources, along with other academic sources to synthesize and develop a cohesive argument for an issue regarding that cohesive theme
Individual Multimedia Presentation (20% of 35%)
Students will then utilize their findings and prepare a 6-8 minute presentation that highlights their questions, relevant sources, conclusions/solutions, limitations, and implications.
Oral Defense (10% of 35%)
After completing their presentation, students will be asked 2 questions by the teacher at their own discretion, but it may be relevant to one's research process, how they reached conclusions, or the overarching implications of their solutions.
End of Course Exam - 2 hours (45%)
Understanding and Analyzing an argument (30% of 45%): Students will be given a passage arguing for or against a certain topic and they will be asked 3 short answer questions relating to the argument as a whole, claims used to support the argument, and analyzing the credibility and effectiveness of the evidence used. It is suggested by CollgeBoard that this portion should take 30 min, but Ms. Z recommends that one spends closer to 45 min in order to get the most complex response possible.
Evidence-Based Argument (70% of 45%): Students will be given a packet of multiple sources that relate to one another under a common theme. Students will then use those sources to develop a unique and complex argument. CollegeBoard recommends that students take 90 min for this portion, but Ms. Z recommends that one spends closer to 75 minutes.
Research:
Academic Research Paper (75%): Students will write a research paper of 4000-5000 words that examines a gap in the current body of academic literature. While it seems like a lot of work, students will continue to work on this for the entire year under the guidance of Ms.Z
Presentation and Oral Defense (25%): After completing their research paper, students will prepare a 15-20 minute presentation that highlights the important material in their paper. Students will also invite a teacher of their choice to watch their presentation and ask questions. Students will then be asked 3-4 questions at the teachers' discretion about their topic.
Hannah Zarzour
hzarzour@hoover.k12.al.us
Ms. Zarzour is a graduate of the Hoover High School class of 2009. She attended the University of Alabama and graduated with an undergraduate degree in Secondary Education, English Language Arts. She received her MA from the University of Montevallo in Secondary Education as well. Ms. Zarzour has 9 years teaching the AP Capstone courses and has 7 years of experience participating in the AP Reading for AP Seminar.
“AP Seminar and AP Research are exploratory, interdisciplinary courses that allow students to explore topics of their own interest. Students spend time researching, writing, and presenting findings to peers. Primarily, the courses are built around argumentation and critical thinking, but group work, time management, and independent learning are all important aspects of the courses as well.”
Please note that the co-requisites for this sequence are any advanced English course including, Advanced Level English 10, Pre-IB English 10, Dual Enrollment English 101/102, AP English Language and Culture, AP English Literature and Culture, or IB English A HL.