AP Seminar 2023-2024
Instructor: Brittany Harper
Email: bharper@nisdtx.org
Link for AP Seminar Course and Exam Description (CED):
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-seminar-course-and-exam-description.pdf
Course Overview
AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational, literary, and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments.
AP Seminar Assessment Overview
Students are assessed with two within-course performance tasks and one end-of-course exam. All three assessments will be used to calculate a final AP score (using the 1-5 scale) for AP Seminar BY College Board.
Performance Task 1: Team Project and Presentation—20% (Individual Research Report scored by College Board)
Performance Task 2: Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation—35% (Essay scored by College Board)
End-of-Course Exam (2 Hours)—45% (scored by College Board)
Grading
Grades will be based on a combination of daily work (formatives), essays, tests, practice Seminar assessments (summatives), and participation. This class will adhere to NISD Grading Guidelines.
AP Seminar Timeline
August-early November AP Seminar Instruction over Argument, Evidence, Research, and Presentations
Mid-November -January Performance Task 1: Team Project and Presentations
January Stimulus material is released for Performance Task 2
February-April Performance Task 2: Individual Project and Presentation
April 30 Digital Portfolio closes (all submissions complete)
May 7 AP Seminar End-of-Course Exam
July AP Seminar Score Reports Released
Course Expectations:
August-mid-November: research skills
2-3 assignments per week: course is designed so students have almost no homework if they use class time.
Mid-November-February: Performance Task 1 (Team paper and presentation)
Concentrated focus on researching a topic (students choose), research paper, and team presentation. Per College Board, work time is independently structured.
February-April: Performance Task 2 (Individual paper and presentation)
Concentrated focus on researching a topic, research paper, and individual presentation. Per College Board, work time is independently structured.
Example Assignment List:
Skill #1: Main idea (argument), Claims, Evidence (MICE)
Finding MICE in an article
Line of Reasoning Activity
Skill #2: Multiple Perspectives/Counterarguments
Multiple Perspectives Dinner Party
Counterarguments—creating new company ideas
Skill #3: Credibility of Sources
CRAAP tests
Tiers of Credibility Activity
EOC Exam Part A
Practicing Part A through TED Talks
Skills #4-5: Slide Building and Presentations
Choose an issue and create professional slides, film presentations
Skill #6: Solutions, Limitations, Implications
Choose an issue, create solutions, consider limitations/implications, develop slides
EOC Exam Part B
Practicing Part B: reading, analyzing four sources, theme, thesis statement, outline, writing the essay