syllabus
Listed on this page are some highlights from the AP Seminar (Capstone) syllabus. For a copy of the complete syllabus please download the PDF below.
weathersbee_ap_seminar_syllabus_2020-21_-_google_docs.pdf |
COVID-19 ADDENDUMS:
-Your submitted digital work on the days when you are “virtual” will not only be a coursework grade for you, but will also suffice as your course attendance for that day. Thus, due dates are more important than ever this year to ensure you meet the seat time requirements as dictated by SC law.
-Students will need to keep their masks on at all times and maintain social distancing even when working in small groups. I’m sorry. I know this is uncomfortable and awkward for all of us, but it’s necessary to slow the spread of this virus. Please don’t make this an issue.
AP Seminar Course Description
“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 analysing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational, literary, and philosophical text; 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 presentation, both individually and as a 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” (p. 9).
Expected Student Learning Outcomes (Q.U.E.S.T.)
Expected Student Learning Outcomes The AP Seminar program provides students with a framework that allows them to develop, practice, and refine critical thinking skills; and to develop, practice, and refine their abilities to communicate the results of their critical thinking in written, oral, and multimedia formats. Students will “question and explore the boundaries of their current knowledge in various subjects,” (Big Idea 1); “understand and analyze arguments” (Big Idea 2); “evaluate multiple perspectives” (Big Idea 3); “synthesize research” to consider implications and new solutions (Big Idea 4); and work with teams to transform their research into a variety of communicable forms which will be transmitted to an audience (Big Idea 5). Students will work with a variety of primary and secondary print and non-print sources, such as articles, research studies, and foundational literary and philosophical texts; as well as speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts, and artistic works and performances. The wide variety of academic sources provides opportunity to gain a rich appreciation and understanding of issues, and students’ collaborative and independent analysis of these texts will enable them to consider options, alternatives, solutions, or resolutions to real-world and/or academic problems.
(Q) Big Idea #1: Question and Explore
(U) Big Idea #2: Understand and Analyze
(E) Big Idea #3: Evaluate Multiple Perspectives
(S) Big Idea #4: Synthesize Ideas
(T) Big Idea #5: Team, Transform, and Transmit
Student Evaluation: AP Seminar Score Overview
Students are assessed with two thorough-course performance assessment tasks and one end -of -course exam. All three assessments are summative and will be used to calculate a final AP Score using the 1-5 scale for AP Seminar.
Performance Task #1: Team project and Presentation---- 20%
Students work in teams of three to five to identify, investigate, and analyze an academic or real-world problem or issue. Each team designs and/or considers options and evaluates alternatives; develops a multimedia presentation to present the argument for their proposed solution or resolution; and provides a defense to questions posed by the teacher. (Individual Research Report- 50%, Team Multimedia Presentation- 50%)
Performance Task #2: Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation --- 35%
The College Board’s AP Program will annually release cross-curricular source material (texts) representing a range of perspectives focused on a single theme. Students will use these texts to identify a research question of their own; conduct research; analyze, evaluate, and select evidence to develop an argument; and present and defend their conclusions. The final paper must refer to and incorporate at least one of the provided sources. (Individual Written Argument- 70%, Individual Multimedia Presentation- 30%, Oral Defense- 10%)
End of Course Exam (3 hours) –45% (College Board Scored)
The exam consists of five items (three short-answer answer and two essay questions). The three short-answer questions assess analysis of an argument in a single source or document. The first essay question requires the students to perform a close reading of two documents and perform a comparative analysis and evaluation of the author’s arguments. The second essay question assesses students’ skills in synthesizing and creating an evidence-based argument. (Part A- 30%, Part B- 70%)
Student Evaluation: AP Seminar Evaluation and Grading Overview
Your AP Seminar Course Grade will be based on a weighted average in PowerSchool and the South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy: Quarterly grades will be computed using:
Major/Summative Assessments: 60%
Minor and Daily work: 40%.
1st Semester grades will be computed using
Q1 40%, Q2 40% and Semester Exam 20%.
A= 90-100
B= 80-89
C= 70-79
D= 60-69
F= Below 60
1st and 2nd quarter grades will be based on teacher feedback of student work in preparation of AP Seminar Performance Tasks; however, due to College Board restrictions in regard to teacher feedback during AP Seminar Performance Tasks, 3rd quarter grades will be based on completion and submission of Performance Tasks with no teacher feedback. These same tasks that were scored based on completion and submission during the 3rd quarter will be assigned a quality grade that will be entered into PowerSchool during the 4th quarter. 4th quarter grades will be based on teacher feedback of student work in preparation for the End of Course AP Seminar exam. After the AP Seminar exam, students will work on an individualized curriculum based on their research goals for the following school year.
Technology Expectations
Please be certain to have your mobile device with you and charged for every class. All course information, including your gmail calendar with assignment due dates, will be housed on my website. You will need to reference this site frequently. The web address is www.dawnweathersbeeclass.weebly.com. Further technology expectations will be discussed in class.
Testing Expectation
In accordance with Board Policy IHCD-R, all students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses must take The College Board administered examination. Refusal to participate in the AP exam will result in the course weight dropping from AP weight to honors weight in addition to taking a teacher created final course exam.
-Your submitted digital work on the days when you are “virtual” will not only be a coursework grade for you, but will also suffice as your course attendance for that day. Thus, due dates are more important than ever this year to ensure you meet the seat time requirements as dictated by SC law.
-Students will need to keep their masks on at all times and maintain social distancing even when working in small groups. I’m sorry. I know this is uncomfortable and awkward for all of us, but it’s necessary to slow the spread of this virus. Please don’t make this an issue.
AP Seminar Course Description
“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 analysing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational, literary, and philosophical text; 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 presentation, both individually and as a 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” (p. 9).
Expected Student Learning Outcomes (Q.U.E.S.T.)
Expected Student Learning Outcomes The AP Seminar program provides students with a framework that allows them to develop, practice, and refine critical thinking skills; and to develop, practice, and refine their abilities to communicate the results of their critical thinking in written, oral, and multimedia formats. Students will “question and explore the boundaries of their current knowledge in various subjects,” (Big Idea 1); “understand and analyze arguments” (Big Idea 2); “evaluate multiple perspectives” (Big Idea 3); “synthesize research” to consider implications and new solutions (Big Idea 4); and work with teams to transform their research into a variety of communicable forms which will be transmitted to an audience (Big Idea 5). Students will work with a variety of primary and secondary print and non-print sources, such as articles, research studies, and foundational literary and philosophical texts; as well as speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts, and artistic works and performances. The wide variety of academic sources provides opportunity to gain a rich appreciation and understanding of issues, and students’ collaborative and independent analysis of these texts will enable them to consider options, alternatives, solutions, or resolutions to real-world and/or academic problems.
(Q) Big Idea #1: Question and Explore
(U) Big Idea #2: Understand and Analyze
(E) Big Idea #3: Evaluate Multiple Perspectives
(S) Big Idea #4: Synthesize Ideas
(T) Big Idea #5: Team, Transform, and Transmit
Student Evaluation: AP Seminar Score Overview
Students are assessed with two thorough-course performance assessment tasks and one end -of -course exam. All three assessments are summative and will be used to calculate a final AP Score using the 1-5 scale for AP Seminar.
Performance Task #1: Team project and Presentation---- 20%
Students work in teams of three to five to identify, investigate, and analyze an academic or real-world problem or issue. Each team designs and/or considers options and evaluates alternatives; develops a multimedia presentation to present the argument for their proposed solution or resolution; and provides a defense to questions posed by the teacher. (Individual Research Report- 50%, Team Multimedia Presentation- 50%)
Performance Task #2: Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation --- 35%
The College Board’s AP Program will annually release cross-curricular source material (texts) representing a range of perspectives focused on a single theme. Students will use these texts to identify a research question of their own; conduct research; analyze, evaluate, and select evidence to develop an argument; and present and defend their conclusions. The final paper must refer to and incorporate at least one of the provided sources. (Individual Written Argument- 70%, Individual Multimedia Presentation- 30%, Oral Defense- 10%)
End of Course Exam (3 hours) –45% (College Board Scored)
The exam consists of five items (three short-answer answer and two essay questions). The three short-answer questions assess analysis of an argument in a single source or document. The first essay question requires the students to perform a close reading of two documents and perform a comparative analysis and evaluation of the author’s arguments. The second essay question assesses students’ skills in synthesizing and creating an evidence-based argument. (Part A- 30%, Part B- 70%)
Student Evaluation: AP Seminar Evaluation and Grading Overview
Your AP Seminar Course Grade will be based on a weighted average in PowerSchool and the South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy: Quarterly grades will be computed using:
Major/Summative Assessments: 60%
Minor and Daily work: 40%.
1st Semester grades will be computed using
Q1 40%, Q2 40% and Semester Exam 20%.
A= 90-100
B= 80-89
C= 70-79
D= 60-69
F= Below 60
1st and 2nd quarter grades will be based on teacher feedback of student work in preparation of AP Seminar Performance Tasks; however, due to College Board restrictions in regard to teacher feedback during AP Seminar Performance Tasks, 3rd quarter grades will be based on completion and submission of Performance Tasks with no teacher feedback. These same tasks that were scored based on completion and submission during the 3rd quarter will be assigned a quality grade that will be entered into PowerSchool during the 4th quarter. 4th quarter grades will be based on teacher feedback of student work in preparation for the End of Course AP Seminar exam. After the AP Seminar exam, students will work on an individualized curriculum based on their research goals for the following school year.
Technology Expectations
Please be certain to have your mobile device with you and charged for every class. All course information, including your gmail calendar with assignment due dates, will be housed on my website. You will need to reference this site frequently. The web address is www.dawnweathersbeeclass.weebly.com. Further technology expectations will be discussed in class.
Testing Expectation
In accordance with Board Policy IHCD-R, all students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses must take The College Board administered examination. Refusal to participate in the AP exam will result in the course weight dropping from AP weight to honors weight in addition to taking a teacher created final course exam.