North Oldham High School

AP Capstone Seminar
Course Syllabus 2014-2015

Teachers: Lee Anne Hill Kristi Hodges
Email: Lee.Hill@oldham.kyschools.us Kristi.hodges1@oldham.kyschools.us
Phone: 502-228-0158 ext. 201 502-228-0158 ext. 413
CollegeBoard Description

AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages student in a 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 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 research-based 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.


Course Disclaimer:
As the AP Program engages students in college-level work, the AP Seminar course may include
perspectives that could be considered controversial.

Course Grade
Summative Assessments 50% 90-100 A
Formative Assessments 30% 89-80 B
Final Assessments 20% 79-70 C
Total 100% 0-69 F

CollegeBoard Scoring
AP Seminar Performance Assessment Task 1: Team Project and Presentation 25%
AP Seminar Performance Assessment Task 2: Individual Research-Based Essay/
Presentation 35%
AP End-of-Course Exam 40%
Total 100%








Minimum Required Supplies

1) 1 inch 3 ring binder- Used for Seminar ONLY with at least 3 subject dividers
2) Pen and pencil brought to class each day
3) Minimum 4GB flash drive

Optional Supplies
1) Tablet (with keyboard) or laptop computer
2) EBSCOhost App
3) Highlighter, post-it notes, and other organizational material

Text and Instructional Resources

In support of seminar objectives, a variety of primary, secondary and tertiary sources will
be used to supplement class instruction including but limited to journals, newspapers,
social media, music, art, and public discourse.

You will need to purchase the class text: New Directions. You may find the link to this text
on our class website. This is a consumable text which you will use over the course of the
year and keep. It is highly unlikely that we will read all of the selections, so it may be in
your best interest to purchase a used copy. We will use this text almost every day, and you
will be able to write in the textbook because you are the owner!

The Bedford Researcher IS NOT A MANDATORY text! However, we highly suggest this user-
friendly resource. You will need to research and correctly cite your work all year, without
the aide of citation websites. This is a spiral bound guide, and we believe you will find it
very helpful in other classes and throughout your high school and college years. Again, we
would suggest a used copy! You may find the link to this text on our class website.