AP Capstone™ is a diploma program based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. These courses are designed to complement other AP courses that the AP Capstone student may take.
Instead of teaching specific subject knowledge, AP Seminar and AP Research use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills students need for college-level work.
What should Capstone students expect?
Questioning begins with an initial exploration of complex topics or issues. Perspectives and questions emerge that spark one’s curiosity, leading to an investigation that challenges and expands the boundaries of one’s current knowledge.
Understanding various perspectives requires contextualizing arguments and evaluating the authors’ claims and lines of reasoning.
Evaluating an issue involves considering and evaluating multiple perspectives, both individually and in comparison to one another.
People express ideas, perspectives, evidence and conclusions using arguments. Students must evaluate arguments by considering the claims and evidence made by the author or source. Students must also consider the point of view, perspective, credibility and reasoning of the argument before fully analyzing and evaluating the types of information they are presented.
Synthesizing others ideas with one’s own may lead to new understandings and is the foundation of a well-reasoned argument that conveys perspective. Seminar uses eight lenses to consider perspectives and make cross-curricular connections.
Teaming allows one to combine personal strengths and talents with those of others to reach a common goal. Transformation and growth occur upon thoughtful reflection. Transmitting requires the adaptation of one’s message based on audience and context.
