WHAT IS THE AP CAPSTONE PROGRAM?

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1 Research, Academic Rigor, Distinction SEMINAR Mrs. Sinclair Armwood H.S. Room 372 AP Hello and welcome to AP Capstone, and more specifically AP Capstone Seminar! WHAT IS THE AP CAPSTONE PROGRAM? AP Capstone is an innovative diploma program from the College Board that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. AP Capstone is built on the foundation of two AP courses AP Seminar and AP Research and is designed to complement and enhance the in-depth, discipline-specific study experienced in other AP courses. WHAT IS AP SEMINAR? In AP Seminar, students investigate real-world issues from multiple perspectives, gathering and analyzing information from various sources in order to develop credible and valid evidence-based arguments. In AP Research, students cultivate the skills and discipline necessary to conduct independent research in order to produce and defend a scholarly academic thesis. The AP Capstone program aims to empower students by engaging them with rigorous college-level curricula focused on the skills necessary for successful college completion; extending their abilities to synthesize information from multiple perspectives and apply skills in new situations and cross-curricular contexts; enabling them to collect and analyze information with accuracy and precision; cultivating their abilities to craft, communicate, and defend evidence-based arguments; and providing opportunities for them to practice disciplined and scholarly research skills while exploring relevant topics that appeal to their interests and curiosity In the first year, you ll develop and strengthen your analytic and inquiry skills, exploring deeply two to four relevant issues chosen by you and/or your teacher. You ll learn to consider an issue from multiple perspectives, evaluate the strength of an argument, and make logical, fact-based decisions. The AP Seminar course will be the primary course in which research skills are taught and practiced. Though AP Seminar is not linked thematically to a specific course, students should endeavor to practice what they are learning in AP Seminar in his/her other AP and non-ap courses as well. Transference of AP Seminar skills to other fields of study and/or extra-curricular groups (e.g. Debate, Model United Nations, speech contests, TED talks, summer research internships, publication of scholarly articles) is strongly encouraged. During the course, you ll complete a team project, an individual paper and presentation, and take a written final exam. Your AP Seminar Exam score will be based on all three components and will be reported on the standard 1 5 AP scoring scale. 1

2 Classroom Expectations & Procedures Classroom Expectations: 1. Be respectful to others & yourself. [Teachers, students, visitors.] 2. Be prepared for class & ready to learn. Always have class materials with you. 3. Use appropriate language & gestures. 4. Respect possibility of change & always be ready for new ideas. Classroom Expectations & Procedures Continued It should be remembered that in addition to the rules listed above students are expected to adhere to all Hillsborough County s & Armwood High School s general rules regarding conduct and discipline. See Student Handbook. Bathroom Passes: Students will be provided with three: restroom, locker, & water tickets at the beginning of each 9 weeks. Students may use them at appropriate times during the class period during the nine weeks. Unused bathroom passes may be turned in for EXTRA CREDIT at the conclusion of each 9 week period. Tardy Policy: Following the guidelines & procedures of the Armwood High School tardy policy, any student who is not in their seat when the tardy bell rings, will proceed to the tardy room to obtain a tardy pass in order to be permitted back into class. If a student is not in their assigned seat when the bell rings, they will be asked to step out of the classroom to go to the tardy room to receive a pass to class. Absences: If a student has been absent, they will check the make-up work calendar & file folders in class, during an appropriate time, the day they return & will have the number of days to complete as the number he/she were absent. (i.e., if he/she missed two days, he/she has two days to complete & turn it in from when they return). Make up work must be picked up within a three day period of time when the student returns, after that time has expired, the student may not make up the work. If the student is absent on the day of a pre-announced quiz, test or homework assignment, you will make up that assignment on the day of your return. School Business absences must be cleared by me first and you must complete all previously assigned work prior. Tutoring or Make-up Work Pick-up: Most Monday s from 2-3pm for tutorials. If you need make-up work or have questions over an assignment: you may check the calendar before the bell rings (don t be tardy!), after school, as well as Edsby (under assignments listed in the gradebook). If you ever have a question over an assignment, please come right after school! If you take the time to schedule a meeting time for clarification on an assignment or assistance, I will try my best to make my schedule work for you. You must communicate with me! Struggling?: ELP or TELP (collegiate academy) is there to help when you need extra assistance. In addition to those resources, please communicate with me. I am here to help you be successful, but I must know that you are struggling. Please DO NOT wait until the last week of the nine weeks to ask what you can do to bring up your grade. Learning is a process & sometimes it takes a while to achieve great things! As a team, we can work through it together!! Food & Computers: Please note that there should not be food or drink in class, & especially around the laptops we will be using. Please finish any beverages (including water) & food before you enter class. If you must have water with you, please be advised it will need to stay on the floor with a lid. Thank you for your help! 2

3 Supplies: The following materials are required for this course and are to be brought to class each session: USB Flash Drive (aka thumb drive) 1 ½ Inch three ring binder (any color) Tab Dividers College Ruled Note book paper Pens & Pencils Highlighters Index Cards Text books (you will receive) Handouts (that are presented) Additional Supplies: Also, if possible, please bring one of the following: Post-It Notes Hand Sanitizer Color Copy Paper (any color) Expo Markers Kleenex Grade Distribution: Evaluation and Grading: Participation & Daily Work (50%): Grades will be based on the percentage of total points earned on in class writing, homework assignments, notes, binder checks, and reflections. Evaluation of participation will be based on how your participation (comments, ideas, and questions) helped to enhance and/or to advance our overall collective understanding through critical discussion and listening. The following criteria will be used to assign the participation component of your overall grade. A weekly participation grade will be recorded based on teacher s observations and notes. These notes will be provided throughout the course, to each student as documentation of score. A = 95 Highly Effective Participant Near perfect attendance; insightful questions and comments; clearly does the reading and goes beyond by introducing other relevant material B = 85 Consistent Participant Good attendance; thoughtful questions and comments; clearly does the reading. C = 75 Occasional Participant Regular to little attendance; sporadic involvement in discussions; often-based on personal opinion rather than analysis of class material. D = 65 Observer Regular to no attendance, when present, does not get involved in class discussions F = 55 Occasional Observer Sporadic to no attendance; no participation in class Assessments (50%): All assessment scores will come from essays (definition, problem/solution, and argument/persuasion) or practice seminar assessments (team project and presentation, individual written essay and presentation, and written EOC exam). Grading Scale: The AP (weighted) & Hillsborough County School District grading scale will be used: A: B: C: D: F: 59 or below ***Grades will be posted on *** ***An additional.08 GPA points will be added to students GPA for each semester in an Advanced Placement course. (Students must maintain a C average.)*** ***We will be utilizing Turnin.com, the AP Community, AP Portfolio, EBSCOHost, & various other technology resources.*** 3

4 ***Students will be using laptops in class. Please note that these cannot be checked out of class & are school property. Any damage done by the student will result in consequences for the damage. Please also note that there will not be any need for hotspots (they create Wi-Fi connection issues) to use the laptops, all laptops are connected through the county Wi-Fi. The laptops are for the sole use of AP Capstone work.*** Plagiarism Policy Overview College Board Policy on Plagiarism and Falsification or Fabrication of Information Participating teachers shall instruct students to ethically use and acknowledge the ideas and work of others, as well as the consequences of plagiarism. The student s individual voice should be clearly evident, and the ideas of others must be acknowledged, attributed, and/or cited. A student who fails to acknowledge the source or author of any and all information or evidence taken from the work of someone else through citation attribution or reference in the body of the work, or through a bibliographic entry, will receive a score of 0 on that particular component of the AP Seminar and/or AP Research Performance Assessment Task. In AP Seminar, a team of students that fails to properly acknowledge sources or authors on the Written Team Report will receive a group score of 0 for that component of the Team Project and Presentation. A student who incorporates falsified or fabricated information (e.g. evidence, data, sources, and/or authors) will receive a 0 on that particular component of the AP Seminar and/or AP Research Performance Assessment Task. In AP Seminar, a team of students that incorporates falsified or fabricated information in the Written Team Report will receive a group score of 0 for that component of the Team Project and Presentation. AP Equity and Access Policy The College Board strongly encourages educators to make equitable access a guiding principle for their AP programs by giving all willing and academically prepared students the opportunity to participate in AP. We encourage the elimination of barriers that restrict access to AP for students from ethnic, racial and socioeconomic groups that have been traditionally underserved. The AP Capstone Diploma and AP Seminar and Research Certificate Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing will receive the AP Capstone Diploma. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research but not on four additional AP Exams will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. 4

5 I have read and understand this syllabus and agree to comply with all classroom expectations and policies. Student Signature Student Printed Name I have read the syllabus and will support my student throughout the year. Parent/Guardian Signature Parent/Guardian Printed Name Phone number address 5

6 Sensitivity Contract: I understand that this course will include materials, discussions, & topics that may include sensitive subjects. I understand that by signing this form that my student/as a student, they/i will be subjected to these materials, discussions, & topics that may include sensitive subjects. (These subjects may include, but are not limited to: race, culture, religions, gender roles, conflicts, etc.) The discussion & research of possible sensitive subjects are not a reflection of beliefs or opinions of the instructor, but are used to create critical thinkers, in preparation for college readiness skills, & beyond. Parent/Guardian Printed First & Last Name Parent/Guardian Signature First & Last Name Student Printed First & Last Name Student Signature First & Last Name Behavior Contract: I understand that this AP Capstone Seminar course requires many aspects of the student, including but not limited to: attendance of class & being on time, participation in class discussions & team projects, research outside of class time, AP projects the second semester, organization of research items, etc. These aspects of the class are products of the overall semester grade(s) & are an important key to developing success in this course. Parent/Guardian Printed First & Last Name Parent/Guardian Signature First & Last Name Student Printed First & Last Name Student Signature First & Last Name Technology Permission I understand that there will be the use of technology in the classroom & there will be an expectation of the use of technology by the student on their own in order to complete assignments/assessments for this course. Parent/Guardian Printed First & Last Name Parent/Guardian Signature First & Last Name Student Printed First & Last Name Student Signature First & Last Name 6