Identity: Exploring Who We Are and How Differences Cultivate Our Diverse Society

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 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.

They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing with Readings / Edition 4 by Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein | 2900393631684 | Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Course Text: They Say, I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing with Readings.

Materials:

  • During class, you will have access to a Chromebook or Laptop for use in completing classwork. Your teacher will give you further instruction on specific apps to download/use and how to organize them and your class material.
  • Regular access to Internet (home, library, computer labs, in class, etc.).
  • Google Classroom/RUSD email account: Students will be expected to have regular access to these online resources and can download free apps to their cell phones, tablets, or other electronic devices to use these resources when not in the classroom.
  • The inquiry nature of this course requires activities and assessment from a variety of resources (e.g., library research, internet research, etc.). Information used to assess a problem may come from various print and non-print primary and secondary sources. Students will be expected to use technology to access and manage information from databases that grant access to these sources.
  • Binder (electronic or physical), blue and black pen, highlighters, post-it notes (recommended)

Requirements for Success In This Course:

  • Attendance/Tardiness/Discipline: The school policies will be followed and enforced. Due to the nature of this course and the group work that must be completed regularly, attendance is very important and crucial to the most accurate and efficient completion of work.
  • Responsibilities: You are responsible for the materials needed for this course. You will also be responsible for any and all work missed due to excused absences. Work missed due to unexcused absences will receive and automatic zero unless there is prior communication and arrangements made with your teacher. Late work is subject to penalty. No late work in a unit of study is accepted after the unit assessment.
  • Preparation: Timely completion of homework and readings is essential. Being prepared gives you the opportunity to succeed on tests, quizzes, and projects. As an upper level student, you must understand your studying is not finished until you have a thorough understanding of the topics covered in each unit. Not being prepared leads to poor performance and missing assignments.
  • Communication (Google Classroom/Email): Checking emails at least once on a daily basis will be an expectation of the course in order to stay on top of class communications. Accessing Google Classroom on a regular basis, preferably daily, will also be an expectation as students will receive reminders, calendar updates, classwork, due dates, resources and other information important for success in the course through this media.
  • Organization: You will be responsible for collecting handouts, taking notes, and keeping all these materials organized.
  • Participation: You are expected to participate in discussions and group work, answer when called upon, and be attentive to material being presented.
  • Respect: Respect the opinions and input of your classmates, their goals, and the goals of the teacher. Respect yourself by taking ownership of the things you produce, the knowledge you acquire, and the skills you learn.
  • AP Capstone Policy on Plagiarism and Falsification or Fabrication of Information: 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 Task. In AP Seminar, a team of students that fails to properly acknowledge sources or authors on the Team Multimedia Presentation 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 score of 0 on that particular component of the AP Seminar and/or AP Research Performance Task. In AP Seminar, a team of students that incorporates falsified or fabricated information in the Team Multimedia Presentation will receive a group score of 0 for that component of the Team Project and Presentation.
  • Help: Check with your teacher. She is often available before/after school or during the school day. You are strongly encouraged to meet with the teacher to discuss any problems you are having in this course. If physical conversation is not possible, reach out to your teacher via email, ensuring you include both the issue at hand, a possible solution if relevant, and your availability the following day/week in order to meet with your teacher if that is needed for you to better understand the material and/or resolve the issue at hand.
  • AP Language and Composition: All AP Seminar students should be co-enrolled in an AP Language course. Instructors will align these two courses to support one another.
  • Commitment: It is expected that all students have made a two-year commitment to this course and will continue on to the AP Research course next year.
  • Evaluation: You should expect one major, summative assessment for each unit. These will be in diverse formats. You will be given multiple practice formative assignments, which will help you prepare for the summative assessments.
  • Maturity: AP Seminar is considered an introductory-level college course. Some material, class discussion and readings, may possibly be of mature and/or sensitive content.

Midterm Exam:

The Midterm Exam will mimic the AP Seminar End-of-Course Exam format, given at the end of the First Semester.

UNITS OF STUDY:

Unit 1: Evaluating Multiple Perspectives: What Is My Identity and How Do I Understand Others’ Perspectives Through Their Identity?

Unit 2: Understand & Analyze Arguments: How Do I Assess Reasoning in Regards to the Larger Discussion?

Unit 3: Synthesize Ideas: What Larger Connections Can I Present From the Works I Have Analyzed?

Unit 4: Question & Explore: How Do I Formulate Questions to Prompt Further Investigation?

Unit 5: Team, Transform, & Transmit: How Do I Effectively Contribute As a Member of a Team?

Unit 6: Performance Task 1 – Team Project and Presentation

Unit 7: Performance Task 2 – Individual Research-based Essay and Presentation