The Course

AP Seminar

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Explore English 10: AP Seminar

Course Overview

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. Students learn to investigate a problem or issue, analyze arguments, compare different perspectives, synthesize information from multiple sources, and work alone and in a group to communicate their ideas.

AP Seminar Course and Exam Description

Course Resources

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AP Capstone Diploma Program: An Overview

Learn how the program works and how it benefits students and schools.

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English 10: AP Seminar

Learn why schools across the country are using AP Seminar as their English 10 offering.

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Guide for Hosting Student Presentations in AP Capstone Courses

AP Capstone presentations can be delivered in a remote or in-person setting. 

Course Content

Based on the Understanding by Design (Wiggins and McTighe) model, this curriculum framework is intended to provide a clear and detailed description of the course requirements necessary for student success. This conceptualization will guide the development and organization of learning outcomes from general to specific, resulting in focused statements about content knowledge and skills needed for success in the course. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.

The AP Seminar curriculum is made up of five big ideas:

  • Big Idea 1: Question and Explore
  • Big Idea 2: Understand and Analyze 
  • Big Idea 3: Evaluate Multiple Perspectives
  • Big Idea 4: Synthesize Ideas
  • Big Idea 5: Team, Transform, and Transmit

Course Skills

The AP Seminar framework included in the course and exam description outlines distinct skills, called transferable skills and proficiencies, that students should practice throughout the year.

SkillProficiencies
Analyze Sources and Evidence  Understand and Analyze Argument 

Identifying the main idea in arguments, analyzing the reasoning, and evaluating the validity of the conclusions 

Evaluate Sources and Evidence 

Evaluating the credibility and relevance of sources and the evidence they present
Construct an Evidence-Based ArgumentEstablish Argument 

Developing a well-reasoned argument clearly connecting the thesis, claims, and evidence 

Select and Use Evidence 

Strategically choosing evidence to effectively support claims
Understand Context and PerspectiveUnderstand and Analyze Context 

Understanding the complexity of a problem or issue and connecting arguments to the broader context in which they are situated 

Understand and Analyze Perspective 

Comparing and interpreting multiple diverse perspectives on an issue to understand its complexity
Communicate (Interpersonal and Intrapersonal)Engage Audience 

Choosing and employing effective written and oral communication techniques, considering audience, context, and purpose 

Apply Conventions 

Choosing and consistently applying an appropriate citation style and effective conventions of writing 

Collaborate 

Working constructively with others to accomplish a team goal or task 

Reflect 

Articulating challenges, successes, and moments of insight that occur throughout the inquiry process

AP and Higher Education

Higher education professionals play a key role in developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Education section features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.

This chart shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the AP Credit Policy Search.

Meet the AP Seminar Development Committee

AP is unique in its reliance on development committees. These committees, made up of an equal number of college faculty and experienced secondary AP teachers from across the country, are essential to the preparation of AP course curricula and exams.

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AP Seminar Development Committee

Meet the high school and college educators who develop the AP Seminar course and assessment.