AP Seminar Information Sheet_2025-26

Course Description: This course constitutes the first year in the AP Capstone program. Through an inquiry-based process, students are invited to explore and investigate in depth a wide variety of issues from multiple and diverse perspectives. Students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational literary and philosophical texts. They develop greater critical reasoning skills by analyzing and comparing material in a wide variety of formats, including speeches, broadcasts, and 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.

AP Capstone™ is an innovative diploma program from the College Board that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that colleges increasingly value. 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.

AP Course Expectations:
By adhering to the requirements described in the Advanced Placement Course Description: English, the curriculum encourages students to perform at academic levels comparable to the collegiate level.

⏳ Time Commitment for Students

  • Students typically spend 4 hours per week on AP Seminar. This includes: 
  • Working through asynchronous lessons. 
  • Collaborating with peers in a group of 3–4 students. 
  • Preparing for assessments (team project, individual essay, presentation, and AP exam). 
  • The asynchronous format enables students to work at their own pace, while still adhering to checkpoints and deadlines that keep them on track.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Support

Although much of the instruction is asynchronous, students receive 8 hours of live teacher guidance across the semester. These sessions are strategically placed at key milestones:

  • Sept 22 (Week 1): Orientation & Research Skills Workshop I (2 hrs)
  • Oct 6 (Week 3): Research Skills Workshop II (1 hr)
  • Nov 3 (Week 7): Team Project Check-In, Writing & Argumentation Clinic I (1 hrs)
  • Nov 24 (Week 10): Writing & Argumentation Clinic II (1 hr)
  • Dec 15 (Week 13): Presentation Rehearsals (1.5 hrs)
  • Jan 19, 2026 (Week 17): Presentation, Exam Prep & Final Q&A (1.5 hr)
  • The teacher continues to work with the students asynchronously and track their progress after the group live sessions.

During these sessions, the teacher works closely with students by:  

  • Guiding research methods and source evaluation. 
  • Providing feedback on drafts of essays and presentations. 
  • Supporting teamwork and project organization. 
  • Reviewing AP rubrics so students understand how they will be scored.

In addition, teachers are available for asynchronous feedback on written work, and students can submit questions at any time.  

Key Deadlines (College Board – AP Seminar, 2025–26)

  • April 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET):
    Student deadline to submit final AP Seminar performance tasks

  • May 10, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET):
    Teacher deadline to submit scores and affirm checkpoints for student presentations in the AP Digital Portfolio.

  • May 11, 2026 (12:00 p.m. Local Time):
    AP Seminar End-of-Course Exam (administered by College Board).

📊 Evaluation Process

Student progress is evaluated in three main ways:  

  • Ongoing Assignments: Checkpoints, reflections, and practice tasks to build skills gradually. 
  • Performance Tasks: 
  • Team Project (report + multimedia presentation). 
  • Individual Research-Based Essay & Presentation 
  • End-of-Course AP Exam: Administered by the College Board, ensuring standardized assessment.

The teacher grades and provides feedback on formative work and presentations, while the College Board scores the official performance tasks and exam for AP credit. 

Grading Policy
Course Grades: Each semester will have 1 final grade based on several quizzes, 1 midterm and 1 final. The grades for each semester are independent.

1. Projects and papers. Students will be participating in projects and written papers throughout the first semester, preparing for the second semester assessments. During the first semester, projects and papers will receive direct feedback from the teacher. During second semester projects and papers receive an AP score, so no direct feedback is given by the teacher. Final AP Score is the feedback. Second semester grade will be based on work accomplished.

2. Students will make group and individual presentations throughout the first semester, preparing for the second semester assessments. During the first semester, students will receive direct feedback on their presentations from the teacher. During the second semester, presentations receive an AP score, so the teacher gives no direct feedback. Final AP Score is the feedback. The second-semester grade will be based on the work accomplished.

3. Annotations and articles. In the first semester, students will gather sources from databases and other online sources. During the first semester, research will receive direct feedback from the teacher. During the second semester, research is part of the AP score, so the teacher gives no direct feedback. Final AP Score is the feedback. The second-semester grade will be based on the work accomplished.

4. AP Seminar End-of-Course Exam practice questions. During the first semester, practice attempts will receive feedback from the teacher. The actual End-of-Course Exam takes place during AP Exams in May.

Next Step: Enroll by September 8, 2025. 

Enroll at: https: 2025-26 Fall-Spring Term Enrollment Form, or

Email us, the Student Success Team, at:  sst@legendcp.com