United Grade 10 AP Seminar (AP Capstone)
Chapters: 3
1. Big ideas (QUEST framework)
Question and explore · Understand and analyze · Evaluate multiple perspectives · Synthesize ideas · Team, transform and transmit
- Research Skills: From a Question to a Finished Project – Research is a careful way of finding an answer. You ask a clear, focused question, plan how to answer it, find information and check that each source can be trusted, collect and analyse your own data, draw a conclusion that the evidence supports, and share it while crediting every source you used.
- Logical Fallacies: How Good-Looking Arguments Go Wrong – A fallacy is an error in reasoning that makes an argument weak or invalid, even though it may look convincing. Formal fallacies are mistakes in the form (structure) of a deductive argument, such as affirming the consequent. Informal fallacies are mistakes in content, language or relevance, such as ad hominem, straw man, false dilemma, slippery slope, appeal to popularity or false authority, hasty generalisation, post hoc and circular reasoning. Spotting them helps us discuss fairly.
- Presentation Skills: Speaking to an Audience – A good presentation is planned for its audience and purpose, has a clear opening, body and closing, uses simple slides that support (not replace) the speaker, and is delivered with a clear voice, eye contact and good timing. Practice turns nerves into confidence.
2. Skills
Analyze sources and evidence · Construct an evidence-based argument · Understand context and perspective · Communicate (audience, conventions, collaboration, reflection)
- Research Skills: From a Question to a Finished Project – Research is a careful way of finding an answer. You ask a clear, focused question, plan how to answer it, find information and check that each source can be trusted, collect and analyse your own data, draw a conclusion that the evidence supports, and share it while crediting every source you used.
- Logical Fallacies: How Good-Looking Arguments Go Wrong – A fallacy is an error in reasoning that makes an argument weak or invalid, even though it may look convincing. Formal fallacies are mistakes in the form (structure) of a deductive argument, such as affirming the consequent. Informal fallacies are mistakes in content, language or relevance, such as ad hominem, straw man, false dilemma, slippery slope, appeal to popularity or false authority, hasty generalisation, post hoc and circular reasoning. Spotting them helps us discuss fairly.
- Presentation Skills: Speaking to an Audience – A good presentation is planned for its audience and purpose, has a clear opening, body and closing, uses simple slides that support (not replace) the speaker, and is delivered with a clear voice, eye contact and good timing. Practice turns nerves into confidence.
3. Assessment components
Performance Task 1: team project and presentation · Performance Task 2: individual research-based essay and presentation · End-of-course written exam
- Presentation Skills: Speaking to an Audience – A good presentation is planned for its audience and purpose, has a clear opening, body and closing, uses simple slides that support (not replace) the speaker, and is delivered with a clear voice, eye contact and good timing. Practice turns nerves into confidence.
- Research Skills: From a Question to a Finished Project – Research is a careful way of finding an answer. You ask a clear, focused question, plan how to answer it, find information and check that each source can be trusted, collect and analyse your own data, draw a conclusion that the evidence supports, and share it while crediting every source you used.