Hey guys! So my school is starting AP Capstone for the first year next year, and all sophomores that’s part of the AP Program has to take AP Seminar.
I’m just wondering what it’s like since I can’t ask anyone at my school since they’ve never taken it… Thanks!
I suppose this is a bit delayed- sorry! But I took the Capstone Seminar course at my high school this past school year. It’s honestly an amazing class- my research and writing skills have skyrocketed after taking it, although that might be in part due to the fact that I had a wonderful teacher.
First semester, the class focuses on learning how to research and write effectively. You’ll write practice research papers and team papers and practice presentations. Second semester, you begin working on the portfolio you will submit to collegeboard. There are 2 tasks that make up this portfolio.
For Task 1: Your class collaborates to choose a topic (mine chose inequality), and then you form a team of 3 or 4 people to work with for task 1. Your team then chooses a more specific topic (mine chose socioeconomic inequality), and then further divides up the topic into parts that each of you will cover. You each write a research paper on your subsection of the topic for 1 component, and then mash them all together for the second component (not literally, of course. But you do compile existing research papers and cut out unnecessary info, write transitions, and make the entire team paper cohesive and high quality). Lastly, you put together a group presentation which you give to your peers, record, and send to collegeboard.
For Task 2: Collegeboard sends you a packet of documents about a topic, and you read them, and find inspiration in them for an individual paper. Task 2 is a repeat of Task 1, except everything is individual (peer review, however, is highly emphasized). You write a lengthier research paper, and then give an lengthier individual presentation, which is again recorded and sent in. You have a little bit more freedom with Task 2, because you have full control over what you write.
On the day of the actual AP exam in May, you will evaluate sources, compare and contrast research, evaluate arguments, and write a simulated research paper with given documents (like a mini Task 2). This exam is 3 hours and entirely written response, so it is a bit draining.
Overall, the course is extremely fun. Because you choose the topics your research, it’s highly current, relevant, and interesting. Peer work is such a large component of it, making the class enjoyable, and by the end of it, you’ll be able to whip up research papers in your sleep. Very rewarding, very useful, but definitely don’t procrastinate on the research paper writing! Good luck next year 
AP Exam is basically a DBQ?
@Swag87 Not quite. More like a synthesis essay, if you’ve taken AP Lang. Plus, that’s only part of it- the others parts are short answer questions on evaluating arguments, comparing sources, etc. The final part is putting it all together and writing an extended essay (research paper style) which I guess could be considered to be similar to a DBQ.
I wish my school offered that. That’s such a great opportunity.