WHAT is AP Capstone?AP Capstone is an innovative diploma track consisting of AP Seminar and AP Research, two year-long courses designed by College Board with the advice of colleges across the country. These courses develop students who are curious, independent thinkers who are equipped with the skills necessary to evaluate, collaborate, and create in today's world.
Capstone students will use the QUEST framework throughout both classes. Not only does QUEST tie each task to appropriate academic terminology, it shows the interconnectedness of each step in the academic process. Further, it shows that it is perfectly normal in academic study to revisit previous steps in light of new information. In that the endgame of AP Capstone is original research, QUEST helps students join the community of scholars by applying processes that guide published works in all disciplines. |
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WHO should take it?AP Capstone is ideal for highly-motivated students who are naturally curious and interested in developing their abilities to evaluate sources, collaborate on scholarly work, and complete original research. It is totally different than any other course program at PMHS and allows for greater student voice, but it is rigorous and challenging. AP Capstone will make you a better consumer of information and will make you capable of generating new information. If that sounds good to you, then you should consider AP Capstone!
This will probably be the hardest, best part of your career at PMHS. |
WHEN are the courses taken?
AP Seminar is taken as a junior. AP Research is taken as a senior. Please make plans to include these two full-year courses in your schedule early in your high school career. You will schedule for Seminar as a second semester sophomore and and Research as a second semester Junior.
WHY should I consider Capstone?AP Capstone builds sought-after skills that make a student's high school to college transition much easier. This program is innovatively metacognitive, focusing on the skills of learning rather than the content. Student voice plays a huge role in the courses, with participants choosing subjects of interest to which they will apply their new skills. Evaluating existing information and knowing how to discover new knowledge are valuable, transferrable skills in a 21st Century world.
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Also...Students who earn AP credit in both Seminar and Research will ear the AP Seminar and Research Certificate from College Board. Those who also earn AP credit in 4 other AP courses will earn the AP Capstone Diploma. Locally, Capstone scholars will also be recognized through graduation cords and certificates at honors programs.
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