Please review the attached information in detail.  
In addition, please review the description of the AP Seminar and AP Research courses and assessments, and have your parents review these as well.  After you’ve done so, sign the Statement of Intent pages acknowledging that you have read and understood the requirements of the program.


What is AP Capstone?
AP Capstone is a flexible, rigorous two-year program designed to help students develop the research, critical thinking and communication skills they’ll need in order to be successful in college, as well as in other professional environments.  The program is composed of two separate components, the Seminar Course and the Research Course.  In order to earn a Capstone Diploma, students must earn a qualifying score of 3 or higher on both the Seminar and the Research assessments, in addition to any other four AP tests, at any time in their high school career.  Should a student not successfully complete these four additional AP exams, he or she may potentially be eligible for a Capstone Certificate. However, it is expected that students enrolled in the program will pursue the full diploma.

What are the Seminar and Research Courses?
The Seminar and Research course differ from other AP courses in that they are not content-driven, but rather focused on cross-curricular and interdisciplinary critical thinking skills.  Instead of being assessed via a traditional year-end test, AP scores in the Seminar and Research courses are determined through several performance-based tasks: individual and collaborative research projects, papers, and presentations.
In the Seminar Course, students will complete: a team research project focused on current social issues, which will include a paper and presentation; an individual research paper and presentation in a discipline of the student’s choosing; and a year-end assessment designed to measure student skill in evaluating arguments in multiple disciplines.
AP Seminar Assessment Structure
Students are assessed with two through-course performance assessment tasks and one end-of-course exam. All three assessments are summative and will be used to calculate a final AP score (using the 1–5 scale) for AP Seminar.
Format of Assessment
I. Team Project and Presentation | 20% of AP Score
• Individual Research and Reflection
• Team Multimedia Presentation and Defense
II. Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation | 35% of AP Score
• Individual Written Argument
• Individual Multimedia Presentation
• Oral Defense
III. End-of-Course Exam (3 Hours) | 45% of AP Score
• Understanding and analyzing an argument
• Synthesizing information to develop an evidence-based argument.


AP Research Assessment Structure:
Per the AP Research Course and Exam Description
“Students design, plan and implement a yearlong, in-depth study or investigation in an area of personal interest through a chose or designed inquiry method and develop a well-reasoned argument based on the evidence collected in an academic paper of 4,000-5,000 words.  As a culmination of their research, students deliver (using appropriate media) a presentation and orally defend their research design, approach and findings . . .Throughout the inquiry process, students communicate regularly with their teacher and, when appropriate, consult with an internal or external expert.”
I. Academic Paper (4,000-5,000 words) | 75%  of AP Score
II. Presentation and Oral Defense (15-20 minutes) | 25% of AP Score
How will participating in the program affect my schedule?
Students in the Capstone Program are free to choose any combination of AP and traditional courses they choose. Both AP Seminar and AP Research are yearlong academic electives, and do not replace any existing coursework. Depending on your schedule and extracurricular activities, you may need to take a zero period course.
You will also be required to take AP English Language in 11th grade, concurrently with AP Seminar.
Who is eligible for this program?
GHCHS will be offering the program to all students in their Junior year.  Current Sophomores are eligible for next year's cohort.   Because of the flexible nature of this program, students who participate in sports and extracurricular activities are welcome and encouraged to apply; we will find a way to guide students to success if they are interested and motivated.
What are the requirements for joining the program?
There are no prerequisites courses.   We are, however, asking for a recommendation from a current teacher in an academic course, in order for us to help determine if this program is a good fit for you.  Should your teacher not recommend you, there is the option for you to fill out an additional application.  
However, it is required that you take AP English Language concurrently with AP Seminar.  This is meant to provide you an opportunity to reinforce some of the fundamental skills necessary for the course, as well as to help you earn one of the qualifying scores necessary for the AP Capstone Diploma.

*** NOTE: THERE IS NO OPTION OF TAKING AP SEMINAR OR AP RESEARCH WITHOUT TAKING THE EXAM. THE PERFORMANCE TASKS ARE A REQUIRED COMPONENT OF THE COURSE ***