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* AP Seminar : Critical Thinking and Research

In this 15 week course, learners will prepare students for the Advanced Placement (AP) Seminar exam by developing their critical thinking, research, and argumentation skills.
Brandy Dahlen and BE Education
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(595)
Popular
Rising Star
Class

What's included

30 live meetings
22 hrs 30 mins in-class hours
Homework
1-2 per week
Assessment
7 or more throughout the class
Grading
included

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 12
This course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement (AP) Seminar exam by developing their critical thinking, research, and argumentation skills. Through a series of interdisciplinary inquiries, students will explore complex topics, conduct independent research, and engage in collaborative discussions. The course will focus on building proficiency in evidence-based argumentation, source analysis, and presentation techniques necessary for success in the AP Seminar assessment tasks.

Course Objectives:
Develop critical thinking skills through interdisciplinary inquiries.
Conduct independent research using credible sources and methodologies.
Evaluate and synthesize multiple perspectives on complex issues.
Construct and defend evidence-based arguments in both written and oral formats.
Collaborate effectively with peers in group research projects and presentations.
Demonstrate proficiency in AP Seminar assessment tasks, including the Individual Research Report (IRR) and Team Multimedia Presentation (TMP).
Cultivate habits of intellectual curiosity, ethical reasoning, and self-reflection.

This course is structured to provide students with ample opportunities for hands-on learning, collaboration, and feedback to help them succeed in the AP Seminar exam and beyond. Emphasis will be placed on fostering intellectual curiosity, ethical reasoning, and effective communication skills essential for college and career readiness.
Learning Goals
Course Objectives:
Develop critical thinking skills through interdisciplinary inquiries.
Conduct independent research using credible sources and methodologies.
Evaluate and synthesize multiple perspectives on complex issues.
Construct and defend evidence-based arguments in both written and oral formats.
Collaborate effectively with peers in group research projects and presentations.
Demonstrate proficiency in AP Seminar assessment tasks, including the Individual Research Report (IRR) and Team Multimedia Presentation (TMP).
Cultivate habits of intellectual curiosity, ethical reasoning, and self-reflection.
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows College Board Advanced Placement Curriculum
Standards
Aligned with Advanced Placement (AP) Standards
30 Lessons
over 15 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Introduction to AP Seminar
 Overview of course objectives, structure, and AP exam format
Introduction to the AP Seminar performance tasks (Team Project, Individual Research Report) 
45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Introduction to AP Seminar
 Explanation of the AP Seminar rubrics and scoring criteria 
45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Critical Thinking and Inquiry
 Developing essential questions for inquiry-based learning
Techniques for analyzing and evaluating arguments 
45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Critical Thinking and Inquiry
 Practice in identifying bias, assumptions, and logical fallacies 
45 mins online live lesson

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research. 3rd edition. University of Chicago Press. Burk, Jim. Uncharted Territory. 1st edition. W.W. Norton and Company. Turabian, Kate L., Gregory C. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, and the University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff. The Student’s Guide to Writing College Papers and Turabian Teacher Collaborative Topic Sheets. 4th edition. University of Chicago Press. Upson, Matt, C. Michael Hall, and Kevin Cannon. Information Now. 1st edition. University of Chicago Press. Austin, Michael. Reading the World: Ideas that Matter. W.W. Norton and Company. Chaffee, John. Critical Thinking, Thoughtful Writing. Cengage Learning. Jacobus, Lee A. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Bedford/St Martins. Graff, Gerald, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. "They Say, I Say" The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. W.W. Norton and Company. Johnson, June. Global Issues, Local Arguments. Pearson. Palmquist, Mike. The Bedford Researcher. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s
Joined May, 2020
4.9
595reviews
Popular
Rising Star
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Education from University of Toronto
Jelena
Master's Degree in History from University of Cambridge
Brandy Dahlen
Master's Degree from Eastern Michigan University
Karimah Whitaker
Master's Degree in History from Northwestern University
Linford
Master's Degree in Religious Studies from Yale University
Linford
Bachelor's Degree in History from Birmingham-Southern College
Brandy Dahlen
Bachelor's Degree from University of Alabama at Birmingham
Karimah Whitaker
Bachelor's Degree from Middle East Technical University
Maya
Bachelor's Degree in History from Millersville University
Linford
Hi! I’m Karimah. I am an AP authorized teacher.  I’m also a mom of four, global citizen, ardent traveler, and communications specialist of 25 years. I’m originally from Alabama but call Raleigh, NC home for now. I’ve spent 15 years traveling and working abroad, primarily in journalism, communications, and marketing. Among the many roles I’ve assumed, I’ve worked as a teacher, AP teacher, university instructor, coach, trainer, consultant, curriculum developer, and evaluator.

It goes without saying that my professional passion is helping others effectively communicate – whether through a speech, essay, presentation, or ad. My methodology springs from a singular truth; great communication is about understanding the motivations of the receiver and what you want the end result to be. Once you’re able to understand that, everything else will fall into place!

I’ve had immense fun seeing my students bloom into effective communicators. When it “clicks”, there’s an excitement in their eyes, which I look forward to seeing in each of my students’ eyes here!

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Live Group Course
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$500

for 30 classes
2x per week, 15 weeks
45 min

Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-6 learners per class

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