Grade 9: Must an A- in Humanities I or Humanities I in Action
Grade 10: Must take Humanities II or Humanities II in Action concurrently with this course
Grade 11: Must have a B+ in Humanities II or Humanities II in Action
Grade 12: Must have a B+ in AP Language and Composition or Junior English
This course is completely focused on developing a student’s skills in critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. Students develop and refine their investigative and analytical skills through the interdisciplinary study of a variety of current global topics. Students analyze the complexity of an issue to better understand multiple perspectives and gain an awareness of the cultural, economic, political, and social factors. Individual ability to transfer skills and make connections between disciplines is greatly enhanced. Students articulate their learning through writing, discussion, presentation, and reflection. Collaboration is a critical component as students complete a team research project as part of the overall course assessment.
College Board Assessments
Assessment overview for the AP Exam:
Performance Task I - 20% of AP Score Team Project and Presentation
Performance Task 2 - 35% of AP Score Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation
End of Course Exam - 45% of AP Score
Classroom Assessments (non-AP)
To be successful in this class, students must come prepared to engage in discussion and critical thinking. While there is no prescribed content that must be mastered, there are thinking, writing and speaking skills that need to be developed. Students are encouraged to keep pace with reading and writing assignments to enhance the richness of the classroom experience. Formative assessments will help students to hone the skills required for the larger summative assessments and allow ample opportunity for feedback. The summative assessments in the first semester mirror the live assessments completed in the second semester for the College Board. Summative assessments in the second semester range from assignments that complement the live assessments to the quality of feedback a student provides to a peer. Students will receive regular feedback throughout the year whether it is individual or overall class instruction. Course grades will be calculated following the HKIS high school policy.
“AP Capstone Seminar is an amazing course for anyone interested in research, as it gives students the freedom to investigate any field they are passionate about. You also have many opportunities to collaborate with your peers, which is something I really enjoyed. I took this course as a sophomore, and it was incredibly helpful with regard to improving my academic writing and presentation skills, which I have continued to employ in subsequent courses. My best advice for students taking this class would be to get as much feedback as possible – from your teachers, peers, and anyone who will help – and to familiarise yourself with the College Board rubrics.”
- Asha Gill (Class of 2023)
“AP Capstone has been an amazing course, unlike any class I have previously taken at HKIS. For someone who loves research, writing, public speaking, or wants to excel in any of those skills, I would highly recommend the AP Capstone Program. There is an extremely wide variety of topics covered for the papers and projects, and you have the ability to collaborate with other students as well as individually.”
- Nayla Hifri (Class of 2023)