Advanced Seminar homeschool curriculum.
Your student researches a question, compares sources, presents an argument, and answers questions about it.
A personalized lesson from the course
A seminar question becomes researchable when competing perspectives, evidence quality, scope, and real constraints make the first answer insufficient.
- Lesson
- A Question Gets Better Under Pressure
- Goal
- Refine an inquiry question, synthesize conflicting sources, and defend a claim whose limits are visible.
How a lesson works
A 10-minute reading
This example lesson comes from the unit on inquiry, source evaluation, collaboration, and defense. It moves from “Scope is a research decision” to “Synthesis is more than agreement” and builds to one idea: research progress often looks like a better question, because the evidence has made the original question too simple.
Help inside the reading
Your child can highlight any line of “A Question Gets Better Under Pressure” and ask our Always-On Mentor about it or ask for a visual, and it offers help on its own whenever they seem stuck.
A check halfway through
Your child answers “Why can a research question improve after evidence is gathered?” before reading on, and the Reading Check at the end asks new questions.
A project your child hands in
Develop a shared question, divide the inquiry without fragmenting it, and build an individual evidence-based argument.
- Task
- Present the claim, source synthesis, method choice, and strongest unresolved limitation
- Hand in
- Team inquiry board, individual argument, and oral defense notes
Keep the inquiry moving
Students develop a question, weigh conflicting sources, write an argument, and present and defend their conclusions. Advanced Seminar runs through 24 units and 144 skills, starting with question and explore, understand and analyze arguments, and evaluate multiple perspectives.
- Source credibility and argument analyses
- Team and individual research products
- Presentations with documented oral defense
Units and skills
Advanced Seminar24 units · 144 skills
Question and explore6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Question and explore
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Question and explore
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Question and explore
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Question and explore
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Question and explore
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Question and explore
Understand and analyze arguments6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Understand and analyze arguments
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Understand and analyze arguments
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Understand and analyze arguments
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Understand and analyze arguments
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Understand and analyze arguments
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Understand and analyze arguments
Evaluate multiple perspectives6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Evaluate multiple perspectives
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Evaluate multiple perspectives
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Evaluate multiple perspectives
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Evaluate multiple perspectives
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Evaluate multiple perspectives
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Evaluate multiple perspectives
Synthesize ideas6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Synthesize ideas
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Synthesize ideas
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Synthesize ideas
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Synthesize ideas
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Synthesize ideas
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Synthesize ideas
Team inquiry6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Team inquiry
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Team inquiry
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Team inquiry
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Team inquiry
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Team inquiry
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Team inquiry
Individual research6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Individual research
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Individual research
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Individual research
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Individual research
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Individual research
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Individual research
Source credibility6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Source credibility
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Source credibility
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Source credibility
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Source credibility
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Source credibility
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Source credibility
Evidence and reasoning6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Evidence and reasoning
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Evidence and reasoning
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Evidence and reasoning
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Evidence and reasoning
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Evidence and reasoning
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Evidence and reasoning
Academic writing6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Academic writing
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Academic writing
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Academic writing
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Academic writing
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Academic writing
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Academic writing
Presentation design6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Presentation design
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Presentation design
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Presentation design
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Presentation design
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Presentation design
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Presentation design
Oral defense6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Oral defense
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Oral defense
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Oral defense
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Oral defense
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Oral defense
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Oral defense
End-of-course synthesis6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within End-of-course synthesis
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in End-of-course synthesis
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to End-of-course synthesis
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving End-of-course synthesis
- Construct a sustained academic argument about End-of-course synthesis
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in End-of-course synthesis
Source credibility and provenance6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Source credibility and provenance
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Source credibility and provenance
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Source credibility and provenance
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Source credibility and provenance
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Source credibility and provenance
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Source credibility and provenance
Claim, evidence, and reasoning6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Claim, evidence, and reasoning
Counterargument and qualification6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Counterargument and qualification
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Counterargument and qualification
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Counterargument and qualification
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Counterargument and qualification
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Counterargument and qualification
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Counterargument and qualification
Inquiry proposal and source approval6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Inquiry proposal and source approval
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Inquiry proposal and source approval
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Inquiry proposal and source approval
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Inquiry proposal and source approval
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Inquiry proposal and source approval
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Inquiry proposal and source approval
Research artifact, presentation, and defense6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Research artifact, presentation, and defense
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Research artifact, presentation, and defense
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Research artifact, presentation, and defense
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Research artifact, presentation, and defense
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Research artifact, presentation, and defense
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Research artifact, presentation, and defense
Sustained artifact development6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Sustained artifact development
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Sustained artifact development
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Sustained artifact development
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Sustained artifact development
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Sustained artifact development
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Sustained artifact development
Selection, reflection, and presentation6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Selection, reflection, and presentation
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Selection, reflection, and presentation
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Selection, reflection, and presentation
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Selection, reflection, and presentation
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Selection, reflection, and presentation
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Selection, reflection, and presentation
Facilitated scholarly dialogue6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Facilitated scholarly dialogue
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Facilitated scholarly dialogue
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Facilitated scholarly dialogue
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Facilitated scholarly dialogue
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Facilitated scholarly dialogue
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Facilitated scholarly dialogue
Collaborative and independent inquiry6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Collaborative and independent inquiry
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Collaborative and independent inquiry
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Collaborative and independent inquiry
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Collaborative and independent inquiry
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Collaborative and independent inquiry
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Collaborative and independent inquiry
Advanced Seminar cumulative assessment6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Advanced Seminar cumulative assessment
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Advanced Seminar cumulative assessment
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Advanced Seminar cumulative assessment
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Advanced Seminar cumulative assessment
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Advanced Seminar cumulative assessment
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Advanced Seminar cumulative assessment
Advanced Seminar exam-mode practice6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Advanced Seminar exam-mode practice
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Advanced Seminar exam-mode practice
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Advanced Seminar exam-mode practice
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Advanced Seminar exam-mode practice
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Advanced Seminar exam-mode practice
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Advanced Seminar exam-mode practice
Advanced Seminar reflection and transfer6 skills
- Develop and refine a researchable question within Advanced Seminar reflection and transfer
- Evaluate credibility, relevance, and limitations of evidence in Advanced Seminar reflection and transfer
- Synthesize competing perspectives related to Advanced Seminar reflection and transfer
- Design and justify an ethical inquiry involving Advanced Seminar reflection and transfer
- Construct a sustained academic argument about Advanced Seminar reflection and transfer
- Present and orally defend decisions and conclusions in Advanced Seminar reflection and transfer
Questions parents ask
How does Advanced Seminar prepare my student for AP Seminar?
- Advanced Seminar follows the AP Seminar framework unit by unit, as its skill tree shows. Your teen explains and applies the ideas in written responses and projects, so the work shows which skills are secure and which need more practice.
What class access is required for an AP Seminar or AP Research score?
- An AP score requires a teacher-led class at a participating virtual or local school, with coordinator access; AP Seminar cannot be taken through independent study. AP Digital Portfolio performance-task materials and an end-of-course exam are required; enrollment here neither supplies that class nor submits materials.
Which course title goes on a homeschool transcript?
- Advanced Seminar, not AP Seminar. The AP designation requires College Board Course Audit authorization of the course, which framework alignment does not give. We generate the transcript with that title, ready for you to sign as homeschool administrator.
How can AP scores earn college credit?
- Colleges award credit under their own AP score policies. College Board reports scores on a 1–5 scale, separately from our coursework grades; check the college’s required score and whether it grants credit, placement, or both.
Advanced Seminar, with the teaching and records handled
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