AP Seminar End-of-Course Exam Prompts - Section I - Parts A and B

Sep 20, 2026

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AP Seminar End-of-Course exam prompts for Section I and its Parts A and B provide detailed directions for analyzing authors’ arguments and evidence. Students complete short-answer tasks identifying an author’s thesis, explaining reasons and line of reasoning, and evaluating the effectiveness and credibility of evidence. Part B requires reading two articles, then writing an essay comparing the arguments by assessing relevance, credibility, and the validity of reasoning. Section II instructions emphasize synthesizing multiple sources to support a logically organized, evidence-based perspective.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Section I, Part A

Question 1-3

Section I, Part B

Two-article comparison essay

Section II

Multi-source thematic argument

-. **Please note that these are the correct task directions.The task directions in theCourse and Exam Description and Workshop Handbook are no longer valid** AP Seminar End-of-Couse Exam Prompts Section I,Part A-(90 minutes total for Section1,30 minutes recommended for Part A) 1.Identify the author's argument,main idea,or thesis.(3 points) 2.Identify the reasons the author cites and explain how he establishes his line ofreasoning.(6 points) 3.Evaluate the effectiveness of the evidence the author uses to support his argument.(6 points) Section l,Part B-(90 minutes totalfor Section 1,60 minutes recommended for Part B) Directions:Read the following two articles carefully.Then,write an essay that evaluatesand compares the effectiveness of the two arguments.Focus your essay on the relevanceand credibility of the evidence each presents and the validity of their lines of reasoning. Section ll-(90 minutes totalfor Section II) Directions:The following four(4)sources present multiple perspectives on the sameissue or topic.Read the sources carefully,focusing on both the thematic connectionamong them and the different perspective each represents.Then,write a logicallyorganized,well-reasoned,and well-written argument that presents your ownperspective on the thematic link you identified.You must incorporate at least two(2)of the sources provided.You may also use the other provided sources or draw uponyour own knowledge.In your response,refer to the provided sources as Source A,Source B,Source C,or Source D,or by the authors'names. | END OF COURSE EXAM:SECTION I,PART A
15 POINTS | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Question 1 | | | | The response misstates the author's
argument,main idea,or thesis. | The response identifies,in part and
with some accuracy,the author's
argument,main idea,or thesis. | The response accurately identifies
the author's argument,main idea,
or thesis. | | 1 | 2 | 3 | | Question 2 | | | | The response omits or misidentifies
the reasons cited by the author and
provides little or no explanation of
how the author establishes a line of
reasoning. | The response identifies the reasons
cited by the author and provides a
partial explanation of how the
author establishes a line of
reasoning. | The response identifies the reasons
cited by the author and provides a
clear explanation of how the author
establishes a line of reasoning. | | 1-2 | 3-4 | 5-6 | | Question 3 | | | | The response omits or misidentifies
some of the evidence.The response
disregards how wellthe evidence
supports the argument. | The response identifies some of the
evidence.The response evaluates
broadly how well the evidence
supports the argument. | The response evaluates the
relevance and credibility of the
evidence.The response provides a
thorough and detailed evaluation of
how wellthe evidence supports the
argument. | | 1-2 | 3-4 | 5-6 | NOTE:IF A RESPONSE TO ON QUEST1On PROVIDESNFOBATONAT SUPPORTS A RESPONSE TOANOTHER QUESTION,SCORESTO BOTH QCESTIONS SHOULD BE CREDPEED,AS APPLICABLE. # Section 1,Part A Commentary2014 Practice AP Seminar Exam Task Overview This component of the APExam consists of three short-answer questions that assessanalysis of an argument in a single source or document.Students are asked toanalyze an argument by means of identifying reasons and using evidence.Question\#1asks students to identify the main idea of author Richard Feynman's argumentfrom the essay The Uncertainty of Science.Question\#2 requires the students toidentify the reasons the author uses and explain how he uses them to establish hisline of reasoning.The student then evaluates the effectiveness of the evidenceFeynman uses to support his argument in question\#3.The suggested time foranswering all three questions was 40 minutes. Sample A Score:Low The r

FAQs

What do students need to do in Section I, Part A?

Students answer three short-answer questions by identifying the author’s thesis, explaining the reasons and line of reasoning, and evaluating how effective the author’s evidence is in supporting the argument.

How does Section I, Part B differ from Part A?

Part B directs students to read two articles and write an essay that evaluates and compares both arguments, focusing on the relevance and credibility of evidence and the validity of the reasoning.

What is required for Section II writing?

Students read four sources, identify a thematic link, and write a well-organized argument presenting their own perspective while incorporating at least two of the provided sources.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Gelato