AP English Rubric

• Thesis


  Presents a defensible position that responds to the prompt
• Thesis


  • Cannot simply restate the prompt
  • Cannot just summarize the issue with no apparent claim
  • Must take a clear position
• Evidence


  Specific details from at least 3 of the provided sources to support claims
• Commentary


  Explains how the evidence supports a line of reasoning
• Sophistication


  • Demonstrates nuanced argument, explores complexities, articulates implications/limitations, makes effective rhetorical choices, employs vivid and persuasive style
• Rhetorical Analysis


  Analyzes the writer's rhetorical choices
• Evidence


  Support for claims in a line of reasoning
• Commentary


  Explanation of how evidence supports a line of reasoning
• Responses that earn 0 points


  • Are incoherent or do not address the prompt
  • May be just opinion with no textual references or references that are irrelevant
• Responses that earn 1 point


  • Tend to focus on summary or description of a passage rather than specific details or techniques
  • Mention rhetorical choices with little or no explanation
• Responses that earn 2 points


  • Consist of a mix of specific evidence and broad generalities
  • May contain some simplistic, inaccurate, or repetitive explanations that don't strengthen the argument
  • May make one point well but either do not make multiple supporting claims or do not adequately support more than one claim
  • Do not explain the connections or progression between the student's claims, so a line of reasoning is not clearly established
• Responses that earn 3 points


  • Uniformly offer evidence to support claims
  • Focus on the importance of specific words and details from the passage to build an argument
  • Organize an argument as a line of reasoning composed of multiple supporting claims
  • Commentary may fail to integrate some evidence or fail to support a key claim
• Responses that earn 4 points


  • Uniformly offer evidence to support claims
  • Focus on the importance of specific words and details from the passage to build an argument
  • Organize and support an argument as a line of reasoning composed of multiple supporting claims, each with adequate evidence that is clearly explained
  • Explain how the writer's use of rhetorical choices contributes to the student's interpretation of the passage
• Writing that suffers from grammatical and/or mechanical errors that interfere with communication cannot earn the fourth point in the Evidence and Commentary row
• Sophistication


  Demonstration of sophistication of thought and/or a complex understanding of the rhetorical situation
• Responses that do not earn the Sophistication point

  • Attempt to contextualize the text, but such attempts consist predominantly of sweeping generalizations
  • Only hint at or suggest other arguments
  • Examine individual rhetorical choices but do not examine the relationships among different choices throughout the passage
  • Oversimplify complexities in the passage
  • Use complicated or complex sentences or language that is ineffective because it does not enhance the analysis
• Responses that earn the Sophistication point


  • Explaining the significance or relevance of the writer's rhetorical choices (given the rhetorical situation)
  • Explaining a purpose or function of the passage's complexities or tensions
  • Employing a style that is consistently vivid and persuasive
• The Sophistication point should be awarded only if the sophistication of thought or complex understanding is part of the student's argument, not merely a phrase or reference