AP Rubric Scoring Your Peer’s Essay Interpreting Your Score

Scoring Criteria  Focus:  Is the paper clearly focused?  Does it concentrate on a particular topic?  Does it maintain its focus throughout the paper?  Thesis/Assertions:  Does the thesis statement take a position?  Is the position arguable?  Does the position reflect a mature understanding of the topic?  Evidence:  Does the author use evidence from supporting sources?  Supporting sources may include quotes, paraphrases, summaries, etc.  Does it use specific and meaningful quotes?  Analysis/Commentary:  Does the commentary link the quote back to the thesis statement?  Is it insightful?  Is it useful? Does it add to the audience’s understanding or clarify a concept?  Language/Control of Writing:  Does the author display a mature level of vocabulary?  Is the piece clear, free of awkward wording or distracting errors in diction and syntax?  Is the piece free of major/distracting errors in grammar and punctuation?

Point Values: 8-9  The maturely written response clearly focuses on the topic and effectively employs substantial supporting evidence.  Accurately and insightfully focuses on the topic  Refers to specific examples and clearly connects them to the topic  Demonstrates an ability to control a wide range of the elements of effective writing THESIS: Thoughtful and Mature FOCUS: Accurate and Insightful EVIDENCE: Specific, clearly connected ANALYSIS: Relates Examples to Topic LANGUAGE: Impressive, Mature, Free of errors, Varied Style

Point Values: 6-7  The well-written response clearly focuses on the topic and adequately uses supporting evidence.  Uses some examples to support ideas and adequately connects them to the topic  Clearly develops a position  Demonstrates a clear prose style FOCUS: Clear THESIS: Clearly Developed ANALYSIS: Sufficient EVIDENCE: Adequate, well chosen examples LANGUAGE: Clear, with minor lapses, style may be a little dull

Point Values: 5 and Below  The adequately written response usually focuses on the topic and includes some supporting evidence but may be inconsistent and simplistic in its explanations.  Uses examples which may be vague, superficial, or unrelated to the topic  Weakly focuses on topic, discussion may be unrelated to evidence  Adequately written but may demonstrate inconsistent control of language  Sufficiently written to convey the writer’s ideas, but may have weak control over diction, syntax, grammar, spelling or organization THESIS: Restates or summarizes, position may be unclear FOCUS: Weak, simplistic; may substitute a simpler task EVIDENCE: Vague, superficial, unrelated ANALYSIS: Vague, or unrelated to evidence or assertions LANGUAGE: Immature/ Lack of control

Point Values 8-9  The maturely written response clearly focuses on the topic and effectively employs substantial supporting evidence.  Accurately and insightfully focuses on the topic  Refers to specific examples and clearly connects them to the topic  Demonstrates an ability to control a wide range of the elements of effective writing

Point Values 6-7  The well-written response clearly focuses on the topic and adequately uses supporting evidence.  Uses some examples to support ideas and adequately connects them to the topic  Clearly develops a position  Demonstrates a clear prose style

Point Values 5 or Lower  The adequately written response usually focuses on the topic and includes some supporting evidence but may be inconsistent and simplistic in its explanations.  Uses examples which may be vague, superficial, or unrelated to the topic  Weakly focuses on topic, discussion may be unrelated to evidence  Adequately written but may demonstrate inconsistent control of language  Sufficiently written to convey the writer’s ideas, but may have weak control over diction, syntax, grammar, spelling or organization

Point Values to Grade Translation  8 or 9: 98  6 or 7: 89  Not Yet: must be rewritten.  Due no later than Friday  Handwritten  Stapled to back of original, with comment sheet  You will have two opportunities to rewrite, after which point you will receive a grade based on the full AP rubric  5: 79  4: 73  3: 65  2: 60  1: 55