AP U.S. History STUDENT NAME:____________________________

Mr. Mercado

FREE-RESPONSE ESSAY RUBRIC/GRADE SHEET

AP ESSAY RAW SCORE:

AP GRADE:

CLASS GRADE:

Superior Essay “5”: AP Score of 8-9 ____ Superior thesis ____ Extremely well-organized essay ____ Addresses all areas of the prompt evenly ____ Excellent use of analysis to support thesis and main ideas. ____ Substantial use of evidence throughout ____ Extremely well-written essay ____ Generally error free (need not be perfect)	Strong Essay “4”: AP Score of 6-7 ____ Strong thesis (contains general analysis) ____ Well-organized essay ____ Addresses all areas of the prompt; may lack some balance between major areas ____ Some important information left out: ________________________ ____ Strong analysis in most areas; needs more ____ Strong use of evidence; may lack balance ____ Well-written essay ____ May contain minor errors
Adequate Essay “3”: AP Score of 5 ____ Clear thesis (needs more analysis) ____ Thesis a bit vague or muddy ____ Fairly well-organized essay ____ Addresses all areas of the prompt but essay may lack balance. ____ Contains some analysis; more needed ____ Some major events omitted: ___________ ____ Contains some evidence; more needed ____ Essay deviates at times from thesis ____ May contain significant historical errors ____ Some facts are irrelevant to time period	“2” Essay: AP Score of 2-4 ____ Undeveloped thesis (simple thesis) ____ Does not establish purpose of the essay. ____ Thesis does not fully address question ____ Weak organization ____ Does not address one or more aspects of the question: __________________ ____ Most major events omitted ____ Lacks analysis of key issues ____ Lacks evidence to support main ideas. ____ Contains major historical errors ____ Much information irrelevant to question. ____ Essay is somewhat incomplete (too short)
“1” Essay: AP Score of 1 ____ No thesis or poor thesis ____ Incorrect or incomplete essay ____ Facts not specific, accurate & relevant. ____ Poor analysis of key issues	“0” Essay: Did not do the question ___ Writes on topic completely different from the prompt ___ Little to no effort shown in preparation for essay

General Comments:

Thesis/intro: complex-split __; complex-simple ___; split-simple ___; simple ___; too much info __

____ Introduction contains vague or “wasted” sentences

____ Essay contains vague statements or generalizations not supported by facts.

____ Strong conclusion ____ Weak conclusion ____ No Conclusion

____ Strong topic sentences ____ Improve topic sentences ____ Good linking sentences

____ Don’t use “I” statements ____ Don’t use “I,” “our,” “we,” “us,” “you,” etc.

____ Don’t connect issues to “today” (unless asked)____ Don’t use “flowery” or colloquial style

____ Poor spelling and grammar ____ Poor penmanship: essay difficult to read