Hey y'all, I'm prepping for the AP Lang exam and I'm focusing on the argument essay right now. Does anybody know what the scoring rubric is like for this section? I want to make sure I'm hitting all the key points.
Hello! The AP Lang Argument Essay rubric has been designed to assess various aspects of your ability to write in a clear and organized way. Here's a breakdown of what the College Board's rubric looks like for the argument essay:
1. Thesis (1 point): Your thesis statement needs to be clear, defensible, and nuanced, and indicate the position you're taking on the issue. Essentially, it should give a roadmap of your essay to the reader.
2. Evidence and Commentary (4 points): You must provide relevant and persuasive evidence to support your claims and arguments. The evidence can be from different sources, but it should be accurate, credible, and convincing. Along with evidence, your analysis and commentary should be insightful and adequately explain how your chosen pieces of evidence support your thesis.
a. 4 points: Providing strong evidence and well-developed analysis that convincingly demonstrates the skills required to create a successful argument.
b. 3 points: Providing a good variety of evidence and relatively solid analysis, but not quite as thorough or convincing as a 4-point essay.
c. 2 points: Using some evidence and limited analysis that, while present, does not quite form a convincing argument.
d. 1 point: Providing minimal evidence or analysis that does not create a solid argument.
3. Sophistication (1 point): This point is awarded for effectively crafting a persuasive essay that demonstrates a deep understanding of the topic, an underlying complexity in your thought process, and strong rhetorical skills. Having a well-structured argument, addressing counterarguments, and using a nuanced tone can help you earn this point.
To prepare for your argument essay, make sure you practice crafting clear thesis statements, gathering relevant and persuasive evidence, providing insightful analysis and commentary, and refining your writing to have an overall sophisticated tone. Analyzing previously successful essays and understanding the rubric criteria will help you ensure that you're hitting all the key points. Good luck with your AP Lang exam!
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