FRQ Rubric
AP US History Essay Rubric
8 – 9
•Has a clear well-developed thesis that addresses the essay prompt and which guides the essay throughout.
•Demonstrates understanding of the complexity of the topic. Complexity equals discussion of multiple sides of the topic.
Uses a significant number of documents in an analytical way to support the thesis
•Uses many accurate facts and details from the time period per paragraph.
•May contain insignificant errors that do not hinder argument or organization.
•Is clearly organized and well written.
5 – 7
•Has a thesis which addresses the essay prompt.
•Explains only differences or similarities of the issue but not the complexity; focuses of answer is uneven
Uses some documents to support the thesis
•Uses some facts in each paragraph to support interpretation.
•May contain insignificant errors that do not hinder argument or organization.
•Shows acceptable organization and writing; language errors do not interfere with the comprehension of the essay.
2 – 4
•Has a limited, confused, or poorly developed thesis, may restate the prompt, or has weak organization and writing.
•Describes differences or similarities in a general or simplistic manner; uneven treatment of all parts of the question
Quotes from the document or describes document
•Uses few facts in each paragraph or mentions facts without interpretation or interprets facts incorrectly.
•May contain some errors that interfere with comprehension.
•May be poorly organized and/or written.
0 – 1
•Has no thesis or thesis that does not address the topic.
•Shows inadequate or inaccurate understanding of the question and its complexity.
•Some paragraphs have no facts.
•Includes numerous errors, both major and minor, that interfere with comprehension.
•Written so poorly that it inhibits understanding.
