AP® English Language and Composition

Scoring Rubric for Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis Essay

0 POINTS 1 POINT
For any of the following: Defensible thesis which examines the writer’s rhetorical choices
THESIS

No defensible thesis

ROW A
Simple restatement of prompt only
Summary of topic with no clear claim
Off-topic

0 POINTS 1 POINT 2 POINTS 3 POINTS 4 POINTS

EVIDENCE & COMMENTARY

Simple restatement of EVIDENCE: EVIDENCE: EVIDENCE: EVIDENCE:

thesis (if existing) Generalization of evidence Some textual references Specific textual references S
 pecific textual references
OR that are applicable to the that support all claims that support all claims
AND
thesis
 ewer than 2 sources
F AND AND
COMMENTARY:
referenced AND COMMENTARY: COMMENTARY:
 imple summarization of
S

ROW B
OR COMMENTARY:
passage Some explanation of how C
 onsistent explanation of
 pinion-based with no text
O Unsupported assertions or the evidence supports the evidence in support of the
 hetorical choices have
R
evidence assumptions argument line of reasoning.
little to no explanation
Some explanation of the AND AND
connection between the Discussion of at least one D
 iscussion of various
evidence and the thesis. rhetorical choice’s con- rhetorical choices’ con-
Missing or faulty line of tribution to the writer’s tributions to the writer’s
reasoning. argument argument.

0 POINTS 1 POINT
SOPHISTICATION

Unmet requirement Sophisticated thought and/or notable awareness of the rhetorical situation
Sweeping generalizations of context Thorough analysis of the impact of the writer’s rhetorical choices

ROW C
Subtle indication of other arguments within the passage Address of the passage’s complexities or tensions
Examination of rhetorical choices independently rather than in relationship Mature, convincing writing style
with each other
Misuse of complicated or complex sentences

TOTAL POINTS EARNED: /6

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