The Argumentation

Essay
 The 4th of your FRQs
• You will be asked to “develop an
argument in the form of an essay,
using evidence from one or more
required foundational documents.”

• Worth the same as the other 3 but

you’re advised by CB to devote
twice the time.
The CB rubric
You can have more than one
possible response.
• The key will be whether you have a defensible claim/thesis that
responds to the question AND establishes a line of
reasoning.

• I RECOMMEND THAT THE THESIS STATEMENT FOLLOW A

FORMULA OF “Despite A, I believe B (which will be a rewording
of the relevant part of the prompt) because C (and maybe D).”
Why? Because that will train you to do these good things:

• Establish a line of reasoning

• Have a counter in mind that is relevant to the prompt

 To repeat: every thesis
statement MUST have…

…the word BECAUSE in it.

If you use that word you’re almost guaranteed to

establish a line of reasoning.
 Evidence points
• You get 1 point for an accurate statement of evidence that
is somehow related to the prompt (a REALLY low bar) and
then a 2nd point if that same piece of evidence is related
to your thesis.

• Then you’ll get a 3rd point for a second piece of evidence

as long as the second piece is related to the thesis.

• Due to time constraints, most of my tests will ask for

only 1 piece of evidence.

• But you’ll be asked for 2 on the AP exam.

 Evidence (cont.)
• Evidence is a fact, not an opinion.

• Identify the document you’re using and provide the

relevant fact(s) from the document that supports
your thesis.

• Be very direct and give the reader a clear map by

signaling what you’re writing about. Thus:

• “My first piece of evidence is x.”

• “This document states [or provides or whatever

the right verb is for your answer]….”
 Evidence (cont.)
• Don’t just refer generically to the document you’re using for
evidence but instead identify which PART of that document
supports the thesis.

• So, not good: “My first piece of evidence is the

Constitution. The Constitution protects us against
tyranny through the system of government it creates.”

• Better: “My first piece of evidence is the Constitution.

The first 3 articles of the Constitution protect us against
tyranny by creating 3 separate branches of government,
each of which has separate powers that it may use to
check the other two branches.”
 Evidence — 2d piece
• You have a lot of latitude in picking your 2d piece of
evidence. Illustrative instructions regarding the 2d piece of
evidence include the following:

• “Use a second piece of evidence from any other

foundational document not used as your first piece of
evidence or from your knowledge of course concepts.”

• “Use a second piece of evidence from another

foundational document from the list or from your study of
the electoral process.”

• I think it's probably best to stick with one of the other

foundational docs or Fab 14 court cases. All the readers will
know those documents really well and there is less chance that
they will misunderstand your point or conclude that your second
piece of evidence either is not a fact or is simply incorrect.
 Reasoning point
You get 1 “reasoning point” for explaining how or why “the
evidence” — 1 piece? both pieces? — supports or proves
the thesis.

• Remember: you will be asked for 2 pieces of evidence

on the AP exam. Explain how BOTH support your
thesis.

I urge you to be very direct.

• If you’re explaining why the evidence supports your

thesis, state “This supports my thesis because.…”

• If you’re explaining how the evidence supports your

thesis, state “This supports my thesis by.…”
 Alternative perspective
• This paragraph calls for two things (although you only get 1 point):
the statement of an opposing or alternative perspective AND your
refutation, rebuttal, or concession.

• The alternative perspective must be related to your thesis! If it’s

not, then it’s just some unrelated rambling.

• After stating the alternative perspective, do one of the following:

• refute — i.e., prove that something is false (which is hard to

do in this essay);

• rebut — contradict or oppose with countervailing proof; or

• concede — agree with the counter (but then state why the
counter is irrelevant or otherwise unpersuasive).

• I think it works to start this paragraph by saying something like,

“Some say that …. However, ….”
Let’s take a look at a sample argumentation
essay prompt and CB guidance.
CB scoring guidelines:
thesis
Scoring guidelines: Evidence
Scoring guidelines:
Reasoning
Scoring guidelines: Alternative
perspective
If you add up all those points…
…you get 6 for the argumentation essay, per the CB.

•On most of my tests I’ll only ask for one piece of evidence.

•Thus, you can get the following 50 points (unless I ask for 2
pieces):

•10 for the thesis

•10 for use of evidence related to the prompt

•10 for use of evidence that supports your thesis

•10 for explaining how the evidence supports your thesis

•10 for your rebuttal/refutation/concession

Questions?