Simplified Rubric for AP Rhetorical Analysis Essays

Overall, these essays seem to be graded on (not in order of importance):

understanding of author’s essay and use of rhetorical strategies

analysis of author’s purpose and use of rhetorical strategies

effectiveness of examples cited and explained (and to a limited extent, number of examples cited)

fluency/overall quality of writing (including an awareness of the student’s own use of rhetorical strategies in upper scores)

9 (8+)

understands passage and correctly interprets rhetorical strategies

effectively analyzes author’s purpose and strategies in a particularly sophisticated way

convincing examples and more complete explanations clearly support analysis; 8–9 examples

writing is very thoroughly developed or demonstrates impressive control

8

understands passage and correctly interprets rhetorical strategies

effectively analyzes author’s purpose and strategies

convincing examples and more complete explanations clearly support analysis; 7–8 examples

while not flawless, writing consistently demonstrates control and effectiveness

7 (6+)

understands passage and correctly interprets rhetorical strategies

adequately analyzes author’s purpose and strategies

examples and more complete explanations clearly support analysis; 6–7 examples

writing clearly conveys students’ ideas; is more thoroughly developed or uses a more mature style

6

understands passage and correctly interprets rhetorical strategies

adequately analyzes author’s purpose and strategies

examples and explanations clearly support analysis; 5–6 examples

writing clearly conveys students’ ideas despite occasional lapses

5 (6-)

understands passage and correctly interprets rhetorical strategies

analyzes author’s purpose and strategies

examples or explanations are uneven or inconsistent; 4–5 examples

writing conveys students’ ideas despite occasional lapses

4

somewhat misunderstands passage or misinterprets rhetorical strategies

inadequately analyzes author’s purpose and strategies

examples or explanations are inappropriate or unconvincing; 2-3 examples

writing conveys student’s ideas, but inconsistently or ineffectively

3 (4-)

misunderstands passage or misinterprets rhetorical strategies

inaccurately analyzes author’s purpose and strategies

examples or explanations are particularly limited or simplistic; 1–2 examples

writing conveys student’s ideas despite lack of maturity or control

2

misreads passage, misinterprets rhetorical strategies, or misunderstands prompt

little success in analyzing author’s purpose and strategies

responds to the prompt tangentially with unrelated, inaccurate, or inappropriate explanation; 0–1 examples

consistent weaknesses in writing such as grammatical problems, a lack of development or organization, or a lack of control obscures students’ ideas

1 (2-)

misreads the passage, misinterprets rhetorical strategies, or misunderstands prompt

little-to-no success in analyzing author’s purpose and strategies

undeveloped response uses especially simplistic explanation; 0 examples

consistent weaknesses in writing such as grammatical problems, a lack of development or organization, or a lack of control obscures students’ ideas

9 – 100%	5 – 80%	1 – 40%

8 – 95%	4 – 70%

7 – 90%	3 – 60%

6 – 85%	2 – 50%