AP Free-Response Essay Rubric

High-Range Essay (8, 9)

 Thoroughly and coherently addresses how a character is developed throught his/her relationship with another character.  Thoroughly and coherently addresses how the topic in the writing prompt shapes the meaning of the work as a whole.  Insightful details from appropriate novel or play  Clear and in-depth analysis of how a character’s hopes, successes, failures, and expectations of others affect how he responds to another character  Differentiates between characters’ traits  Fully develops the main conflicts or themes in the novel or play  Thoroughly discusses specific characters  Strongly adheres to topic  Demonstrates mature writing style.

Mid-Range Essay (5, 6, 7)

 Adequately identifies how character is developed through relationships with another character.  Adequately discusses how and why events affect the characters.  These effects are discussed in a less-developed discussion/analysis  Relies more on obvious details rather than delving into characters’ emotional responses based on their past, hopes, failures, etc.  Adequately adheres to topic and uses connective ideas  Some errors in syntax and diction  Less mature writing style

Low-Range Essay (1, 2, 3, 4)

 Some discussion about characters’ relationships, but discussion relies on superficial details  Lacks a connection between topics  Essay does not adhere to topic or doesn’t fully address writing prompt  Does not connect ideas and examples from novel or play back to how they help to “shape the meaning of the work as a whole.”  Discussion is low-middle diction  Thesis is not clear, or fully supported  Ideas are superficial and underdeveloped at times  Lacks enough specific examples from the play to support general statements