One of the four Free-Response Questions on the AP Exam is the Argument Essay. Mo

One of the four Free-Response Questions on the AP Exam is the Argument Essay. Most of you are familiar with the concept of writing an essay that presents an argument, so we will not focus on the general concept, but rather on the specifics of how to write one that meets the requirements for the AP grading rubric. In a nutshell, you have to answer a prompt with a thesis and reasoning, then use documents from the required list to prove your point, and then end with a refutation.
You’re going to type your essay, even though you’ll handwrite them on the AP exam. We’ll practice that part later in the year. You’ll have 45 minutes to write your essay.
Remember to use the strategies we’ve discussed earlier in the year for writing a good thesis and a good essay. On the AP Exam, you cannot get most of the points if you do not write an adequate thesis.
Political Participation? Argument Essay Answer this question: Do Americans participate well in our participatory democracy?
In your essay, you must:
Articulate a defensible claim or thesis that responds to the prompt and establishes a line of reasoning
Support your claim with at least TWO pieces of accurate and relevant information:
At least ONE piece of evidence must be from one of the following foundational documents:
Federalist No. 51
Constitution of the United States
Marbury v Madison
One of the artifacts we looked at in the beginning of the unit
Use a second piece of evidence from another foundational document from the list or from your study of politics and government.
Use reasoning to explain why your evidence supports your claim/thesis
Respond to an opposing or alternative perspective using refutation, concession, or rebuttal.
Argument Essay FRQ — Political Participation
Argument Essay FRQ — Political Participation
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeClaim or Thesis
Responds to the prompt with a defensible claim or thesis that establishes a line of reasoning
1 pts
Full Marks
The claim or thesis responds to the prompt rather than restating or rephrasing the prompt and establishes a line of reasoning
0 pts
No Marks
1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeEvidence
3 pts
Full Marks
Uses TWO pieces of specific and relevant evidence to support the claim or thesis; cannot be earned without a defensible claim or thesis
2 pts
Partial Credit
Uses ONE piece of specific and relevant evidence to support the claim or thesis; cannot be earned without a defensible claim or thesis
1 pts
Partial Credit
Provides ONE piece of evidence that is relevant to the topic of the prompt; can be earned without a claim or thesis
0 pts
No Marks
Responses do not provide any accurate evidence and/or provide evidence that is not relevant to the topic.
3 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReasoning
Explains how or why the evidence supports the claim or thesis
1 pts
Full Marks
Must explain the relationship between the evidence provides and the claim or thesis
0 pts
No Marks
Responses include evidence but offer no reasoning to connect the evidence to the claim or thesis and/or restate the prompt without explaining how the evidence supports the claim or thesis
1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeResponds to Alternative Perspectives
Responds to an opposing or alternate perspective using refutation, concession, or rebuttal
1 pts
Full Marks
most describe an alternate perspective AND refute, concede, or rebut the perspective.
0 pts
No Marks
Responses restate the opposite of the claim or thesis; identify or describe an alternative perspective but do not refute, concede, or rebut that perspective; AND/OR refute a foundational document rather than an alternate perspective to the provided claim or thesis.
1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMechanics
Response is free of spelling, grammar and formatting errors.
1 pts
Full Marks
0 pts
No Marks
1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent Knowledge
Student response provides evidence of clear understanding of course content.
3 to >0.0 pts
Full Marks
0 pts
No Marks
3 pts
Total Points: 10