Scholar________________________________________________________________ Points_____________/100
AP English
Persuasive Essay Scoring Guide
9-8
10093%
7-6
9283%
5
8273%
Paper responds appropriately to the prompt through a well-reasoned presentation of
evidence from observation, experience, or reading. Writer develops his/her position with
evidence and explanations that are appropriate and convincing, referring to the prompt
passage explicitly or implicitly. Paper aptly supports what the writer asserts and
demonstrates stylistic maturity by an effective command of sentence structure, diction,
and organization. The writing reveals an ability to choose from and control a wide range
of the elements of effective writing, but is not necessarily without minor flaws.
Paper responds appropriately to the prompt through a well-reasoned presentation of
evidence from observation, experience, or reading, but lacks the more carefully nuanced
thought or the more detailed development of 9-8 papers. The writer develops his/her
position with evidence and explanations that are appropriate and sufficient, referring to
the prompt passage explicitly or implicitly. The writing contains lapses in diction or
syntax, but generally the prose is clear. The arguments are sound, but are presented with
less coherence or persuasive force than essays in the 9-8 range.
Paper attempts to respond appropriately to the prompt through a well-reasoned
presentation of evidence from observation, experience, or reading, but does not sustain a
coherent presentation. Though adequately written, it demonstrates inconsistent control
over the elements of composition resulting in a less-than-sophisticated writing style.
Organization is evident but is not fully realized or particularly effective. The essay
misunderstands the passage, misrepresents the arguments it presents, analyzes these
inaccurately, or fails to mention the passage at all. The evidence or explanations used are
inappropriate, insufficient, or limited. The prose generally conveys the student’s ideas but
is less consistent in controlling the elements of effective writing. Significant lapses in use
of mature diction and syntax are present.
4-3
7263%
Paper does not respond adequately to the question's tasks. The writer has not defined a
clear position or has attempted to develop a position with evidence that is not well chosen
or well integrated for the purpose. Evidence is shallow, misguided, or unrelated to the
passage. The writing is sufficient to convey the writer's ideas, but suggests weak control
over diction, syntax, or organization. The essay contains consistent spelling errors or
some flaws in grammar. Lapses in mature use of diction and syntax interfere with
meaning.
2-1
Paper fails to respond adequately to the question's tasks. Although the writer attempts to
respond to the passage, the response exhibits little clarity about the writer's attitude or
only slight or misguided evidence in its support. Essay is poorly written on several
counts, is unpersuasively brief, or presents only assertions without substantive evidence.
It reveals consistent weaknesses in grammar or other basic elements of composition. The
essay is especially inexact, vacuous, and/or mechanically unsound.
______YOUR AP SCORE