Depth of
Understanding
Exemplary
Strong depth of understanding and
awareness of the complexities of the text.
You understand the book well and your response
is more than a mere summary, showing you fully
understand the text.
Sufficient
Demonstrates understanding
and some awareness of the
complexities of the text.
Partially sufficient
Does not demonstrate understanding
and may be an unclear or vague
response to the prompt.
Insufficient
Does not demonstrate understanding and is
incorrect in its analysis or offers plot
summary instead of analysis.
You understand the book and some
of its deeper points.
You have missed the main point of what is
being discussed, with only partial
understanding being shown.
Offers analysis that is too general or vague
to determine whether it is reasonable.
Offers a particularly insightful or
perceptive analysis of theme.
Offers a reasonable analysis of
theme.
You analyze theme in an intelligent way rather
than just identifying it.
Your analysis of theme is more on
the surface level.
Offers a reasonable analysis of theme
that is too general, incomplete or only
partially connected to the text.
You either don’t understand what is happening in
the book, or you haven’t written enough to show
that you understand what is happening.
Your analysis is incomplete or not specific
enough.
Organization and
progression
Uses a purposeful and coherent
organizational structure to exhibit control
of the progression of ideas.
Uses a coherent organizational
structure to exhibit control over
the progression of ideas.
Uses limited organizational structure to
exhibit control over the progression of
ideas.
Does not use an organizational structure;
Exhibits limited to no control over the
progression of ideas.
You connect your ideas in a logical sequence.
You connect your ideas in a mostly
logical sequence.
Your organization is confusing and ideas are
not presented in a logical way.
Your answer and ideas are either not present or
are too confusing to see a logical connection.
Sentences mostly flow
smoothly, and most details add
to the quality of the writing.
Sentences sometimes flow smoothly,
and some details are not connected well
or do not add to the quality of the
writing.
Sentences do not flow smoothly and added
details distract from the intent of the
writing.
Sentences flow smoothly with every detail
adding to the quality of the writing.
Your sentences flow well and add to your
answer. No fluff.
Your sentences connect together
well, but there may be some
choppiness; Most points are well
connected.
Textual evidence
Theme is effectively supported with
accurate and relevant textual evidence.
Your evidence connects very well to your theme
and supports your answer.
Incorporates evidence that consists of
properly embedded and cited quotations.
You’ve embedded your quotes well and cite them
correctly.
Sophistication of
language and
conventions
Writer’s word choice and language is clear,
concise and appropriate for the analysis.
Your word choices are AP level (no banned
words) and well chosen.
Academic language is used and writer
shows consistent command of language
with only minor errors.
Your sentences are grammatically correct. No
fragments.
Textual evidence is accurate and
relevant and reasonably
supports your response.
Your quotes make sense in
connection to your theme and the
argument you’re making.
Your sentences are sometimes disjointed and
confusing and some do not connect to your
main points.
Textual evidence is only weakly
connected to the overall idea/argument
and/or is incomplete, partially accurate
or irrelevant.
Your textual evidence is not specific enough,
incomplete or insubstantial or changes the
meaning of the text inappropriately.
Sentences are fragmented or not connected and
details are present that are not connected to the
idea or are distracting.
Incorporates incomplete/irrelevant textual
evidence or none at all.
You don’t have any quotes.
You haven’t embedded or cited the textual
evidence correctly, because it doesn’t exist.
You don’t have any quotes.
Evidence is attributed to speaker
or introduced with a colon, but
is not fully embedded.
Evidence is not properly embedded
and/or documented.
Your evidence is not embedded as
well as it could be.
Your quote is floated and/or not cited
properly.
Writer’s word choice and
language is mostly clear and
unambiguous.
Writing is formulaic and simple, and not
appropriate for the writing task.
Writing is vague and confusing. Sentences
are simple and ineffective.
Your word choices are too simplistic and not
to the level expected.
Your word choices are confusing and distracting.
Your word choices are well chosen.
Academic language is used and
writer shows moderate
command of language with
occasional errors.
Your sentences are grammatically
correct, with occasional lapses in
structure.
Academic language is mostly used, but
writer makes numerous mistakes.
Your sentences have grammatical or
conventional errors which distract from the
quality of the response.
Academic language is used sparingly, and
writing is filled with major errors that affect
the understanding of the response.
Your sentences have substantial errors that
distract from the understanding of the response.