Scoring the AP Literature and
Composition Exam
Gretchen Lutz
Chavez HS
2005
Students had 2 and a half hours to
write the three essays.
Each essay counts a third of the essay
credit. The essay portion is worth
55%, The rest of the exam in
multiple choices, 55-60 questions in
one hour.
Research
• Writing on demand…is an artificial construct…it is not, however, an
insurmountable task nor a mystery. Gere et.al (2005) p.29
• An AP English course in Literature and Composition engages students
in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature.
Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their
understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both
meaning and pleasure for their readers.
College Board (2005), p.
42.
• Students need to understand and participate in grading or scoring
writing so they can benefit more fully from teacher grades and prepare
themselves for the scoring of writing on demand. Gere et.al.(2005) p.
187.
• [The standard is] students apply a wide range of strategies to
comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on
their prior experiences, their interactions with other texts, their word
identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features.
NCTE and IRA,(1996), p. 3.
The Prompt: The poems below,
published in 1789 and 1794, were
written by William Blake in response to
the conditions of chimney sweeps.
Usually, small children, sweeps, were
forced inside chimneys to clean their
interiors. Read the two poems carefully.
Then, in a well-written essay, compare
and contrast two poems, taking into
consideration the poetic techniques
Blake uses in each.
Applying the rubric
Read the designated essays and
assign them scores based on the
rubric. These essays are the
rangefinders.
Modifications
• G-T students will use rubrics to score their
own writing and the writing of their peers.
• Special Ed. And ESL students will score the
range finders. Then they will use another
rubric to score their own TAKS-type essays.
References
• National Council of Teachers of English and
International Reading Association (2005). English:
english language and composition english
literatature and composition course description.
New York: College Board AP.
• Gere, A.R. et al, (2005). Writing on demand.
Portsmouth NH, Heinemann.
• International Reading Association and National
Council of Teachers of English (1996). Standards
for the English Language Arts. Urbanana, Ill.
National Council of Teachers of English.