APUSH DBQ Rubric
This is a scoring rubric for an AP U.S. History Document-Based Question (DBQ). It outlines how points are awarded for thesis, contextualization, analysis. Designed to assess historical thinking and writing skills.
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AP U.S. HISTORY: Document-Based Question - Rubric
Thesis / Claim
[1 Point]
Responds t o the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim that establishes a line of reasoning. To earn this point, the thesis must make a claim that
responds t o the prompt rather than restating or rephrasing the prompt- The thesis must consist of one o r more sentences located i n one place, either i n
the introduction or the conclusion. /I
Contextualization
[1 Point]
Describes a broader historical context relevant t o the prompt. To earn this point, the response must relate the topic of the prompt t o broader historical
everts, developments, or processes that occur before, during, or continue after the timeframe of the question. This point is not awarded for merely a
phrase or reference. /I
Evidence
[3 Points]
Evidence FROM t h e Documents
/3
1 Point = Uses the content of at least THREE documents t o 2 Points = Supports an ARGUMENT in response t o the prompt using at least
address the TOPIC of the prompt. To earn one point, the FOUR documents. To earn two points, the response must occuroteJ describe
response must occurarei'y describe— rather t.ban simply OR —rather thansimply quote— the content from at least FOUR documents. In
quote—the contentfrom at least THREE oft.be documents. addition, the response must use the content of the o'ocuments to support on
ARGUMENTin response to the prompt.
Evidence BEYOND t h e Documents
1 Point = Uses at least ONEadditional piece of the specific historical evidence [beyord that found in the documents} relevant to ar ARGUMENT about the
prompt. To earn this paint, rhe response must describe the evidence and.must use more than a phrase or reference. This additional piece o f evidence must
be differentfrom the evidence used to eurn the pointfor contextualization.
Analysis and
Reasoning
[2 Points]
1 Point = For at least TWO documents, explains how or why the document's point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience is relevant to an
ARGUMENT. To earn this point, the response must explain how or why (rather than simpiy identifying/ the document'spair-t of view, purpose, historical
situation, ar audience is relevant to an ARGUMENT about the promptfor each of rhe TWO documents sourced.
/2
1 Point = Demonstrates a complex understanding of the historical development that is the focus of the prompt through sophisticated argumentation and/or
effective use of evidence.A response may demonstrate a complex undersranding in a variety o f ways, such as:
± Explaining mu'ripi'e themes or perspectives to explore complexity or nuance; OR
i Explaining mu/ripie causes/effects, .mu.'t'p.'e simi/arities/digferences, o r muftipie continuiries/changes; OR
± Explaining BOTH cause and effect, BOTH similarity and difference, or BOTH continuity and change; OR
± Exp/aimrig relevant andinsightfijJ connectons within and across periods o r geographical areas. These connections should dearly relate to an argument
that responds to the prompt
A response may demonstrate a complex understanding through effective use o f evidence relevant to an argument that addresses the prompt. This may be
done in a variety of v/ays, such as:
± Effective using SEVEN documents to support an argument that responds to the prompt; OR
± Explaining how the point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience o f at least FOUR documents supports an argument that responds to the
prompt; OR
± Using documents and evidence beyond the documents effectively to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of different perspectives relevant to the
prompt.
This complex understanding must be part of the argument and may be demonstrated in any part of the response. While it is not necessa.fyfar this campiex
understanding to be woven throughout the response, it must be more than merely a phrase or reference.
7.0 = 1 0 0 pts. 6.0 = 9 0 pts. 5.0 = 80 pts. 4.0 = 70 pts. 3.0 = 6 0 pts. 2.0 = 50 pts. 1.0 = 40 pts. 0.0 = 30 pts.
6.5 = 9 5 pts. 5.5 = 8 5 pts. . 4.5 = 75 pts. 3.5 = 65 pts. 2.5 = 5 5 pts. 1.5 = 45 pts. 0.5 = 35 pts. - - = Opts.
Document 1 Document 2 Document 3 D o c u m e n t 4 Document S Document 6 Document 7
Supports thesis L J Supports thesis _■ Supports thesis ■_-1 Supports thesis L3 Supports thesis Supports thesis O Supports thesis
C'ROV Q pov O POV Q POV C p o v O POV C 1POV
C 1Purpose O Purpose Q Purpose U Purpose O Purpose Q Purpose O Purpose
C 1 Audience O Audience O Audience O Audience O Audience O Audience Q Audience
O Historical Situation Historical Situation Historical Situation Historical Situation '■_! Historical Situation Historical Situation ■_J Historical Situation
AP U.S. HISTORY: Document-Based Question - Rubric
Thesis / Claim
[1 Point]
Responds t o the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim that establishes a line of reasoning. To earn this point, the thesis must make a claim that
responds t o the prompt rather than restating or rephrasing the prompt- The thesis must consist of one o r more sentences located i n one place, either i n
the introduction or the conclusion. /I
Contextualization
[1 Point]
Describes a broader historical context relevant t o the prompt. To earn this point, the response must relate the topic of the prompt t o broader historical
everts, developments, or processes that occur before, during, or continue after the timeframe of the question. This point is not awarded for merely a
phrase or reference. /I
Evidence
[3 Points]
Evidence FROM t h e Documents
/3
1 Point = Uses the content of at least THREE documents t o 2 Points = Supports an ARGUMENT in response t o the prompt using at least
address the TOPIC of the prompt. To earn one point, the FOUR documents. To earn two points, the response must occuroteJ describe
response must occurarei'y describe— rather t.ban simply OR —rather thansimply quote— the content from at least FOUR documents. In
quote—the contentfrom at least THREE oft.be documents. addition, the response must use the content of the o'ocuments to support on
ARGUMENTin response to the prompt.
Evidence BEYOND t h e Documents
1 Point = Uses at least ONEadditional piece of the specific historical evidence [beyord that found in the documents} relevant to ar ARGUMENT about the
prompt. To earn this paint, rhe response must describe the evidence and.must use more than a phrase or reference. This additional piece o f evidence must
be differentfrom the evidence used to eurn the pointfor contextualization.
Analysis and
Reasoning
[2 Points]
1 Point = For at least TWO documents, explains how or why the document's point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience is relevant to an
ARGUMENT. To earn this point, the response must explain how or why (rather than simpiy identifying/ the document'spair-t of view, purpose, historical
situation, ar audience is relevant to an ARGUMENT about the promptfor each of rhe TWO documents sourced.
/2
1 Point = Demonstrates a complex understanding of the historical development that is the focus of the prompt through sophisticated argumentation and/or
effective use of evidence.A response may demonstrate a complex undersranding in a variety o f ways, such as:
± Explaining mu'ripi'e themes or perspectives to explore complexity or nuance; OR
i Explaining mu/ripie causes/effects, .mu.'t'p.'e simi/arities/digferences, o r muftipie continuiries/changes; OR
± Explaining BOTH cause and effect, BOTH similarity and difference, or BOTH continuity and change; OR
± Exp/aimrig relevant andinsightfijJ connectons within and across periods o r geographical areas. These connections should dearly relate to an argument
that responds to the prompt
A response may demonstrate a complex understanding through effective use o f evidence relevant to an argument that addresses the prompt. This may be
done in a variety of v/ays, such as:
± Effective using SEVEN documents to support an argument that responds to the prompt; OR
± Explaining how the point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience o f at least FOUR documents supports an argument that responds to the
prompt; OR
± Using documents and evidence beyond the documents effectively to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of different perspectives relevant to the
prompt.
This complex understanding must be part of the argument and may be demonstrated in any part of the response. While it is not necessa.fyfar this campiex
understanding to be woven throughout the response, it must be more than merely a phrase or reference.
7.0 = 1 0 0 pts. 6.0 = 9 0 pts. 5.0 = 80 pts. 4.0 = 70 pts. 3.0 = 6 0 pts. 2.0 = 50 pts. 1.0 = 40 pts. 0.0 = 30 pts.
6.5 = 9 5 pts. 5.5 = 8 5 pts. . 4.5 = 75 pts. 3.5 = 65 pts. 2.5 = 5 5 pts. 1.5 = 45 pts. 0.5 = 35 pts. - - = Opts.
Document 1 Document 2 Document 3 D o c u m e n t 4 Document S Document 6 Document 7
Supports thesis L J Supports thesis _■ Supports thesis ■_-1 Supports thesis L3 Supports thesis Supports thesis O Supports thesis
C'ROV Q pov O POV Q POV C p o v O POV C 1POV
C 1Purpose O Purpose Q Purpose U Purpose O Purpose Q Purpose O Purpose
C 1 Audience O Audience O Audience O Audience O Audience O Audience Q Audience
O Historical Situation Historical Situation Historical Situation Historical Situation '■_! Historical Situation Historical Situation ■_J Historical Situation
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Subject
History