AP Lang examination readers use a rubric as they learn and assess pupil essays (in case: a rubric is only a chart that lists the factors for the essay after which explains what constitutes robust work in a sure space and which areas want enchancment).
The AP LANG rubric focuses on three key areas:
-
the thesis
-
the proof and commentary,
-
and the general sophistication of the writing/argument.
Every class is assigned a degree worth and all three classes equal a complete of six factors. Let’s dig a bit of deeper into the precise rubric for the synthesis essay.
Thesis
Your thesis counts for one level and is graded on just a few issues:
-
Does it relate to the immediate?
-
Does it make a declare as an alternative of summarizing the immediate?
-
Is it really “defensible?” (That is the time period the School Board makes use of to explain whether or not or not you’ll be able to help your thesis. Is it one thing that may really be argued about?)
-
Does it take a place in regards to the subject as an alternative of merely paraphrasing the immediate or the supply materials?
Proof and Commentary
That is the large one with regards to factors because it counts for 4 out of the 6 complete factors for the essay.
Essay readers will have a look at the help you’ve offered in your argument (the proof) and your evaluation of that help (the commentary). They’ll think about whether or not or not your proof is related, particular, and supportive of all components of your thesis.
Synthesis essays that obtain robust marks on this space have just a few issues in frequent:
-
They incorporate not less than three of the six offered sources
-
They show a transparent understanding of the supply materials and use that materials successfully
-
They create a “line of reasoning” as an alternative of attempting to make a number of arguments
-
They usually help all components of the thesis.
Sophistication
How does one choose the sophistication of an argument? It may appear purely subjective (and it’s, to some extent), however the rubric presents some fairly clear standards for this part of the essay.
-
Essay readers need to see that college students have a radical and nuanced understanding of the concepts raised within the sources and that they will make sense of each the methods by which sources complement one another AND the methods by which they problem one another.
-
A complicated synthesis essay, in line with the School Board, illustrates the author’s potential to see each the influence of an argument and the methods by which it might be expanded.
-
And eventually, writers of subtle synthesis essays contextualize their argument by situating it throughout the vary of different arguments in regards to the subject.
Instance Synthesis Immediate
Nonetheless a bit of unclear about what a synthesis essay is? If that’s the case, no worries—in some methods, any such essay is the toughest to elucidate as a result of it’s actually a mixture (a synthesis, if you’ll) of all three forms of required AP Lang essays, so a immediate collectively will possible be useful.
Right here’s a synthesis immediate from the 2025 examination:
Mapping software program and World Positioning System (GPS) units are used usually by vacationers and commuters. Since these units and apps are up to date in actual time with user-supplied data, they’ve turn out to be related to quite a few issues. Whereas commuters try and keep away from visitors on highways, they typically create visitors on smaller, native roads which can be much less capable of deal with this new burden. Customers additionally lose a way of their geographical environment as they rely extra on mapping software program or GPS units for navigation. Rigorously learn the next six sources, together with the introductory data for every supply. Write an essay that synthesizes materials from not less than three of the sources and develops your place on the worth, if any, of mapping software program and units.
Supply A (Foderaro article)
Supply B (Nationwide Analysis Council ebook)
Supply C (graph from He)
Supply D (Grabar article)
Supply E (chart from BuildFire)
Supply F (Paulas article)
In your response you must do the next:
• Reply to the immediate with a thesis that presents a defensible place.
• Choose and use proof from not less than three of the offered sources to help your line
of reasoning. Point out clearly the sources used by way of direct citation, paraphrase, or
abstract. Sources could also be cited as Supply A, Supply B, and so forth., or by utilizing the outline in
parentheses.
• Clarify how the proof helps your line of reasoning.
• Use applicable grammar and punctuation in speaking your argument
(The examination then offers the six sources so that you can learn earlier than beginning to craft your personal argument).