APUSH DBQ rubric

rubric

Criteria of Thesis/claim

Responds to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim that establishes a line of reasoning

Thesis/claim ( note 1. )

MUST be in the intro or conclusion

Thesis/claim ( note 2. )

Cannot just repeat or rephrase the prompt

Thesis/claim ( note 3. )

Must respond to the prompt

(if it asks for economic characteristics but you only discuss political characteristics, you won't get the point)

Contextualization criteria

Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.

Contextualization ( note 4. )

Must be related to the prompt topic, meaning it cannot be (seemingly) random historical knowledge about the time period.

Contextualization ( note 5. )

The statement must provide an overview, rather than a list of events/facts/characteristics

Contextualization ( note 6. )

It can be about before, during, or after the time frame of the question (up to 50 years)

Contextualization ( note 7. )

Anything shorter than 3 sentences is in danger of not providing enough information to earn the point

Evidence (1st pt)

Uses the content of at least three documents to address the topic of the prompt.

Evidence ( note 8. )

You must accurately describe the documents (in your own words), DO NOT QUOTE the documents

Evidence ( 2nd pt )

Supports an argument in response to the prompt using at least four documents.

Evidence ( note 9. )

The documents must be used to support an argument, you cannot just describe them to earn the point.

Evidence ( 3rd pt )

Uses at least one additional piece of specific historical evidence (beyond that found in the documents) relevant to the argument about the prompt

Evidence ( note 10. )

Anything found in the documents or too closely related to the documents will not earn credit

Evidence ( note 11. )

You must explain why the example supports your argument

Analysis and Reasoning (1st pt)

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.

Analysis and Reasoning ( note 12. )

You must explain how or why the HAPP analysis is relevant to an argument about the prompt.

Analysis and Reasoning ( 2nd pt )

Demonstrates a complex understanding of the historical development that is the focus of the prompt, using evidence to corroborate, qualify, or modify an argument that addresses the question.

Analysis and Reasoning ( note 13. )

Effectively use seven documents to support an argument that responds to the prompt; OR

Analysis and Reasoning ( note 14. )

Explaining how the point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience (HAPP) of at least four documents supports an argument that responds to the prompt

Overall ( note 15. )

You must provide unique content for each part of the rubric to earn full credit. You cannot "double-dip" by trying to use the same piece of information for multiple sections of the rubric. You will only earn credit for that information once