AP History DBQ Rubric

Vocabulary practice flashcards based on the 7-point AP History Document-Based Question (DBQ) rubric criteria and decision rules.

AP History DBQ Rubric (Total Points)

A rubric with a total scale of $7\text{ points}$ divided across four reporting categories: Thesis/Claim ($0\text{–}1\text{ pt}$), Contextualization ($0\text{–}1\text{ pt}$), Evidence ($0\text{–}3\text{ pts}$), and Analysis and Reasoning ($0\text{–}2\text{ pts}$).

Thesis/Claim (Category A)

A reporting category worth $0\text{–}1\text{ pt}$ awarded for responding to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis or claim that establishes a line of reasoning, located in one place in either the introduction or the conclusion.

Contextualization (Category B)

A reporting category worth $0\text{–}1\text{ pt}$ awarded for describing broader historical events, developments, or processes occurring before, during, or continuing after the time frame of the prompt that are relevant to the topic (not awarded for merely a phrase or reference).

Evidence From the Documents (1 Point)

A criterion met by accurately describing—rather than simply quoting—the content of at least $3$ documents to address the topic of the prompt.

Evidence From the Documents (2 Points)

A criterion met by accurately describing—rather than simply quoting—and using the content of at least $4$ documents to support an argument in response to the prompt.

Evidence Beyond the Documents

A scoring criterion under Evidence worth $1\text{ pt}$ that requires describing at least $1$ additional piece of specific historical evidence relevant to an argument in response to the prompt, which must be more than a phrase or reference and different from contextualization evidence.

Document Sourcing (Analysis and Reasoning)

A criterion worth $1\text{ pt}$ earned by explaining how or why (rather than simply identifying) the point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience is relevant to an argument for at least $2$ documents.

Complex Understanding (Analysis and Reasoning)

A criterion worth $1\text{ pt}$ earned by demonstrating a complex understanding of the historical development that is the focus of the prompt through sophisticated argumentation and/or effective use of evidence.