ap23-apc-english-language-q3-set-1

Page 1: Introduction and Overview

• Title: 2023 AP® English Language and Composition Sample Student Responses and Scoring Commentary Set 1

• Publisher: © 2023 College Board

• Content Overview:

  • Free-Response Question 3

  • Scoring Guidelines

  • Student Samples

  • Scoring Commentary

Page 2: Argument Essay Prompt

• Prompt: Consider Maxine Hong Kingston’s statement regarding community of voices.

• Task: Write an argumentative essay addressing Kingston’s claim.

• Requirements:

  • Present a defensible thesis.

  • Provide supporting evidence.

  • Explain the relevance of the evidence.

  • Use proper grammar and punctuation.

Page 3: Scoring Criteria Row A - Thesis

• Thesis Evaluation (0–1 points):

  • 0 points: No defensible thesis, restatement of prompt, unclear claim, or vague position.

  • 1 point: Defensible thesis responding adequately to the prompt.

• Scoring Notes:

  • Responses that fail to take a clear position or state an obvious fact do not earn points.

  • A defensible thesis should be specific to Kingston’s claim.

Page 4: Scoring Criteria Row B - Evidence and Commentary

• Scoring Evaluation (0–4 points):

  • 0 points: No relevant evidence or incoherent response.

  • 1 point: General evidence provided, but lacks effective commentary.

  • 2 points: Some specific evidence given, but lacks a clear line of reasoning.

  • 3 points: Specific evidence and some coherent commentary supporting a line of reasoning.

  • 4 points: Uniform specific evidence and explanation that supports a clear line of reasoning.

• Important Notes: Grammatical errors can impact the score in this category.

Page 5: Scoring Criteria Row C - Sophistication

• Sophistication Evaluation (0–1 points):

  • 0 points: Fails to meet sophistication criteria.

  • 1 point: Demonstrates sophistication and complexity in understanding the rhetorical situation.

• Notes:

  • Responses must enhance arguments with nuances and effective rhetorical choices.

Page 6: Sample Response 3A (Excerpt 1)

• Main Idea: Power of community voices vs. individual voices.

• Examples Provided:

  • Historical contexts (Civil Rights Movement).

  • Importance of collective action in social change.

• Claim: Unity among voices leads to significant impact.

Page 7: Sample Response 3A (Excerpt 2)

• Further Exploration:

  • Community power revealed through collective efforts.

  • Notable figures like Martin Luther King Jr. as catalysts for change.

  • The need for many voices amplifying truth.

Page 8: Sample Response 3B - Support for Claim

• Thesis: Community of voices holds more power than individual voices.

• Case Study: Civil Rights Movement as an example of effective collective action.

• Observation: Historical protests as mechanisms for change and awareness.

• Conclusion: Community action is essential for achieving goals.

Page 9: Sample Response 3C - Critical Perspective

• Thesis: Community of voices introduces complexities; not all voices are equal.

• Concerns Raised:

  • Possibility of harmful opinions arising from collective voices.

  • Reference to social media (Twitter) as an example of collective opinion power.

• Implications: Potential negative consequences for individuals based on community judgments.

Page 10: Scoring Commentary for Sample 3A

• Overall Scores:

  • Thesis: 1 point

  • Evidence & Commentary: 4 points

  • Sophistication: 1 point

• Strengths:

  • Well-supported claims with nuanced arguments.

  • Strong historical examples demonstrating collective voice power.

Page 11: Scoring Commentary for Sample 3B

• Overall Scores:

  • Thesis: 1 point

  • Evidence & Commentary: 2 points

  • Sophistication: 0 points

• Weaknesses:

  • Minimal commentary and connection establishment.

  • Lack of depth in argument development.

Page 12: Scoring Commentary for Sample 3C

• Overall Scores:

  • Thesis: 1 point

  • Evidence & Commentary: 1 point

  • Sophistication: 0 points

• Critiques:

  • Lacks effective evidence and explanation.

  • Simple approach without exploring complexities.