8 - 9

• Has a clear well-developed thesis that "answers" the prompt and which guides the essay throughout.
• Demonstrates understanding of the complexity of the topic.
• Effectively uses all or a substantial number of documents and interprets them correctly (DBQ); uses many accurate facts and details from the time period (FR).
• Effectively analyzes, interprets, and makes inferences from the information.
• Supports thesis with many relevant facts and interprets that information correctly.
• May contain insignificant errors that do not hinder argument or organization.

5 - 7

• Has a thesis which addresses the essay prompt.
• Clearly explains the differences or similarities of the issue; some imbalance is acceptable.
• Effectively uses some of the documents (DBQ) or uses some facts to support interpretation (FR).
• Includes some outside facts with little or superficial interpretation.
• May contain minor errors that do not interfere with comprehension.

2 - 4

• Has a limited, confused, or poorly developed thesis, may restate the prompt, or has weak organization and writing.
• Describes differences or similarities in a general or simplistic manner; may cover only part of the topic.
• Briefly cites documents (sometimes in a "laundry list) or quotes documents (DBQ), interprets documents or outside facts incorrectly (DBQ & FR), simply mentions facts without interpretation (FR).
• Contains few facts or contains facts that are irrelevant or inaccurate.
• May contain major historical errors.

0 - 1

• Has no thesis or a thesis that does not address the topic.
• Shows inadequate or inaccurate understanding of the question.
• Contains little or no understanding of the documents or ignores them completely.
• Contains inappropriate facts or no outside facts.
• Includes numerous errors, both major and minor.