AP
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UNITED STATES HISTORY
2018 SCORING GUIDELINES
© 2018 The College Board.
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Question 1 — Document-Based Question (continued)
D: Analysis and Reasoning (0–2)
Sourcing: For at least three documents,
explains how or why the document’s
point of view, purpose, historical
situation, and/or audience is relevant to
an argument. (1 point)
To earn this point, the evidence must
explain how or why — rather than simply
identifying — the document’s point of
view, purpose, historical situation, or
audience is relevant to an argument
about the prompt for each of the three
See document summaries page for examples of possible
explanations of the relevance of sourcing.
Complexity: 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. (1 point)
A response may demonstrate a complex
understanding in a variety of ways, such
as:
• Explaining a nuance of an issue
by analyzing multiple variables
• Explaining both similarities and
differences, or explaining both
continuity and change, or
explaining multiple causes, or
explaining both causes and
effects
• Explaining relevant and
insightful connections within and
across periods
• Confirming the validity of an
argument by corroborating
multiple perspectives across
themes
• Qualifying or modifying an
argument by considering diverse
or alternative views or evidence
This understanding must be part of the
argument, not merely a phrase or
reference.
Examples of demonstrating a complex understanding
might include:
• Explaining a nuance by exploring different ways
(e.g., via trade, via annexation) in which the role
of the United States in the world expanded
• Explaining similarities and differences in the
United States role in different parts of the world
• Explaining connections to other time periods such
as efforts to establish United States international
standing in the late 18
th
and early 19
th
centuries
• Confirming the validity of the response’s
argument about the United States expanding role
in the world by explaining how different
documents corroborate the argument in spite of
differing perspectives among the authors (for
example, adroitly using the Puck cartoon which
criticizes imperialism as well as the Roosevelt
document that justifies it)
• Qualifying or modifying an argument by
considering evidence that shows the limits of the
United States role in the world at this time
• Proving the relative importance of causes
throughout the paper, not simply stating their
importance
If response is completely blank, enter -- for all four score categories A, B, C, and D.