AP Euro Research Paper on Results of The Berlin Conference of 1884 and the Division of Africa
cayekiAP European / Honors World History
Essay Scoring Rubric
Thesis Statement (50% of the score)
Excellent / Original Thesis which fully addresses the topic 6 points
Strong Thesis which offers an answer to the questions of the topic 5 points
Good thesis which provides a framework to answer the question 4 points
(this is the “working thesis” discussed in class)
Effort at a thesis which may be faulty or incomplete 3 points
Weak thesis which may only generally address the question 2 points
No thesis at all – student merely writes on the topic 1 point
Content (50% of the score)
Command of information in support of thesis 6 points
Depth and Breadth of relevant information in support of thesis 5 points
Solid use of relevant information in support of thesis 4 points
Good use of information, but lacks real depth and/or breadth 3 points
Some relevant information – may be superficial (no depth) 2 points
A few relevant facts – major omission of information 1 point
Little or no relevant facts – could also be error ridden 0 points
Negative Components (take points off score – out of 12 pts possible)
Major factual errors -1 (each)
Project lacks paragraphs or has serious structural issues -1 (each)
Grammar, citation or Spelling Errors -1 (each)
Conversion Scale
12 points = 100%
11 points = 95%
10 points = 91%
9 points = 85%
8 points = 81%
7 points = 78%
6 points = 75%
5 points = 71%
4 points = 68%
3 points = 64%
2 points = 50%
1 point = 25%
Suggestions and Reminders
1) No 1st or 2nd person
2) No contractions – watch the use of possessive
3) Watch words spelled correctly, but used incorrectly (i.e. “there or their”)