AP Latin: Writing an Analytical Essay
“To analyze a text is to express the results of critical and reflective reading. Analysis of a
text involves a careful consideration of details and the development of a clear and
coherent argument that explains how those details illustrate an idea, theme or concept.
Students support analysis by citing and explicating relevant examples from the Latin
text and, if necessary, from the required readings in English. Students analyze the
importance of language usage and elements of literary style for the meaning of the
text, and they make inferences about and draw conclusions from the text.”1
Analysis of Texts: Scoring Components2
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Development of an Argument
Use of Latin Textual Examples
Inferences and Conclusions
Analysis of Language Usage and Stylistic Features
Use of Contextual Knowledge
Achievement Level Descriptions: Scoring Rubric
Development
of an
Argument
Level Essay has a
coherent, logical
5
structure. Analysis
demonstrates a
balanced, nuanced
understanding of
the passages. Main
ideas are stated
clearly. Full
supporting details
are provided and
evidence from
throughout the
passages is used to
support the
argument. Analysis
addresses all parts
of the assigned
task.
Use of Latin
Textual
Examples
Latin is accurately
paraphrased or
correctly
translated from
throughout the
passages. Specific
and relevant Latin
citations from the
passage are
effectively applied
to support the
analysis.
Inferences and
Conclusions
Analysis is
supported with
information that is
implied, but not
directly stated, in
the text. Analysis is
supported with
reference to the
author’s implied
point of view, tone
or opinions about
people and events.
Analysis of
Language and
Style
Use of
Contextual
Knowledge
An already strong
analysis is
supported with
mention of a
rhetorical or
stylistic feature, or
a feature of
language usage,
such as word
choice, word order
or ambiguity.
Explains how a
specific example of
language usage or
a stylistic feature is
relevant to the
analysis.
Analysis is supported
with specific
references to cultural
or historical
information directly
relevant to the
passages, if it is
required in the
assigned task.
Analysis is supported
with reference to
specific information
about the authors,
literary genres, or
conventions of
classical literature
that are directly
relevant to the
passages.
The College Board (2012). AP Latin Curriculum Framework: Course and Exam Description.
The “Scoring Components” and “Achievement Level Descriptions” are also taken from the AP Latin
Curriculum Framework: Course and Exam Description.
1
2
Development
of an
Argument
Use of Latin
Textual
Examples
Inferences and
Conclusions
Analysis of
Language and
Style
Use of
Contextual
Knowledge
Level Essay has a
coherent, logical
4
Latin is accurately
paraphrased or
correctly
translated from
most parts of the
passages. Specific
and generally
relevant Latin
citations are
applied to support
the analysis.
Analysis is
supported with
some information
that is implied in the
passages, but may
rely more heavily on
information that is
stated directly in the
text. Analysis is
supported with
reference to the
author’s implied
point of view, tone
or opinions about
people and events.
Occasional errors
may incur in this
regard, but they do
not detract from the
overall quality of the
analysis.
Analysis is
supported with
mention of a
rhetorical or
stylistic feature, or
a feature of
language usage in
the passage. This
may be briefly
connected to the
analysis, but the
explanation of the
effect of a specific
example of
language usage or
a stylistic feature,
or its relevance to
the analysis, may
not be well
developed.
Analysis is supported
with mention of
specific references to
cultural or historical
information or with
reference to specific
information about
the authors, literary
genres, or
conventions of
classical literature
that are directly
relevant to the
passages. The
explanation of the
relevance of this
information to the
analysis may not be
well developed.
Level Essay provides
evidence of
3
Latin is accurately
paraphrased or
correctly
translated from
some parts of the
passages. Citations
may not be
consistently
applied to the
analysis. Few
relevant Latin
examples may be
used to support
analysis.
Analysis is
supported with only
partial
understanding of
information implied
but not directly
stated in the
passages. Analysis
demonstrates some
understanding of
the author’s implied
point of view, tone
or opinions about
people and events.
May mention a
rhetorical device or
stylistic feature
that appears in the
passages, but it is
not connected
effectively to the
analysis. May
mention features of
language usage,
such as word
choice, word order
or ambiguity in the
passages, but it is
not connected
effectively to the
analysis.
May mention cultural
or historical
information relevant
to the passages, but it
is not connected
effectively to the
analysis. May
mention information
about the authors,
literary genres, or
conventions of
classical literature,
but it does not
directly support the
analysis.
structure. Analysis
is competent and
generally accurate,
but may not
display a nuanced
understanding of
the passage. Main
ideas are stated
clearly. Some
supporting details
are provided and
evidence from
throughout the
passages is used to
support the
argument. Analysis
goes beyond
summarizing and
all parts of the
assigned task are
addressed.
organization in an
argument that
states main ideas
clearly and
provides some
supporting details.
Argument may not
be well developed,
and the premise of
the analysis may be
oversimplified or
exaggerated.
Argument may rely
on isolated parts of
the passages or a
summary of the
passages. Essay
addresses most
parts of the task.
Development
of an
Argument
Level Essay attempts to
summarize the
2
passages, but does
so in a
disorganized or
confusing manner.
Select details are
presented that may
not be connected
to the argument.
May offer
comments that are
vague or unrelated
to the task. Essay
only partially
addresses the task.
Use of Latin
Textual
Examples
Inferences and
Conclusions
Analysis of
Language and
Style
Use of
Contextual
Knowledge
Discussion of the
passage is
supported by citing
individual Latin
words or short
phrases taken out
of context. May
include a generally
accurate summary
of isolated parts of
the passages
without citing any
Latin. Response
indicates a clearly
inaccurate
understanding of
the Latin.
Inferences are not
made based on the
passage. Essay relies
on understanding of
what is directly
stated. May make
incorrect
assumptions or
draw inappropriate
conclusions. May
misjudge the
author’s point of
view, tone or
implied opinions
about people and
events.
Rhetorical devices
or stylistic features
are mentioned in
isolation from the
meaning of the
passages.
May present cultural
or historical
information that they
understand
erroneously to be
pertinent to the
assigned passage.
May make
statements about the
authors, genres, or
conventions of
classical literature
that are not relevant
to the assigned
passages.
N.B. Level 1 demonstrates less ability than what is required for a Level 2 Essay.