To earn the thesis point, you need to:

• offer a clear answer to the prompt that is historically defensible.

• craft a historically defensible thesis or claim that establishes a clear line of reasoning.

• craft a thesis using the formula “Although A, X and Y; therefore, B.”

To earn the contextualization point, you need to:

• make a passing mention of a larger historical context related to the prompt.

• explain how each document relates to the time period under discussion.

• thoroughly describe (ideally in two or more sentences, in your introduction) broader historical events, developments, or processes occurring before, during, or after the time frame of the question.

To earn the first point for evidence, you must:

• quote one or more of the documents.

• describe at least three of the provided documents.

• accurately describe the content of at least two of the provided documents.

To earn the second point for evidence, you must:

• accurately describe the content of at least three of the provided documents.

• accurately describe the content of at least two of the documents, and use that content to support your thesis.

• accurately describe the content of at least two of the documents, and quote at least one of them.

To earn the third point for evidence, you must:

• accurately describe the content of at least two of the documents, and use that content to support your thesis.

• accurately describe the content of at least four of the documents.

• accurately describe the content of at least four of the documents, and use that content to support your thesis.

To earn the fourth point for evidence, you must:

• accurately describe the content of at least four of the documents.

• describe one additional piece of evidence relevant to the prompt that is not offered in the provided documents.

• describe one additional piece of evidence relevant to the prompt that is not offered in the provided documents, and which is different from the evidence used to earn the point for contextualization.

To earn the fifth point for evidence, you must:

• use all five documents in your essay.

• describe a second additional piece of evidence relevant to the prompt that is not offered in the provided documents, and which is different from the evidence used to earn the point for contextualization.

• describe a second additional piece of evidence relevant to the prompt that is not offered in the provided documents, and then flex your muscles and grunt at your computer screen to assert your dominance.

To earn the first point for analysis and reasoning, you should:

• make broad generalizations about the time period under discussion.

• explain how one of the documents suggests a point of view, purpose, historical situation, or audience that is relevant to your argument.

• explain how two of the documents suggests a point of view, purpose, historical situation, or audience that is relevant to your argument.

To earn the second point for analysis and reasoning, you should:

• explain how three of the documents suggests a point of view, purpose, historical situation, or audience that is relevant to your argument.

• explain how four of the documents are relevant to your argument.

• explain how two of the documents suggest a point of view, purpose, historical situation, or audience that is relevant to your argument.

To earn the third point for analysis and reasoning (the elusive contextualization point!), you might (check all that apply):

• explain the nuance of an issue by analyzing multiple variables.

• sneeze with your eyes open

• explain both similarity and difference, or explain both continuity and change, or explain multiple causes, or explain both cause and effect.

• confirm the validity of your argument by corroborating multiple perspectives across themes

• explain relevant and insightful connections within and across periods