AP United States History - Document-Based Question - Question 1 - Scoring Guideline and Student Samples

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Violet

2018 AP United States History Document-Based Question materials provide a framework for evaluating student responses to a prompt on the expanding role of the United States from 1865 to 1910. The scoring guideline specifies expectations for thesis and claim, contextualization, evidence requirements drawn from at least three or six documents, and the use of additional historical evidence beyond the documents. It also outlines how to analyze sourcing and reasoning, describing how documents’ perspectives and purposes should support an argument.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages25

Reading Time1 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Question 1—Document-Based Question

Thesis/Claim and Contextualization

Evidence from Documents and Evidence Beyond Documents

Analysis and Reasoning (Sourcing)

2018 AP United States History Sample Student Responsesand Scoring Commentary Inside: Document-Based Question R Scoring Guideline R Student Samples R Scoring Commentary © 2018 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement Program, AP, AP Central, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. Visit [the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org](the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org). [AP Central is the official online home for the AP Program: apcentral.collegeboard.org](AP Central is the official online home for the AP Program: apcentral.collegeboard.org) Question 1—Document-Based Question Evaluate the relative importance of different causes for the expanding role of the United States in the world in the period from 1865 to 1910. Maximum Possible Points: 7 | Points | Rubric | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | A: Thesis/Claim
(0–1) | Responds to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim that establishes a line of reasoning. (1 point)
To earn this point, the thesis must make a claim that responds to the prompt rather than restating or rephrasing the prompt. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place, either in the introduction or the conclusion. | The thesis must make a historically defensible claim that establishes a line of reasoning about causes of the expanding role of the United States in the world in the period from 1865 to 1910.
Examples that earn this point include:
• “This change in foreign policy was caused by the need for new markets to expand [the] US economy and by imperialist sentiment. However, the most important cause of this change in the US’s role can be attributed to nationalist and Darwinist sentiment because it was driven emotionally, and therefore was a stronger motive.”
• “In expanding its role in the world, the United States sought economic opportunity through international business relationships, political opportunity to police the world, and they sought to cultivate other societies to better spread the American culture.” | | B: Contextualization (0–1) | Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.
(1 point)
To earn this point, the response must relate the topic of the prompt to broader historical events, developments, or processes that occur before, during, or continue after the timeframe of the question. This point is not awarded for merely a phrase or reference. | To earn the point, the response must accurately describe a context relevant to the expanding role of the United States in the world in the period from 1865 to 1910.
Examples of context might include the following, with appropriate elaboration:
• The impact of the Civil War on the United States role in the world
• International competition to establish colonies and maintain empires from 1865 to 1910
• Increasing United States industrialization and saturation of the domestic market, resulting in a desire to develop new global markets for goods
• The closing of the frontier | Question 1—Document-Based Question (continued) | C: Evidence (0–3) | Evidence from the Documents:
Uses the content of at least three documents to address the topic of the prompt. (1 point)
To earn 1 point the response must accurately describe—rather than simply quote—the content from at least three of the documents.
OR
Supports an argument in response to the prompt using at least six documents. (2 points)
To earn 2 points the response must accurately describe—rather than simply quote—the content from at least six documents. In addition, the response must use the content from the documents to support an argument in response to the prompt. | See document summaries page for details.
• Document 1: Treaty concerning Russian possessions, 1867
• Document 2: Strong, Our Country, 1885
• Document 3: Mahan, Interest of America in Sea Power, 1897
• Document 4: Boston Globe cartoon,“Hardly Know W

FAQs

What prompt does Question 1 require students to address?

Evaluate the relative importance of different causes for the expanding role of the United States in the world from 1865 to 1910.

How is thesis/claim scored for Question 1?

Thesis/claim earns the point when it responds to the prompt with a historically defensible line of reasoning rather than restating the prompt.

What evidence requirements apply to Question 1?

Students must use either at least three documents to earn 1 point by accurately describing their content, or at least six documents to earn 2 points, in addition to supporting an argument.

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Violet