AP English Language and Composition - Free-Response Question 3 - Argument Essay Scoring Guidelines and Student Samples

Sep 2, 2026

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AP English Language and Composition 2024 provides the Free-Response Question 3 task for an argument essay, centered on a claim by J. Wortham from a 2013 New York Times article about the value of documenting one’s life with selfies. The materials include scoring guidelines focused on thesis quality, evidence, and commentary, along with decision rules describing what earns or does not earn points. Student sample responses and scoring commentary support interpretation of each reporting category.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

Argument Essay

Prompt and Writing Requirements

Scoring Guidelines

Reporting Category Row A: Thesis

Reporting Category Row B: Evidence and Commentary

# AP English Languageand CompositionSample Student Responsesand Scoring Commentary Set l Inside: Free-Response Question 3 ☑ Scoring Guidelines ☑ Student Samples ☑ Scoring Commentary ◎2024 College Board.College Board,Advanced Placement,AP,AP Central,and the acorm logo are registeredtrademarks of College BoardVisit College Board on the web:collegeboard.org.AP Central is the official online home for the AP Program:apcentral.collegeboard.org. # Argument Essay In a 2013 New York Times article on the practice of taking selfies,writer,editor,and podcast host J Wortham wrote:“Rather than dismissing the trendas a side effect of digital culture or a sad form of exhibitionism,maybe we′re betteroff seeing selfies for what they are at their best-a kind of visualdiary,a way to mark our short existence and hold it up to others as proof that we were here." Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which Wortham's claim about the value of documenting one'slife with selfies is valid. ¹behavior that is meant to attract attention to oneself In your response you should do the following: ·Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position. ·Provide evidence to support your line of reasoning ·Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning. ·Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument. AP®English Language and Composition 2024 Scoring Guidelines | Reporting
Category | Scoring Criteria | | | --- | --- | --- | | Row A
Thesis
(0-1 points) | 0 points
For any of the following:
·There is no defensible thesis.
·The intended thesis only restates the prompt.
·The intended thesis provides a summary of the issue with no
apparent or coherent claim.
·There is a thesis,but it does not respond to the prompt. | 1 point
Responds to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position. | | | Decision Rules and Scoring Notes | | | | Responses that do not earn this point:
·Only restate the prompt.
·Do not take a position,or the position is vague or must be inferred.
·State an obvious fact rather than making a claim that requires a
defense. | Responses that earn this point:
Respond to the prompt by taking a position on the extent to which Wortham's claim
about the value of documenting one's life with selfies is valid,rather than restating or
rephrasing the prompt.Clearly take a position rather than just stating that there are
pros/cons. | | | Examples that do not earn this point:
Do not take a position
· “In a New York Times article,JWortham defends the practice of
taking selfies."
Address the topic of the prompt but are not defensible-it is an
obvious fact stated as a claim
·“Taking and posting selfies online is one of the most widespread
phenomena of digital culture,but many people see this practice as a
form of exhibitionism." | Examples that earn this point:
Present a defensible position that responds to the prompt.
·“agree that taking selfies does not necessarily mean that a person is merely seeking
attention;selfies are a form of self-expression and communication."
·"Wortham's claim is partly true.While a quick look at any social media proves that
many post selfies merely to show themselves off,such pictures can also help us capture
and share memorable experiences."
·"Wortham's claim is valid;the person who takes a selfie in the twenty-first century is
no more exhibitionist than the artist who painted a self-portrait in the nineteenth
century." | | | Additional Notes:
·The thesis may be more than one sentence,provided the sentences are in close proximity.
·The thesis may be anywhere within the response.
·The thesis may establish a line of reasoning that structures the essay,but it needn't do so to earn the thesis point.
·A thesis tha

FAQs

What is the Free-Response Question 3 prompt about?

Students write an argument essay about the extent to which J. Wortham’s claim about the value of documenting one’s life with selfies is valid.

What writing elements does the prompt require?

The response must include a defensible thesis, provide evidence, explain how evidence supports the line of reasoning, and use appropriate grammar and punctuation.

How does Row A scoring evaluate the thesis?

Row A awards the point when the thesis responds to the prompt with a defensible position, rather than merely restating or summarizing the issue.

Sep 2, 2026

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