AP English Language and Composition · Exam guide

AP English Language Thesis Statements Explained: How to Earn the Thesis Point on Every Essay

Row A of the rubric is one point for a thesis, and it is the easiest point to win or lose. The thesis must answer the prompt with a defensible position or analysis. It can be more than one sentence and can appear anywhere in the essay, though putting it near the start keeps you on track. This guide shows what works for each essay type.

What earns the point and what does not

Earns the pointDoes not earn the point
Takes a position someone could disagree with.Restates the prompt, or repeats it in different words.
Answers the question that was asked.Says there are two sides without choosing one.
Gives a reason or a line of reasoning the essay will follow.Describes the topic or announces what you will do ("This essay will discuss...").

Rhetorical analysis

Example passage: Frederick Douglass, speaking in 1852 to a white audience that was celebrating the Fourth of July, says, "This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn."

Does not earn the pointDouglass uses ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade his audience.

It names appeals but does not say what he does with them or why.

Earns the pointIn his 1852 speech, Douglass uses sharp contrasts and direct address to make a comfortable audience see that celebrating liberty while slavery exists is hypocrisy, so that listeners feel responsible for ending it.

It names the choices, the effect on the audience, and the purpose.

Argument

Prompt (made up): Is it ever right to break with tradition?

Does not earn the pointTraditions are important, but sometimes change is needed.

It sits on both sides and gives no reason.

Earns the pointTraditions deserve respect because they hold communities together, but a tradition that harms people loses its claim, and breaking with it is then a duty, not a betrayal.

It takes a position, qualifies it, and gives the reasoning the essay will develop.

Synthesis

Prompt (made up): Should cities restrict cars in their downtown areas?

Does not earn the pointThe sources give different views about cars downtown.

It summarizes the sources and takes no position.

Earns the pointCities should restrict cars downtown, because less traffic improves safety and public space, but they must pair restrictions with better transit so that workers and shoppers can still reach the center.

It takes a position and shows how the sources will be used to support and qualify it.

Tests for your thesis

  • Could a reasonable person argue the opposite? If not, it is a fact, not a thesis.
  • Does it answer the question the prompt asks?
  • Does it contain a "because" or a line of reasoning, even if only implied?
  • Would your body paragraphs follow naturally from it?

Common mistakes

  • A thesis that only names devices or sources.
  • A thesis that is too broad to prove in 40 minutes.
  • Changing your position halfway through the essay.
  • Leaving the thesis out and hoping the conclusion supplies it.

Frequently asked questions

Does the thesis have to be one sentence?

No. It can be more than one sentence, but each should work toward a single position.

Does the thesis have to be in the first paragraph?

No. The rubric accepts it anywhere in the essay.

Can I change my thesis while writing?

You may revise it, but your final essay should have one clear position that the paragraphs support.

What if my position is somewhere in the middle?

That is fine if it is a specific position with a reason, such as "yes, but only when...".

Where can I find the official scoring rules?

Exam formats change a little from year to year, so check the current course and exam description on the College Board site before test day.

Keep practicing

The AP English Language course has five practice prompts for each of the three essay types, with a writing space that scores your response against the official 6-point analytic rubric. These free lessons also build the skills the free-response section tests:

See the AP English Language and Composition course Free lessons and lesson list

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