AP English Literature and Composition · Exam guide
AP English Literature Evidence and Commentary Explained: Earning the Four Points in Row B
Row B is worth four of the six points. It rewards specific evidence from the text, commentary that explains how that evidence supports your interpretation, and a line of reasoning that ties the paragraphs together. Evidence is what you quote or describe. Commentary is what you say about it. This guide shows how to do both.
Evidence and commentary
| What it is | Example from Frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence | A specific detail from the text: a quotation, an image, a line of dialogue, an event. | "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, / But I have promises to keep." |
| Commentary | Your explanation of how the evidence supports your claim. | The word "But" turns the poem from admiration of the woods to duty, and the rhyme of "deep" with "keep" ties the temptation to the obligation. |
A worked paragraph
It quotes the lines but the commentary only restates them.
Each piece of evidence is explained, and the paragraph builds toward one interpretation.
A line of reasoning
A line of reasoning is a sequence in which each paragraph advances one part of your argument. You can test yours by reading the first sentence of each paragraph. Together they should read like the outline of an argument, not a list of devices.
The ladder (score from 0 to 4)
| Score | What the essay shows |
|---|---|
| 0 | Only restates the thesis or the prompt. |
| 1 | General evidence, with commentary that only summarizes. |
| 2 | Some specific evidence and commentary, but no clear line of reasoning. |
| 3 | Specific evidence supports every claim in a line of reasoning, with commentary on some of it. |
| 4 | The same, with commentary that consistently explains how the evidence supports the interpretation. |
Sentence frames for commentary
- This detail suggests that... because...
- By placing... next to..., the writer shows...
- The shift from... to... reveals...
- Together, these choices make the reader feel..., which supports the idea that...
Common mistakes
- Quoting a line and moving on.
- Retelling the plot in the middle of the essay.
- Commentary that only repeats the quotation in other words.
- Using "shows" or "emphasizes" with no explanation of how.
- Evidence that is general ("the author uses imagery") rather than specific.
Frequently asked questions
How many quotations do I need in each paragraph?
One or two well-chosen details with careful commentary are stronger than many with little.
Can I paraphrase instead of quote?
Yes, if you point to a specific detail. Short quotations are often the clearest evidence.
Is plot summary ever useful?
Only a sentence or two to set up evidence. Summary alone earns little.
What separates a 3 from a 4 in Row B?
At 4, the commentary consistently explains how the evidence supports the line of reasoning, not just some of the time.
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 Literature course has five practice prompts for each of the three essay types, with a timed 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:
- Free lesson 1.6: claim, evidence, commentary
- Free lesson 1.5: literal and figurative, one detail two ways
See the AP English Literature and Composition course Free lessons and lesson list
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