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Synthesis essay

Synthesis essay scored 4/6 — with fixes

Score: 4/6

Prompt (paraphrased): Some cities are restricting private cars in their downtown cores. Using at least three of the provided sources, develop a position on whether cities should limit car traffic downtown.

The essay

Cities should limit car traffic downtown. Cars cause pollution and traffic, and limiting them would make downtowns better for everyone. There are many sources that talk about this issue and most of them agree that limiting cars is a good idea.

First, limiting cars is good for the environment. Source A talks about a city that cut car access and says foot traffic went up. This shows that people are willing to walk if cars are not around. Cars also create a lot of pollution, which is bad for the air and for people's health. If there were fewer cars, the air would be cleaner.

Second, Source B says that a corridor's capacity is measured in people, not vehicles. This means buses can carry more people than cars. Buses are a good way to move people around a city. A lot of cities have buses and trains that people can use instead of driving their own cars downtown.

Also, Source C says that some cities make exceptions for deliveries and emergencies. This is important because some people still need to drive. Delivery drivers have to bring things to stores, so they should be allowed to drive even if other cars are limited.

In conclusion, cities should limit car traffic downtown because it helps the environment and buses can carry more people. The sources mostly agree that this is a good idea, so cities should start doing it.

How it scores, row by row

Row A — Thesis

1/1

The opening does stake out a defensible position, so it earns the thesis point — but it is thin and never develops into a line of reasoning the body can follow.

Row B — Evidence & Commentary

3/4

Three sources are cited and the evidence is relevant, which clears a 3. It stops short of a 4 because the commentary mostly restates each source ('this shows people will walk,' 'buses carry more people') without explaining how the pieces build one argument. Each paragraph stands alone; nothing accumulates.

Row C — Sophistication

0/1

No sophistication point. The counterargument in paragraph four is raised but never answered, the prose stays general ('bad for the air,' 'a good idea'), and the essay never steps back to a larger stake.

The takeaway

To move this from a 4 to a 6: connect the paragraphs into one argument (land use, not three separate facts), answer the deliveries objection instead of just naming it, and replace 'this shows' restatement with commentary that explains why each source matters.

Want this on your own writing? Paste a draft into the AP Lang essay grader for a score on every rubric row, review how the points are awarded on the AP Lang rubric, or read the guide to the synthesis essay.

This is an original sample written for rubricfy to illustrate each score band, not an official College Board essay. rubricfy is not affiliated with or endorsed by the College Board.

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