Historical thinking skills · AP U.S. History, AP World History: Modern
Complexity (AP history rubric)
Complexity (AP history rubric): A sustained, nuanced understanding of a historical development, demonstrated through sophisticated argument or effective use of evidence.
By the CollegePrepRoom editorial team · Updated · How we write and check these pages
What it means
The complexity point on AP history rubrics rewards arguments that develop a nuanced answer. Ways to show it include explaining multiple causes or effects, both continuity and change, similarities and differences, connections across periods or regions, or how sources with different perspectives support a nuanced claim.
Complexity must be woven through the argument and developed in several places. A single sentence acknowledging another view rarely earns the point.
Example
Arguing that the New Deal greatly expanded the federal government's role in the economy while also showing how many programs excluded agricultural and domestic workers, and explaining why, demonstrates complexity.
On the exam
Complexity is one point on the DBQ and part of the analysis and reasoning row on the LEQ.
Lessons and practice questions
Related terms
- CausationExplaining the causes and effects of historical developments, including their relative importance and short- and long-term consequences.
- Continuity and change over timeAnalyzing what changed and what stayed the same across a period, and explaining why.
- CorroborationComparing sources to see where they agree or disagree, to test the reliability of each account.