The document provides scoring guidelines for an AP English Language and Composition essay question. It outlines 10 scoring levels from 0 to 9. Higher scores are given for essays that effectively defend, challenge, or qualify a provided assertion through appropriate evidence and explanations. Lower scores are given to essays that demonstrate little success in addressing the prompt or have significant writing issues. Scores are based on evaluating the essay as a draft written in 40 minutes rather than an out-of-class assignment.