The Influencing Machine works well in an AP Language and Composition classroom because it blends narrative, illustration, and argument in a single text. Students can analyze how Gladstone uses historical anecdotes, humor, and visual storytelling to make claims about the news. That variety gives them plenty of rhetorical choices to examine, but it also makes grading more complicated, since essays can go in very different directions.

AP-style rubrics typically reward a defensible thesis, evidence with commentary, and sophistication, and these categories translate well to this book. The challenge is that students often identify a device, such as an analogy or a shift in tone, without explaining its effect on the audience. Grading becomes much more efficient when you decide in advance how much explanation counts as sufficient commentary.

One practical approach is to build a short anchor library from your own classes, with sample paragraphs showing weak, adequate, and strong commentary on the same passage. Students and graders alike can then see what distinguishes naming a device from analyzing it. This is especially useful when multiple teachers in a department score the same assignment.

Look for commentary, not just device spotting

A weak paragraph might say that Gladstone uses a historical story to illustrate her point. A stronger paragraph explains why that story, placed at that moment, helps a skeptical reader accept a claim they might otherwise resist. The difference is whether the student connects the choice to the audience and purpose, which is the heart of rhetorical analysis.

• A thesis that makes a claim about how the author builds her argument, not just what she says
• Specific textual evidence tied to a clearly named rhetorical choice
• Commentary explaining the effect on an audience skeptical of the news media
• Attention to the interplay between text and illustration where relevant
• Sophistication shown through nuance, such as noting tensions or shifts in tone

Account for the graphic format

Because the book is illustrated, some students will write about the visuals and others will ignore them. Decide ahead of time whether the assignment requires visual analysis, and say so in the prompt. If you leave it open, reward students who integrate image and text thoughtfully without penalizing those who focus on language alone.

Students analyzing the visuals sometimes slip into description, listing what the panels show without explaining what they accomplish. A quick note asking how a particular image changes the reader's understanding of the adjacent text can redirect them. This kind of targeted comment improves analysis far more than a general reminder to go deeper.

Grading timed writes efficiently

Timed practice essays pile up quickly in AP courses, and teachers often struggle to return them before students forget what they wrote. A streamlined process might involve scoring against the rubric first and then adding one or two high-leverage comments per paper. Prioritizing the comments that will change the next essay keeps the feedback loop short and useful.

Some teachers use AI feedback tools to produce a first draft of rubric-aligned comments, which they then edit. This can cut turnaround time dramatically, as long as the teacher confirms that comments reflect the actual essay. The important point is that the scoring decisions stay with the educator who understands the course standards.

Tracking growth over the year

Rhetorical analysis improves with repetition, so keep records that show how each student's commentary changes from September to May. Noting which students consistently identify devices without explaining effect tells you who needs targeted mini-lessons. It also provides concrete evidence to share with students and families when discussing progress.

Pair each essay with a brief reflection in which the student identifies one skill they improved and one they still find difficult. These reflections often reveal misunderstandings that scores alone miss, such as confusion about the difference between claim and evidence. They also help students take ownership of their growth.