Document-Based Question

(DBQ) Writing

Format & Expectations AP Test: 55 minutes (including 15

min. reading period) Format: Analysis of 5 to 8 documents

and answer the question. DBQ emphasizes understanding the

background and context of the documents (just like the Stimuli-based Questions do!)

Must incorporate Outside Knowledge

Steps

1. Develop a clear thesis2. Argumentation supported with

relevant historical evidence3. Use of the target historical thinking

skills4. Synthesis of your Ideas

DBQ Structure Thesis Paragraph

• Historical Background (Establish the Historical Scene) to establish historical context• Thesis Statement

Essential to the DBQ Take a position

AP Graders aren’t necessarily looking for the right answer, but rather for the writer’s ability to analyze and use documents to support the thesis!

• An introduction to the main arguments of the essay to be developed in the body (should align w/ the topic sentences for each body paragraph)

Ex for a Good Thesis Statement:• Question: Evaluate the relative importance of domestic foreign affairs in shaping

American politics in the 1790s During the 1790s, foreign affairs contributed more to shaping American politics than did domestic

issues. Is this a well-developed thesis statement? NOPE

While the young nation struggled w/ questions about powers in the new Constitution, ideological conflicts over the French, foreign policy divisions created by the Napoleonic Wars, and our relations w/ GB did more to divide Americans and promote the formation of two political parties in the 1790s Took a position Offered an interpretation of events Provided the organizing arguments to set up for the rest of the Essay…

DBQ Structure Thesis Paragraph

• Historical Background (Establish the Historical Scene) to establish historical context• Thesis Statement

Essential to the DBQ- What is the angle that you are going to take? What are you going to prove? Take a position & explain the issues of the question

AP Graders aren’t necessarily looking for the right answer, but rather for the writer’s ability to analyze and use documents to support the thesis!

• An introduction to the main arguments of the essay to be developed in the body (should align w/ the topic sentences for each body paragraph)

Body • Usually 3 paragraphs (Think rule of 3!)• Emphasis on Document Analysis (evidence)

Document Analysis should provide the relevance for the Topic Sentence of the paragraph since the Topic Sentence should provide relevance to your Thesis

• Will address historical thinking skills such as… Causation (ex: cause & effect) Comparison (ex: similarities & differences) Continuity & Change over Time Periodization (Historical development specified in a prompt was higher or lesser value than a different event)

Conclusion• Recap (NOT A RESTATE) of the thesis: How did you prove your argument (thesis?)• Historical Relevancy?• Remember to connect to future history!

Note: Long Essays are similar to the structure of the DBQ. Only difference is that outside knowledge is emphasized throughout & no documents are used when writing a long essay!

The Documents Your analysis of the Documents are used to help prove

your thesis; therefore the documents becoming the evidence

Two Purposes• An additional source of relevant evidence (in addition to your

outside knowledge)• A way of demonstrating the effective analysis of sources with often

differing and conflicting points of view Arrangement of the Documents will most likely be in

chronological order… however, you should use the documents in any preferred order when writing the DBQ

When citing the documents: Brief references are enough… quoting should be minimal

Some documents will be used more (or focused upon more) than others… That’s okay!

Document Analysis In addition to making historical inferences when

analyzing the document, you must acknowledge a few of the following for each document…• Author’s point of view• Intended audience of document• Purpose of the document• Historical Context

Think HIPPO (Historical Context, Intended Audience, Point of View, Purpose, Organization/ Use in Argument)

 

Outside knowledge How to use it?

• Thesis Paragraph Providing the historical background (Historical

Scene)• Body

Used in adjacent w/ the document analysis (to provide historical context )

• Conclusion Used to connect future historical trends

What is Synthesis? Act of combining ideas into a unified idea

• Applying all of the other historical thinking skills (such as Causation, Continuity & Change, Periodization, Comparison, Contextualization, Historical Argumentation, Appropriate Use of Relevant Historical Evidence, Interpretation) as well as drawing and fusing knowledge and methods from diverse sources and disciplines to develop a persuasive understanding of the past

• Synthesis also involves working to combine diverse and contradictory evidence to avoid a one-sided or narrow interpretation of the past

Advice Third person point of view Avoid laundry lists

• Always briefly identify key concepts: legislation, people, events

Anticipate counter arguments Remain objective Transition sentences from one

paragraph to the next Avoid flowery language… Just get to

the point!