Transcript How to write the DBQ - Spring Grove Area School District

I can “Do” the DBQ!
Writing the DBQ
AP European History
THE DBQ
 1st essay you’ll see on the AP Euro exam.
 Essay based on a set of various documents (usually 1012). Documents may include written or visual primary
sources (quotes, letters, speeches, decrees, laws, political
cartoons, drawings, maps, photos, etc.)
 The DBQ counts for approximately half of the essay
section or about 1/4 of your entire AP Exam! (twice as
important as each of the other two essays – which count
about 1/8 each.). The DBQ is “muy importante!”
DBQ RUBRIC
 You can score 9
points on the DBQ.
 You can score 6
points on the “Basic
Core”.
 In you earn all 6
Basic Core points,
you might be able to
earn 3 additional
“Expanded Core”
bonus points.
DBQ: THE MISSION
 Write a 5 body paragraph essay – intro/thesis paragraph, 3
body paragraphs based on three groupings of documents
and a conclusion paragraph.
 Group the documents in at least three different ways
which help answer the prompt.
 Write a complex thesis which answers ALL parts of the
prompt and includes three ways to prove your argument.
 Attempt to use all the documents in your essay. Support
your thesis with them. Analyze them.
 Identify bias and the author’s point of view at least 3 times
in your essay.
THE THESIS
 Your thesis must be a specific and
explicit answer to the prompt. It
must address ALL parts of the
question.
 If you don’t have a thesis or you
have a really bad one it could cost
you TWO basic core points!
 Tends to be the “killer” point for
many students who don’t answer
ALL parts of the prompt.
THESIS
 Example prompt:
 “Analyze the various causes of the Thirty
Year’s War in Europe during the 17th
century.”
 It is not sufficient to merely state in your
thesis, “There were many causes of the
Thirty Years War.” You have not given a
specific, explicit answer to the question
and will lose points on basic core 1 and 4.
 What WERE the causes??? Be specific!!
THESIS
 A better thesis would be…
 “Despite the fact that the Thirty Year’s War
was fought primarily over religious conflicts
between Catholics and Protestants in Europe
during the 17th century, competition between
growing national monarchies and the
weakening of the Church’s secular authority
in Europe were just as significant to the
outbreak of this destructive conflict.”
 This thesis gives a specific, explicit answer to the
prompt and provides three groupings of documents
which help support the thesis:
 Group 1 – Conflict between Catholics & Protestants
 Group 2 – Growing national monarchies
 Group 3 – Weakening of Church authority
THESIS CHECKLIST
Think of your thesis in three parts…
1. Answer the question that is asked in one or two
CONNECTING sentences (this is your argument).
2. Indicate the groups (3) that you will use to
address the question.
3. Remember the “Rule of Three”: three ideas in
your thesis which are the three groupings of
documents, and at least three documents per
grouping!
Obviously, you should always write your thesis
AFTER you’ve grouped your documents.
GROUPING THE
DOCUMENTS
 Basic Core #6 - Analyzes the
documents by organizing them
into at least THREE distinct
groups
 Some DBQs have ready-made
groups; some DBQs will require
you to come up with the
groupings yourself.
 There are usually several
different ways that you can
correctly group the docs.
EXAMPLE:
Groups Provided:
“Analyze the religious,
political, and social reasons
for the rise of the Protestant
Reformation in the 16th
century.”
Groupings NOT provided:
“Analyze the reasons for the
rise of the Protestant
Reformation in the 16th
century.”
GROUPING
 Common methods of grouping
documents include organizing by
gender, time, social class,
occupation, geography, nationality,
culture, similar points of view, or
religion.
 Make sure all of your groupings
ANSWER THE PROMPT!
 Documents may be used in more
than one group. You do not need
an even number of documents in
each group.
 Always include at least three
documents per grouping. It will
prevent a failed group if you
misinterpret one document.
DBQ Outline
“Despite the fact that the Thirty Year’s War was fought primarily over
religious conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in Europe during the
17th century, competition between growing national monarchies and the
weakening of the Church’s secular authority in Europe were just as significant
to the outbreak of this destructive conflict.”
Group 1
Topic
Sentence
Group 2
Topic
Sentence
3 pieces
of
Evidence
from
Docs.
3 pieces
of
Evidence
from
Docs.
Conclusion
Group 3
Topic
Sentence
3 pieces
of
Evidence
from
Docs.
Using Documents
 EVERY DOCUMENT should be
mentioned at least ONE time in
your essay.
 “Demonstrates understanding”
means you interpret it correctly
(discuss/analyze it).
 Don’t quote the documents
excessively - use the document as
evidence to support your
argument.
 To get the grouping point, you
NEED AT LEAST THREE
DOCUMENTS PER GROUP.
USE OF DOCUMENTS
 Use of a document is defined as citing, quoting,
paraphrasing, listing, summarizing, mentioning,
analyzing, interpreting, or critiquing the
documents in any way.
 For example, “Martin Luther, a German monk
and theologian believed that salvation could be
achieved “through faith alone” (doc.1).
 Always include parenthetical citation after
you’ve used a document. Why?
POV ANALYSIS
 Part of writing an
effective DBQ essay is
treating the documents
as personal
interpretations of history
and analyzing the point
of view of the authors.
 Students must do this at
least three times in their
essay. (preferably 5 or
more).
POV ANALYSIS
 Consider the following about each author:
 Title, position, or job (economic motives, political motives, etc.)
 Male/female
 Country or religion of the person
 Date the statement was made (around a war? other historical
event?)
 Consider the type of document and why it was created:
 Political speech, diary entry, newspaper article, official decree,
etc.
 Pictures, paintings – who paid for it?
EXAMPLE DOCUMENT
Source: Pope Urban II, at the Council of
Clermont, calling for the first Crusade,
November, 1095.
“Your brethren who live in the Middle East are in
urgent need of your help… For, as most of you
have heard, the Turks and the Arabs have
attacked them and have conquered the territory
of the Byzantine Empire… They have occupied
more and more of the lands of the
Christians…They have killed and captured many,
and have destroyed the churches and devastated
the Empire…”
A.S.A.P.
(Attribute the Source + Analyze POV)
Pope Urban II, leader of the Roman Catholic
Church during the 11th century, characterized
Muslims in the Middle East as destructive and
hostile peoples (doc.4).
Obviously, as Pope, he would want to portray
the Arabs as warlike in order to gain support
for a Crusade to liberate and restore Christian
title to the “Holy Land”, which would increase
his political and religious authority in addition
to providing the Church with increased tax
revenue from lucrative eastern trade routes.
POV ANALYSIS
Attempt to do POVs for MOST
documents (half +1). For
example, if there are 10
documents, analyze the POV of
at least 6.
Do enough correctly and you
get into the expanded core!!!!
POV ANALYSIS FORMULAS
• “It is not surprising that Source X would make
this statement because . . .”
• “This document is fairly reliable because . . .”
• “The author of this document may be biased
because . . .”
• “Because Document 5 is a diary entry, the
author is most likely not seeking to gain
publicity or influence opinions.”
POINT OF VIEW ANALYSIS
If you get stuck - remember
the word:
OBVIOUSLY!!!
Expanded Core
 If you achieve all 6
basic core points, you
can earn up to an
additional 3 points on
your essay through
the expanded core.
 Basic core shows
competence.
Expanded core
demonstrates
excellence in writing!
EXPANDED CORE
 Up to three points are given based on how well a student
accomplishes the examples given for the Expanded Core.
 Unlike the Basic Core, the Expanded Core can be viewed as
somewhat subjective.
 Concentrate on these four expanded core criteria (easiest
way to earn expanded core points):
1. Persuasive use of documents as evidence
2. Addressing all parts of the question thoroughly
3. Analyzing point of view or bias in most of the
documents
4. Additional groupings or other forms of analysis
DBQ REVIEW STEP-BY-STEP!
 Read and understand the prompt.
 Quickly tackle the documents to look for categories
to form your thesis – make notes or a quick chart.
 Draft your thesis and note your groups. Make sure
your thesis and groupings answer all parts of the
prompt.
 Determine which documents will work for POV
analysis. Attempt to write POV analysis statements
for MOST documents.
 Draft your topic sentences. Write your essay!
DBQ SECRETS TO SUCCESS!

Make sure you know what the question is
asking.

Look for the point of view of the author of each
document.

Take into account the social status,
educational background, profession or other
biographical information of the author of each
document.

Look very carefully at the date of each
document.

Look for change over time in the documents.

Look for possible solutions in the documents.

Remember that the documents are not
necessarily facts. Many times the documents
simply express an opinion or perception.

Respect the documents.

Do not make a document say something it
doesn't really say.

Assume the reader of the exam knows the
documents inside and out but cite the
documents that you use either with author &
number.

Do not ramble.

Documents are often given in chronological order
BUT do not use them in chronological order.

Use of all the documents if possible. Don't force
the documents to fit, though.

The thesis must not be simply a restatement of
the question.

Use the rule of “3" – 3 ideas in thesis, 3
groupings of documents, at least 3 points of
view, etc.

Answer the question that is asked and address
each part of the question.

Remember that there is no one right answer one
right way to group documents on the DBQ.

Use a grid or chart to organize your information.

Use outside historical information to bolster your
essay.

Do not include information in your essay unless
you are sure it is correct.