Transcript Writing a DBQ - Lower Moreland Township School District

Writing a DBQ
Document Based Question
What is a DBQ?
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Essay Based Question
Collection of 5-8 Documents
Requires a 4-5 paragraph,
thesis based response
Student must analyze and
incorporate primary sources into
response
How to approach writing a
DBQ: Before Writing
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Read the question 3 times
Underline/highlight key elements
of the question
Brainstorm: list what information
you would include BEFORE
looking at the documents
Plan your structure and possible
thesis
Example:
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To what extent was
European imperialism a
positive force for African
cultural, political and
economic development?
Reading the Documents
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Take at least 15 minutes to read
and analyze the documents
Note who wrote/said each
document, and the document’s
context: purpose, audience
Look for possible bias/ Author’s
POV
Identify possible passages to
quote
Identify how each document fits
into your outline
Writing your lead paragraph:
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Establish historical context
Define your terms
Create “Road-Map” for your
essay
End with a clear thesis that
directly responds to the question
Writing your body paragraphs
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Start with a good
topic/transitional sentence
Give specific examples to
support your thesis
Give Analysis not Narrative
(Focus more on why and how,
rather than what)
Use at least two documents per
body paragraph
Incorporation/Analysis of quotes
Quote Incorporation
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No need for parenthetical citations
Recognize the source and document number
Example: In Document 2, British Governor
Frederick Lugard states “Africa benefited by
the influx of manufactured goods and the
substitution of law and order for barbarism”
His Eurocentric view recognizes the
economic benefits of imperialism in Africa.
OR Lugard states “Africa benefited…for
barbarism” (Doc. 2). His Eurocentric…
It is OK to paraphrase (is necessary for
visual sources)
Use at least 4 sources and 2 direct quotes
Concluding Paragraph
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Restate Thesis
Re-enforce your key arguments
Extension
Major Ideas to Remember
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Plan for at least 15 minutes
Make sure to answer the correct
question
Think more; write less
Analysis NOT Narrative
Use at least 4 of the 7
documents
Include outside information
You will survive this