Transcript DBQ’s - Weebly

DBQ’S
MR. BARCHETTO
Lesson 9- Day 1
What is a DBQ?
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A DBQ, document based question, is a question that focuses
around one or more documents.
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The documents can be:
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Graph
Cartoon
Short excerpt
Picture
Map
Students typically look at anywhere from 2 to 10 documents
Students have to analyze the documents and write an essay
around the designated theme that incorporates information
from the documents.
Breaking down the DBQ
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These are some tasks that students could be asked to do in a
DBQ:
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Analyze: Break a topic down into separate parts and discuss each one.
Criticize: Make judgments. Evaluate comparative worth.
Define: Explain the exact meaning, specific to the course or subject.
Describe: Give a detailed account, listing characteristics, qualities and
parts.
Discuss: Argue the pros and cons of an issue.
Evaluate: Give an opinion or cite the opinion of an expert.
Illustrate: Give concrete examples.
Summarize: Give a brief, condensed account, including conclusions.
How to write a DBQ answer
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The DBQ is a special type of essay question. In the DBQ some of the
information you need is presented in the documents. For the DBQ you are
expected to analyze and interpret the documents and at the same time
relate the information in the documents and your analysis of it to the
knowledge you have gained from the units covered. You must include in your
answer information from this knowledge that is not found in the documents.
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In answering the DBQ, you must begin by analyzing the question as you would
with regular essay-type questions.
One of the biggest failings of students in answering the DBQ is their inability to
weave outside information into their essay.
The following strategy for answering a DBQ will help you avoid this
problem.
Step 1:Read the Question Only
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Read the question and historical context only and then
list in the exam booklet all the names, events, acts,
and writings that come to mind for the time period
covered in the essay. Some of these terms will later
be drawn on as outside information in the essay.
Step 2: Write a Brief Outline
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Part A: Breakdown the requirements of the question
 What
is it the question is asking? Do you need one
supporting paragraph two, three?
 You will always need at least three paragraphs: an
introduction and conclusion as well as whatever
supporting paragraphs needed.
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Part B: Using your knowledge of the Question
 Still
without looking at the documents, write a brief
outline to the question asked.
Step 3: How will the documents fit?
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Only after the first two steps have been completed should you
carefully read the documents themselves. You may want to use
pens to highlight the documents. Answer the questions
provided with each document.
While reading the documents, you should also make brief
notes. Note the source of the document. Is it biased? Note the
date of the document if given. How will the date affect its
accuracy? What is the exact point being made?
Finally, you should decide where the documents will fit in
your outline.
Step 4: Write the DBQ
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Congratulations the hard part is over!
 All
you need to do now is focus on writing well
constructed paragraphs using the evidence you found.
THE DO’S AND
DON’TS OF DBQ’S
You don’t need to use all documents
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You do not need to use all documents to score at the
highest levels on the DBQs, but you should use most
of them.
 Typical
rule is to use one more than half the documents
provided. Ex. 8 documents provided you should use at
least 5 documents to support argument.
Don’t quote extensively from the documents.
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You should not quote extensively from the
documents.
 Using
a fragment or a sentence is fine, but more than
that is a waste of time.
 Summarize the key idea(s) found in the document, but
do not quote the full document.
Citing Sources
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In citing the sources, it is far better to mention the
author or subjects of a document
 For
example
 “John
Winthrop maintains” or “ the list of emigrants bound
for New England illustrates” - rather than referring to
“Document A”.
 It
is perfectly acceptable to put “Doc. C” after a
discussion as a footnote, but in a well-written essay it is
not necessary.
Write a unified essay
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Remember you are to write a unified essay and not
a mere summary of what is in each document.
Refer to other events of the age, and clearly
indicate how these documents relate to these events
and help you gain a better understanding of events
in the “mainstream” of world history.
LET’S GIVE IT A TRY
Lesson 10- Day 2
Directions:
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This question is based on the six documents in this
packet and your knowledge of world history. You
need to write an essay in which you:
 Make
sure to answer all parts of the task
 Use at Least Four of the six documents in the packet
 Use relevant outside knowledge (information from your
brain)
 Support your writing with specific examples and details
Step 1: Historical Context
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Around 3500 B.C. in southwestern
Asia the first of the River Valley
Civilizations began. The ancient
River Valley Civilizations of Egypt,
China, and Mesopotamia all
made key contributions to future
societies.
Step 2a: Task
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Discuss and describe two
contributions from each of the River
Valley Civilizations that influenced
future civilizations.
Step 2b: Outline
I. Introduction
II. Mesopotamia
A. Contribution #1
1. Effect on future civilizations
B. Contribution #2
1. Effect on future civilizations
III. Egypt
A. Contribution #1
1. Effect on future civilizations
B. Contribution #2
1. Effect on future civilizations
IV. China
A. Contribution #1
1. Effect on future civilizations
B. Contribution #2
1. Effect on future civilizations
V. Conclusion
Step 3a: Task
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For Part A, read each document carefully and answer the question or
questions after each document. Then go back to handout and write down
the following: state where this document will help you in your outline and
make note of important information which will help you in your response.
For Part B, use your answers from Part A, information from the documents,
and your knowledge of social studies to write a well organized essay. In the
essay you should:
Let’s Focus on Part A
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Discuss and describe two
contributions
each of
Which
isfrom
Step
3 the River Valley Civilizations
that influenced future civilizations.
Document 1
Sumerians created cuneiform script over 5000
years ago. It was the world's first written language.
Sumerians invented this writing system to keep
track of business dealings because they traded with
people who lived in lands that were hundreds and
even thousands of miles away. Writing was a giant
leap forward in the development of civilization.
People kept records and new ideas were now able
to be passed easily from generation to generation.
Cuneiform was written on clay tablets, and then
baked hard in a kiln.
Document 2
In 1754 B.C., Hammurabi conquered and united all the cities of
Mesopotamia under his rule. Although he was a brutal warrior,
his greatest achievement was his code of laws, which he had
engraved on a towering stone monument. Hammurabi’s Code
was not the first, but it was the most complete set of laws that
has survived. It is important because it created a set of rules
that
helped to govern a civilization while trying to protect people
even if they had little political power. It called for different
punishments based on the class of the lawbreaker and the
victim of the crime. In the Code, punishments often fit the crime
by demanding and “eye for and eye” or a “tooth for a tooth”.
The following are three of the 282 laws in the Code of
Hammurabi.
229.If a builder build a house for some one, and does not
construct it properly, and the house which he built fall in and kill
its owner, then that builder shall be put to death.
230.If it kill the son of the owner the son of that builder shall be
put to death.
231.If it kill a slave of the owner, then he shall pay slave for
slave to the owner of the house.
Document 3
Egyptian kings in the Old Kingdom are best known for the huge structures they built,
pyramids. These large stone buildings served as houses or tombs for the dead
kings. In order to build pyramids the Egyptians needed to learn the specialized skills
of mathematics, geometry, engineering, and architecture.
Document 4
We know about the pharaohs of ancient Egypt because of the written records that
were left. These records were kept in hieroglyphics, a system of writing that was
based on pictures. Unlike Sumerian cuneiform writing, hieroglyphics represented
ideas or objects but could also stand for sounds. They could be carved into clay
or stone but could also be written onto papyrus, the first paper which was
developed by the Egyptians which made it easier to keep records.
Document 5
In China, Confucius wrote down his philosophy which explained how people should
live their lives. Confucianism teaches that each person should accept his or her role
in society. Confucianism became the basis for order and respect and was central in
governing China. The relationships and teachings of Confucius were studied for “civil
service” exams. These exams were taken by Chinese citizens in hopes of scoring
well and getting a good paying job in the Chinese government.
Central to Confucius' teaching are relationships and social roles. There are five great
relationships:
1. Kindness in the father and obedience in the son
2. Kindness in the older brother and respect by the younger brother
3. Good behavior by the husband and respect by the wife
4. Gentle respect by seniors and admiration and respect for them by young people
5. Generosity by rulers and loyalty to the ruler by their subjects
If these attitudes are practiced there will be harmony among all.
Document 6
Many inventions were made during the Han dynasty of China which contributed to its culture
and led to trade with other civilizations. China invented porcelain, paper, ink and gunpowder
(which was used in fireworks). China traded these goods along a trade route they developed
called the Silk Road which helped to create wealth and prosperity in China. Trade along the Silk
Road led to cultural diffusion or the spread of ideas and inventions amongst peoples. Cultural
diffusion led to great progress for China and other civilizations as ideas and inventions spread
and led to advances in many societies throughout the world.
PART II
DBQ: Early River Civilizations
Task
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For Part A, read each document carefully and answer the question or
questions after each document. Then read the directions for Part B and
write your essay.
Let’s Focus on Part B
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For Part B, use your answers from Part A, information from the documents,
and your knowledge of social studies to write a well organized essay. In the
essay you should:
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Discuss and describe two contributions from each of the River Valley
Civilizations that influenced future civilizations.
PERMS
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What should I focus on while writing my essay?
P
– Political
 E – Economic
 R – Religious
 M – Military
 S – Social
Essay Checklist
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I have completed and understand all of the documents.
I have answered both parts of the task
My essay has an introduction, body, and conclusion.
I have incorporated at least FOUR of the documents in my
response.
I have also used OUTSIDE KNOWLEDGE.
I have not written an essay based ONLY on the documents.
I have not written an essay based ONLY on my outside
knowledge.