Transcript How To Write a DBQ - Conner Hight School AP US History

How To Write a DBQ
Suggestions for Success
in Advanced Placement
United States History
Overview of the National Exam
 The national APUSH exam is
broken into two major sections:
– Section 1 (55 minutes)
• 80 multiple choice questions
– Section 2 (130 minutes)
• DBQ essay (15 minutes to
plan; 45 minutes to write)
• 2 free-response essays
(70 minutes)
Overview of Section 2: the Essays
 For the essay section of the
national exam, there will always
be 3 essays (1 DBQ & 2 FRQs):
– The DBQ requires the use of
both prior knowledge &
document interpretation
– The FRQs require only prior
knowledge to answer
 See examples of each…
Documents can be images, charts, quotations.
There are usually between 7 and 10
documents per DBQ. Each document includes
a “source” that should be carefully examined.
More on the DBQ in a minute….
For the FRQs, the College Board has
given you choices. Students must choose
one of the two essays from Part B
(Colonies through Civil War)…
…and one of the two essay choices in
Part C (Reconstruction through 1980s)…
How will the DBQ be scored?
 The College Board uses a 9-point
scale for DBQs, so we do too:
– Essays are scored as such:
9 (100), 8 (94), 7 (88), 6 (84),
5 (78), 4 (70), 3 (65), 2 (60), 1 (55)
– The rubric is tailored each year to
the specific DBQ essay, but all
rubrics look for these themes…
DBQ Generic Rubric
 Contains a well-developed thesis that
clearly addresses the question
 Presents an effective analysis of all
parts of the question, although
treatment may be uneven
 Uses substantial number of
documents effectively
 Uses substantial, relevant outside
information to support the thesis
 Clearly organized and well written
 May have insignificant errors
Tips on Writing a DBQ
(A summary of tips is provided)
DBQ Tips
1. There is no right way to answer
a DBQ. Every question can illicit
an infinite number of responses
– The key is to make an
argument (your thesis) &
support it with evidence
– All DBQs are written so that
they can be argued from
multiple viewpoints
DBQ Tips
2. Be sure to answer the question
– This begins by gaining a clear
understanding of what the
question is asking
– Read the question three times
& write it on your own words
– Pay attention to all parts of the
question, especially the verb
(compare, evaluate, assess, to
what extent, etc.) & time frame
(stay inside the era)
DBQ Tips
3. Political,
Brainstorm
& outline
your Social,
essay
Economic,
Religious,
Intellectual,
Artistic
of docs
the eraor
– Before you
looktrends
at the
write your essay, take time to
jot down what you know about
the topic (PERSIA)
– What is your gut response to
the question? This is usually
your thesis (argument)
– What outside information do
you remember about the topic?
DBQ Tips
4. Organize your essay:
– Chronological arguments are
effective for questions that ask
(or imply) change-over-time
– Similarity/difference arguments
are appropriate for comparison
questions; Making direct
comparisons within paragraphs is
much more analytical than
separate descriptive paragraphs
about each item
DBQ Tips
5. Introductory paragraph
– Establish “time & place”; show
the reader that you understand
the importance of the era
– Create an original thesis
statement that clearly answers
the question & does not simply
restate the question asked
– Allude to the sub-topics or
categories you will discuss to
support your argument
DBQ Tips
6. Body paragraphs
– Every body paragraph should
be a sub-topic that supports
your argument (thesis)
– Begin & end each paragraph
with an original argument
– Include documentation AND
outside information to support
your body paragraph argument
– Balance is important: 60%
outside info & 40% docs
DBQ Tips
7. Documents
– Do NOT quote, paraphrase, or
describe documents. The
essay reader already knows
what the docs say
– Do NOT laundry list (an essay
that merely describes what the
docs say without analysis)
– Use all the docs, unless you
don’t understand one
– Cite documents…
Citing Documents
1. Thomas Paine, in his pamphlet,
Common Sense (Doc A), said: “…”
2. Joe Shmoe, a Western delegate to
the Republican convention in 1912
(Doc B), agreed…
3. The 19c historian, Frederick
Jackson Turner, believed... (Doc. E)
NEVER begin with: In Document G…
DBQ Tips
7. Documents (cont’d)
– The order in which the docs
appear is almost always helpful
– Sometimes the docs “talk” to
each other by presenting
counter-arguments or can be
grouped together by theme
– The source of the doc is
important & often can reveal
more than the text itself
– Write doc notes in the margin
DBQ Tips
8. Concluding paragraph
– A great opportunity for analysis;
Restate your essay argument
– Put your essay answer in a
larger historical perspective:
•End or beginning of some
trend/movement/idea, etc.
•Transitionary era
•Do NOT say that this is why
we are where we are today!
DBQ Tips
 This isn’t as scary as you think:
– “Answers to essay questions
will be judged on the strength of
the thesis developed, the quality
of the historical argument, and
the evidence offered in support
of the thesis, rather than on the
factual information per se.”
– The average national score on
a DBQ is 3.5
DBQ Practice:
Divide into groups &
create a thesis (argument)
& outline for each prompt
Practice DBQ #1
Historians argue that religion
played the critical factor in the
shaping the development of the
North American colonies. Assess
the validity of this statement in
relation to the British and
Spanish colonies by 1740.
Practice DBQ #2
To what extent had the
colonists developed a sense of
their identify and unity as
Americans by the eve of the
American Revolution? Use the
documents and your knowledge
of the era from 1750 to 1776 to
answer the question
The Real DBQ
 Now its time to reveal your DBQ
 This essay is due on Friday:
– The essay can be typed or
written in blue/black ink
– You may not collaborate (every
year we catch duplicate essays&
students receive a 0)
– Schedule an appointment to
review your draft before Friday