The Document-Based Question : The Document-Based Question DBQ
What Is It? : What Is It? An essay question that requires you to interpret primary source documents.
Documents might include the following: Newspaper articles/editorials
Letters/diaries
Speeches
Legislation
Political cartoons
Charts and graphs
What Are the Documents for? : What Are the Documents for? To discuss events and ideas with which you are familiar.
To support or refute the essay questions
Focus around the essay topic
When Do I Take the DBQ? : When Do I Take the DBQ? After the multiple-choice section
You get a green booklet with the essay questions and DBQ
Begins with a 15 minute mandatory reading period
Evaluate and interpret the documents
Is There a Right Answer to Each DBQ? : Is There a Right Answer to Each DBQ? Yes
Multiple arguments
Develop your argument (thesis) with evidence (include outside information)
Use a strong historical argument
I Have the Question, Now What Do I Do? Getting Started : I Have the Question, Now What Do I Do? Getting Started Read the question thoroughly
Explore all parts of the question (how many parts)
Highlight important aspects
Ask these two questions
Do I have an opinion about this subject?
What must I discuss in order to write a successful essay? (most important)
Getting Started Cont. : Getting Started Cont. Your essay will follow the standard writing formula
Thesis or introductory paragraph
Opening sentence
Rephrase question
Your opinion
Introduce your arguments
Body
At least 3 full length paragraphs
Minimum of 2 documents to backup your argument
The more you use, the better your essay if they are used correctly
Conclusion
Getting Started Cont. : Getting Started Cont. Gather information
Address issues
Decide on data
Organize plan of attack
Sample Question : Sample Question Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. Why did this difference in development occur? Use the documents AND your knowledge of the colonial period up to 1700 to develop your answer…. Circle or underline the key parts to the question.
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown 1) Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. Why did this difference in development occur?
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown 1) Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. Why did this difference in development occur?
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown 1) Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. Why did this difference in development occur?
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown 1)Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. Why did this difference in development occur?
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown 1) Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. Why did this difference in development occur?
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown 1) Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. Why did this difference in development occur?
Question Breakdown : Question Breakdown New England region
Chesapeake region
Question Breakdown : Question Breakdown Both settled
English origin
Why settled, when settled, how settled?
Question Breakdown : Question Breakdown By 1700----colonial time period
Evolved---grew into or developed
Two distinct societies---different
Question Breakdown : Question Breakdown Why did this difference
In development occur
Question Breakdown : Question Breakdown Your knowledge of the colonial period up to 1700 to develop your answer…..
OUTSIDE INFORMATION
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown Thoroughly examine and analyze the question
Brainstorm for information
Cluster/outline
List of important events, people and other pertinent information
Gather Outside Information : Gather Outside Information Jot down terms, ideas, and/or concepts
2 or 3 minutes
Decide what you can and cannot use
Insert into cluster/outline
Outside Information : Outside Information Information same as the documents
That means you are on target
Read question and brainstorm
Reading the Documents : Reading the Documents Use the AP-PARTS to help you understand the documents
A = Author
P = Place and Time
P = Prior Knowledge
A = Audience
R = Reason
T = The Main Idea
S = Significance
Reading the Documents : Reading the Documents Document Order
Chronological - if the test is asking you trace the historical development.
Otherwise – organized for compare and contrast (draw comparisons in your essay).
Reading the Documents : Reading the Documents Inconsistencies
Not all documents agree
Present different view points
Recognize inconsistencies
APPARTS help you identify the source and differing opinions of the same event or data
Reading the Documents : Reading the Documents Once you decided on your thesis: (documents)
Supporting evidence
Contradicting evidence
- incorporate and acknowledge these
Why was that document included?
Add more outside info (???)
Thesis Development : Thesis Development Read question one more time
Develop an argument you can prove
Make sure your thesis addresses all pertinent aspects of the question
Write Your Essay : Write Your Essay Get to the point
Back thesis up with facts, solid evidence not fluff
opening statement with your opinion, restate the question and 3 arguments
3 or 4 different issues or topic sentences
Make sure you are addressing the question
Refer back to the question several times
Include as many documents as possible and be sure you cite each document used
Don’t quote document----summarize or main idea
Underline factual information you want “readers” to see….and list documents when you use them…. (DocA)
Final Conclusion : Final Conclusion Ending paragraph which summarizes what you have written.
This is not part of the body…….
The Last Word : The Last Word Stay confident
Don’t panic
Take a deep breath to relax
You are going to learn how to write these
Remember, everyone else in the U.S. who is taking APUSH is in the same boat as you.
The Last Word : The Last Word Stay confident
Don’t panic
Take a deep breath to relax
You prepared all year for the test
Everyone else is in the same boat as you
Sample Question : Sample Question To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States. Use the documents and your knowledge of the 1940s through the 1950s, to answer the question. Circle or underline the key parts to the question.
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States. Use the documents and your knowledge of the 1940s through the 1950s to answer the question.
Sample Question Breakdown : Sample Question Breakdown To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.
Use the documents and your knowledge of the 1940s through the 1950s to answer the question.
Information Grid : Information Grid
Information Grid : Information Grid