How To Do a

1. How To Doa B Q D

2. The Introductory Paragraph • Restate the prompt. • Establish TIME & PLACE. • Create a clear, THESIS STATEMENT. The position you will prove. • State the 3 Points you want to prove that make up the ESSAY BODY • DON’T get “flowery”! • 4-6 sentences No “laundry list!”

3. The “”Meat”” Paragraphs • Identify your sub-topic in the first sentence. • Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph. • Use most of the documents given. • Bring in supportive outside information. This is critical!! * o.i.’s = “outside information” • 8-12 sentences per paragraph

4. Questions to Ask Yourself About the Documents • Who is the author? • Why might they be significant? • What is the point of view (POV) of the author? • How reliable and accurate is the source? • What is the tone or intent of the document’s author? • What other information does this document call to mind? Use all available clues. Remember, docs. can be used in a variety of ways!

5. How to Reference a Document in Your Essay • Thomas Paine, in his pamphlet, Common Sense, said: “………………….” • Joe Smith, a mid-Western delegate to the Republican convention in 1912, agreed with….. (Doc. E) • The 19c historian, Frederick Jackson Turner, felt that …………………. (Doc. E) • * Use the information located above and below the document to help you with this. NEVER begin with: In Document E, …

6. The Concluding” Paragraph • Restate your thesis statement a bit differently. • Put your essay answer in a larger historical perspective. • End of some trend/movement/idea • Beginning of some trend/movement/idea • End of one & beginning of another. • Do NOT end on the note that this is the reason we are where we are today! • 3-4 sentences

7. What is Fluff? Cute General Vague narratives Meant as filler when you don’t know what to say!

8. What is Fluff? To this day, I’m glad this was established because who knows where we’d be without those brave men and women fighting for our united country! FLUFF!!!

9. 2004 APUSH DBQ • In what ways did the French and Indian War (1754-63) alter the political, economic and ideological relations between Britain and its American colonies? • Use the documents and your knowledge of the period 1740-1766 in constructing your response • SUGGGESTION • Note task demanded • Note time frame

10. Analyze: determine their component parts; examine their relationship. Compare: Examine to note similarities and differences. Contrast: examine in order to show dissimilarities or points of difference Describe: to give an account of; to tell about Explain: make clear or plain; make clear the causes or reasons for; detail; tell the meaning of

11. Assess / Evaluate: judge the value of something; evaluate the positive points and the negative ones; give an opinion regarding the value of; discuss the advantages and disadvantages of. Discuss: consider or examine by argument or from various points of view; debate; present the different sides of.

12. 2004 APUSH DBQ • In what ways did the French and Indian War (1754-63) alter the political, economic and ideological relations between Britain and its American colonies? • Use the documents and your knowledge of the period 1740-1766 in constructing your response

13. During the course of the years 1754-63 the British Empire was engaged in the third of three wars with rival France. This conflict (which would come to be known as the “French and Indian War” and the “Seven Years War) would be played out entirely on the North American continent, during which the colonists would fight actively on the side of the British. It would be this conflict that would serve as the turning point in colonial- British relations, specifically in the economic regard (which in turn, would have profound impact in the political and ideological realms). • Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis? • What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?

14. The French and Indian War, the North American counterpart to the Seven Year’s War was a massive and costly event. The British government sent troops to defend the interests of the colonists. The repercussions of the war were quite significant and long lasting and the escalation that resulted led all the way to the revolutionary war. The French and Indian War had great effect on the politics, economics, and ideology of the American colonies. • Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis? • What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?

15. For many years, throughout the 1600’s and early part of 1700s, the British pursued a policy of salutary neglect (healthy noninterference) toward its colonies. Britain enacted a series of Navigation Laws, but these attempts to regulate trade were minimally enforced. The colonists had a generally friendly attitude toward the British. Overall, they enjoyed the benefits of an imperial relationship with accompanying restrictions. However, this relationship was dramatically altered by the French and Indian War of 1764-1763. The course of the war itself significantly affected the political and ideological relationship of the colonists to their mother country; inasmuch as the colonists found the British imposition of restrictions and its hierarchical army to be repulsive to liberty, while the British saw the need for greater imperial control. However, it was the economic aftermath of the war, which left Britain with a staggering war debt and a need to raise new colonial revenues, that militated most heavily against colonial cooperation with the British. • Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis? • What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?

16. Organizing the Essay Sometimes an essay prompt will have sub topics Sometimes no subtopics are specified Useful tool for analysis? P = political E = economic R = religious S = social I = intellectual A = area

17. Organizing the Essay: Documents Ask yourself (ANSWER THE QUESTION BEFORE LOOKING AT THE DOCUMENTS!!) What is the Political aspectof “altered relationship?” What is the Economic aspect? What is the Social aspect? Then, group your documents according to those dimensions. NO LAUNDRY LIST!! Now, include at least two pieces of outside information to support each sub-topic.

18. General Info ANALYZE Don’t just cite! Essay length 3-5 pgs for DBQ 2-4 pgs for Standard Essay Must use 75% of the documents Don’t use a document you don’t understand Thesis statement not sentence Semi-colon is your friend!!