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A guide to writing a DBQ

A guide to writing a DBQ. The purpose of the DBQ (Document Based Question) is not to test your knowledge of the subject, but rather to evaluate your ability to practice the historian's craft. You will be required to work with the documents and use them to answer a question.

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A guide to writing a DBQ

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  1. A guide to writing a DBQ

  2. The purpose of the DBQ (Document Based Question) is not to test your knowledge of the subject, but rather to evaluate your ability to practice the historian's craft. You will be required to work with the documents and use them to answer a question.

  3. Remember that there is actually no right or wrong answer. Your answer is YOUR interpretation of the content of the documents. As long as your answer is logical and your interpretation is supported by the content of the document you are correct.

  4. Actual Instructions from the 2010 AP DBQ… Write an essay that: • Has a relevant thesis and supports that thesis with evidence from the documents. • Uses all of the documents. • Analyzes the documents by grouping them in as many appropriate ways as possible. Does not simply summarize the documents individually. • Takes into account the sources of the documents and analyzes the authors’ points of view. • Identifies and explains the need for at least one additional type of document.

  5. First… • What is the question asking you to do? (What’s the verb in the question? Restate the verb(s) in your own words.) i.e. evaluate, analyze,

  6. Second…. • What is the object of the verb? What? Where? When? Make sure you focus your essay so that it answers ALL of these key characteristics.

  7. Third… • Historical Background The Historical Background is presented in order to “jog the memory” of students. Unfortunately too many students don’t realize that the HB paragraph is there to help them and all too often ignore it or don’t realize that it contains valuable information.

  8. HB continued…. Based on the historical background, how will you read the documents differently? What is being noted or hinted at in the background?

  9. As you read the documents… Think about “SOAPSTONE” Subject-What is the main topic of this document? Occasion- Who or what produced this document? Audience-When was the document produced? Purpose-Why was this document produced? Speaker-Who was the Speaker of this document? Tone-Is there any apparent tone or “voice” in this document that would influence one’s interpretation?

  10. Additional Document • 1. Describe the kind of document that would give more information, or the kind of information you’d like to see in an additional document. • 2. A short explanation of how that information would help a historian answer the question more completely.

  11. Grouping…. Do you notice any characteristics that more than one document share? **You may group documents chronologically, culturally, and thematically

  12. POV • Document 1 “If you park your car there, you’ll get in trouble,” says your six-year-old sister. Document 2 “If you park your car there, you’ll get in trouble,” says the police officer.

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