DBQs for Dummies (or smart people)

1. DBQs for Dummies (or smart people) How to approach one and write a solid essay.

2. What is a DBQ? • A DBQ stands for Document Based Question. • The purpose of a DBQ is to analyze documents to respond to a question. • A DBQ can actually be easier than a Free Response Question (Essay) if you know how to handle the documents effectively • What you need to include in your DBQ: • Thesis • Majority of Documents • Grouping of Documents • Assessing the Validity of the Authors’ POV

3. Step 1: Read the Background Information & Prompt • Read the background information. It will include some insight into what the question will be asking. Do not draw heavily from this in your essay, but use it as a way to help organize your thoughts. • Read the prompt carefully: • What is it asking? What type of essay will you have to write? • Common types of essays in DBQs: • Comparisons (Compare AND Contrast) • Change over Time • Analysis • What background information do you already know that can help you answer the question? This part is important. You need to include outside information in a DBQ to get a top score.

4. Step 2: Documents • Skim through the documents. • Read each document and analyze them for key things: • Source: • Primary or Secondary? • Who is the author? • When was it made/written? • Importance of the document • Point of View • Place the documents into groupings/categories • Establish relationships between/among the documents

5. Step 3: Document Analysis: Categories/Grouping • Geographic – dealing with the the relationships between people and the Earth • Social – The relationships and order/classes of people • Political – dealing with the government • Religious – the spiritual beliefs of a people • Intellectual (Arts) – the education and achievements of people • Technology – the advancements that make life easier for people. • Economics – the relationships of money and trade between people and countries. • Other – various other categories that might serve your purposes

6. Geography • Location • Physical (Natural) • Movement • Human Environment Interaction • Region

7. Social • Family • Gender Relations • Social Classes • Inequalities • Life Styles

8. Political • Leaders & Elites • State Structure • War, Diplomacy, & Treaties • Courts & Laws

9. Religion • Holy books/texts • Beliefs & Teachings • Conversion • Sin/Salvation • Deities

10. Intellectual/Arts • Art • Music • Writing & literature • Philosophy • Math & Science • Education & Academics

11. Economics • Type of System (Socialist, capitalist, etc.) • Technology & industry • Trade & commerce • Capital & money • Types of businesses

12. Document Analysis: Point of View • What is the Point of View (POV) of the author? • Is it a Primary or Secondary Source? • POV is all about establishing connections. When writing, a simple formula to use is: “It makes sense that (person) holds this position because he is (reason).” • Example: It makes sense that Hitler found Jews detestable because none of them would go on a date with him (note: this is not true. Probably.). • The following website does a good job of explaining how to use POV or explain bias in a DBQ: • http://www.advancedplacementhistory.com/POV%20in%20DBQs.htm

13. To Include in your Essay: • Provides an appropriate, explicitly stated thesis that directly addresses all parts of the question and does NOT simply restate the question. • Discusses a majority of the documents individually and specifically. • Demonstrates understanding of the basic meaning of a majority of the documents. • Supports the thesis with appropriate interpretations of a majority of the documents. • Analyzes the documents by explicitly grouping them in at least three appropriate ways. • Takes into account both the sources of the documents and the authors’ points of view. • You may refer to relevant historical information not mentioned in the documents.