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How To Do an APUS. B. Q. D. DBQ Basics. Similar to a standard essay 15 minutes is provided as a Reading Period, and an additional 45 minutes to write the essay. Thus, a total of 60 minutes is provided to do the DBQ. Step One:Read the Question.
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How To Doan APUS B Q D
DBQ Basics • Similar to a standard essay • 15 minutes is provided as a Reading Period, and an additional 45 minutes to write the essay. • Thus, a total of 60 minutes is provided to do the DBQ.
Step One:Read the Question • Make sure you carefully read the question - read it a couple of times • Make sure you identify exactly what the question is asking • Feel free to underline or circle important elements of the question. • Make sure to note era or date parameters and make sure to stick to them & cover entire time period • Look for clearly provided subcategories if any - for example: social, political, economic…
Step Two: Develop A Working Thesis • Develop a working thesis - make sure you take a strong stand (You may need to adjust your position after reading the Docs) • Remember there is no right or wrong answer - you will be judged on how well you support your position with outside info and the documents • Decide on subcategories that will function as your body paragraphs (usually 3 to 4)
Step 3: Brainstorm Outside Information • Remember for APUS DBQ outside info is essential: these are your proper nouns (often your key terms) that serve as specific evidence • Brainstorm O.I.’s for each body paragraph - quick list that comes to mind - minimum of 3 per body paragraph
Step 4: Read the Documents • As you read the documents, pay attention to titles, dates, and sources • As you read the documents, decide where you may be able to use these documents in your essay to support YOUR argument • Adjust position as necessary, with information provided by/triggered by the documents • Documents will trigger new outside info! • Write your essay
DBQ - How to Analyze documents • Note dates, titles, authors, & sources associated with each document • Consider the intended audience for the document • Note opposing viewpoints among documents - they always try to include these
The Introductory Paragraph • Establish TIME & PLACE. • Create a clear, THESIS STATEMENT that clearly answers all aspects of the question and takes a strong stand. • Allude to the SUB-TOPICS or categories you will discuss to support your thesis statement • Focus on the question at hand—do NOT begin with a “flowery” sentence!
The Body Paragraphs • Identify your sub-topic or category in the first sentence. • Topic Sentence should support and develop thesis *and should be an argument, not a fact. • 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” • Reinforce your argument -provide transition
How to Reference a Document in Your Essay • Thomas Paine, in his pamphlet, Common Sense, argued………………… (Doc. E). • 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) *NEVER begin with: In Document A,it says blah blah blah …
The Concluding” Paragraph • Start with a “concluding phrase.” • Restate your thesis statement a bit differently. • Put your essay answer in a larger historical perspective. End of some trend/movement/idea, etc. 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!
The Do’s of DBQ’s • Approach the question as any essay • Let your argument guide your organization • Reference as many documents as possible within your essay that you understand • Include at least one piece of outside information for every document reference you use • Pay attention to dates, titles, and sources of the documents - there is often helpful information there! • Look for the “distracter” document and try to give some attention to opposing viewpoints • Stick to the time frame given for the question
The Don’ts of DBQs • DO NOT QUOTE THE DOCUMENTS - everyone reading your essay has also read the documents, so this just wastes time • Don’t laundry list the documents (Doc. A says, Doc. B says, etc.) • Don’t reference documents that you do not understand - it is better to ignore them (unless you find yourself doing this with more that half of the documents)