DO NOW

1. DO NOW Re-visit the question you already wrote down about the AP exam. Has your question been answered? Discuss with a partner. We will return to any of your unanswered questions and discuss at the end of September.

2. THE DBQ

3. Give me a D! “D!” DBQ What does the “D” stand for?

4. The Documents vary in length and are chosen to illustrate interactions and complexities within the material.

5. Documents… • The material will include - where the question is suitable - charts, graphs, cartoons and pictures, as well as written materials. • Students must relate the documents to a historical period or theme (focusing on major periods and issues)

6. The DBQ For this reason, outside knowledge is very important and must be incorporated into the student’s essay if the highest scores are to be earned

7. The DBQ It should be noted that the emphasis of the DBQ will be on analysis and synthesis, not historical narrative

8. POINT OF VIEW (POV) • A Fundamental skill with all DBQs is evaluating Point of View • “Students who do not understand POV usually end up writing superficial, silly, or error filled essays”

9. POV Demonstrates a more sophisticated understanding of the documents than an answer that simply accepts everything at face value

10. POV • Who or what is at the source of the document? • What bias does the source have? • What do you know about the source? • What audience is being addressed, and how might that influence what is said?

11. EXAMPLE How Reliable is the document? 1. Statistical charts are very reliable but may not provide an explanation for the data 2. Primary sources often have a bias. The author of the document is frequently part of the controversy.

12. Documents… Important! 1. Note when one document apparently contradicts another. 2. Why is this so? 3. (For example, they may be written by individuals on opposite sides of a controversy) 4. Bias is inherent in all documents

13. Documents… • 5. Another way of phrasing “bias” is to ask what mental filters the author of any given document uses to make sense of the world • 6. For example, (see DBQ handout) James Kent is most likely a man of wealth or business • 7. “The Working Men’s Declaration of Independence” obviously coming from a man of the working class

14. Documents… • 8.The chart of Voter Participation represents the mental filters of the historian who compiled the statistics. • 9. Historians may select those data that he/she regards as significant, and ignore data that he/she does not regard as significant.

15. COMMON WEAKNESSES

16. Common Weaknesses • No awareness of various sophistication levels of documents. • Different levels of sophistication are intentionally built into the documents to test the students’ critical awareness

17. Common Weaknesses • Relies solely on documents and includes no outside information • Uses only outside information and makes no reference to documents—written to students’ own knowledge of the time period

18. Common Weaknesses • Mere phrasing of documents A-Z—the classic case of the laundry list. Do not use documents in order!!!! • Too much direct quotation • Organization is lacking: repetitious

19. “TEN STEPS TO SUCCESS”Writing for the AP Exam

20. Before You Begin: Pause, Analyze, and Plan

21. What is Step #1? “Where am I standing?” Identify “the footprint” / time period

22. What is Step #2? “The Prompt” What is it that you are trying to answer? Underline the key words - example Analyze or Describe (see handout for translations)

23. What is Step #3? Inventory! All MAJOR (relevant) outside information you can associate with this time period.

24. What is Step #4? Develop a brief outline. One way to graphically organize your outline is with circles or boxes, each of which is labeled with one of your main ideas. Once labeled, you will write supporting info in the circles or boxes.

25. Organizing the Essay/Outline - A SPRITE • AESTHETIC • SOCIAL • POLITICAL (includes Diplomatic) • RELIGIOUS • INTELLECTUAL • TECHNOLOGICAL • ECONOMIC

26. The Outline …when reading the DBQ question, Is there an economic dimension? Is there a religious dimension? Etc.

27. The DBQ From that starting point, you can begin to group your documents according to those dimensions

28. Approaching the DBQ outline… Grouping your documents into your subtopics (graphs) helps in two important ways 1. your essay is organized analytically rather than descriptively, which is always a good thing. 2. it helps avoid using the documents in alphabetical order, which is always bad.

29. What is Step #5? The Thesis Statement! • Make it easy for the reader • Have a clear objective • Establish a perspective you can support • Take a stand • Include categories for further discussion (your body paragraphs)

30. A Sample Thesis… “Throughout the history of the United States reform movements of all kinds have been made. There seems to be no end to reforming one thing or another. During the years 1825-1850 many movements were made. These movements were helping to expand Democratic ideals”

31. Reader’s Evaluation Contains a limited and/or undeveloped thesis Notice that the student does not specify which reform movements The thesis is little more than a restatement of the question. Therefore, I am looking at a 2-4 essay.

32. A Sample Thesis… “During the antebellum years between 1825-1850, American society began to rapidly diversify with waves of immigrants coming to the country coupled with the rapid industrialization in Northern cities. With these changes, new issues of workers rights’, prison reform, temperance movement, women’s rights, and abolition all became a part of American society. Many of these reforms were led by

33. newly awakened religious fervor and many were led by women advocates, but some Americans saw these new movements as a breach in heritage. (G) The newly aroused issues concerning reform movements, however, were certainly in keeping with the desire to expand American democracy” (II)

34. Reader’s evaluation… “A beautiful, sophisticated, thoroughly developed thesis! Not only are specific reforms mentioned, but regional differences suggested, opposition is cited, and causative Changes Over Time are cited. In addition, a strong theoretical underpinning for “democratic ideals” is established.”

35. This paper is an 8-9. • Enjoy it! You won’t see many like it.

36. What is Step #6? Set the scene! • Take the reader back in time by being descriptive • 3-5 sentences that kicks things off • In a 7 paragraph DBQ essay, you can do this in the 2nd paragraph

37. What is Step #7? Present the Evidence! • Rule of Three • That is, 3 pieces of evidence for each main idea that come from our “inventory” • American presidents • Constitutional amendments • Wars / treaties • Congressional legislation • Supreme Court cases Turn to the back of your notes, and set aside a new page for each category. For HW, you will skim through your outline and/or textbook to fill in this info.

38. ABOVE ALL… • Analyze and evaluate the documents • DO NOT just recite them

39. What is Step #8? The Rebuttal or Concession Statement! “Some idiots say… and here’s why they’re wrong…” Obviously you would not phrase it in this way, but this is the best example of exactly what the rebuttal paragraph is… can you think of an example?

40. What is Step #9? Conclude / Summarize! • Simplify and focus the reader’s attention. • Leave them with a clear idea of what you have said. • This was the question. Here is the evidence.

41. What is Step #10? Proofread! • Use a good pen • Submit materials on time • “Dress the part” “Everything you do will burnish or tarnish.”

42. More about the documents… • You do not need to use every document • But try to use as many as possible…7/11 or at least half is a good way to look at it. • BUT do not use documents that you do not understand!!

43. Ex. of how to cite a document • Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 1896. Speaking for America’s farmers, he gave his famous “Cross of Gold” speech, in which he articulated his ardent support for the coinage of silver… (J).

44. MORE TIPS • Do not quote the documents directly. This will waste time (except for some key phrase) • Refer to the document by author, POV and the thrust of the argument. • Add your own outside information about the author or source whenever possible • Identify them by putting the letter of the document in parentheses • This will help reader out - even when they’ve been reading essays all day and they are exhausted. (200 in one day!!)

45. WE WILL NOW GO THROUGH THE DBQ IN FRONT OF YOU TOGETHER FOR PRACTICE

46. 2011 DBQ QUESTION (Form B) Explain the ways that participation in political campaigns and elections in the United States changed between 1815 and 1840, and analyze forces and events that led to these changes. (refer to your copy of the DBQ)

47. 2011 DBQ Question (Form B) • As you read, note which documents can be used with each sub-topic (ASPRITE). • In this way you can group the documents effectively in your essay.

48. 2007 AP US HISTORY DBQ • In this DBQ, you could consider grouping the documents in regards to: - (political) party relations - (social) voting policy - (economic) changes - (intellectual) worldview / ideology - (social) American culture / attitudes

49. Grouping • Doc. A - voter participation (voting policy) • Doc. B - James Kent (voting policy, ideology) • Doc. C - Martin Van Buren (party relations, voting policy)

50. Grouping • Doc. D - party ballot (voting policy, party relations) • Doc E - George H. Evans (voting policy, ideology) • Doc F - Frances Trollope (culture)