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Writing the DBQ: Writing the DBQ: Document-BasedDocument-Based

QuestionQuestion

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What is the Document-Based What is the Document-Based Question?Question?

A document-based question requires A document-based question requires students to students to defend an assertiondefend an assertion by by using an using an analysisanalysis of historical of historical documents. While documents. While outside knowledgeoutside knowledge is is helpful in understanding the documents, helpful in understanding the documents, you are not graded on your introduction you are not graded on your introduction of outside knowledge.of outside knowledge.

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Solving a MysterySolving a Mystery Writing a DBQ is similar Writing a DBQ is similar

to solving a mystery or a to solving a mystery or a crime crime

You need to use your You need to use your previous knowledge previous knowledge along with the evidence along with the evidence (the documents) to help (the documents) to help solve the mystery – the solve the mystery – the question that is being question that is being asked.asked.

As is true with a mystery As is true with a mystery or crime, some evidence or crime, some evidence is better than other is better than other evidence!evidence!

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Best PracticesBest Practices

One of the best One of the best ways to prepare for ways to prepare for the DBQ on the AP the DBQ on the AP Exam is to practice Exam is to practice using APPARTS on using APPARTS on various primary various primary sources throughout sources throughout the year!the year!

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Six Steps to Answering a Six Steps to Answering a Document-Based QuestionDocument-Based Question

1.1. Read the question,Read the question, and and make sure you make sure you understand all parts of understand all parts of the question.the question.

2.2. Read the documentsRead the documents, , and analyze each and analyze each document with document with APPARTS as you read.APPARTS as you read.

3.3. Group the documents, Group the documents, thinking about how you thinking about how you will use each document will use each document to support your thesis.to support your thesis.

44. . Make an assertionMake an assertion – – formulate a thesis, formulate a thesis, ensuring that it directly ensuring that it directly answers the questions.answers the questions.

5.5. Use the “Yes/But” Use the “Yes/But” StrategyStrategy to form the to form the defense of your assertion defense of your assertion and to test your and to test your assertion.assertion.

66. . Write the essay.Write the essay. (Note: on (Note: on the AP exam students the AP exam students have 10 minutes to read have 10 minutes to read the documents and the documents and prewrite, and 40 minutes prewrite, and 40 minutes to write the essay.)to write the essay.)

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Step Five: Yes/ButStep Five: Yes/But

Here is where you will up your score by Here is where you will up your score by recognizing recognizing the other side of the assertionthe other side of the assertion you made – and then you made – and then destroying it in your writing.destroying it in your writing.

““Although slavery was morally and socially wrong, Although slavery was morally and socially wrong, the thirteen colonies could not have been the thirteen colonies could not have been economically successful without the institution of economically successful without the institution of slavery.”slavery.”

You recognize that slavery is wrong, you do not You recognize that slavery is wrong, you do not hide this fact, but will convince the reader that the hide this fact, but will convince the reader that the economic situation made it a “necessary evil.”economic situation made it a “necessary evil.”

Effective thesis starter words include: Although, Effective thesis starter words include: Although, while, Despite/In spite of…while, Despite/In spite of…

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Basic FactsBasic Facts

Aim to use all of the Aim to use all of the documents somewhere in documents somewhere in your analysis.your analysis.

Stay within the time period of Stay within the time period of the questionthe question

You MUST discuss point of You MUST discuss point of view for at least THREE view for at least THREE documents!documents!

Group the documents in a way Group the documents in a way that allows you to discuss that allows you to discuss three different topics (ie- three different topics (ie- political, economic, social)political, economic, social)

In your conclusion, describe a In your conclusion, describe a document that would make the document that would make the picture clearer (the missing picture clearer (the missing voice). Don’t forget to tell voice). Don’t forget to tell WHY!WHY!

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Basic Facts, cont.Basic Facts, cont. Analyze and make Analyze and make

inferences, do not simply inferences, do not simply repeat what the repeat what the document saysdocument says

Always refer to the Always refer to the document parenthetically document parenthetically by the number of the by the number of the document (Doc 1)document (Doc 1)

Students should use the Students should use the introductory paragraph to introductory paragraph to define terms, provide define terms, provide historical background, historical background, define the time period, define the time period, and state points of and state points of validation. Keep validation. Keep introductory information introductory information to a minimum. to a minimum.

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Basic Facts, cont.Basic Facts, cont.

Students should use Students should use specificspecific names, terms names, terms and eventsand events

Always make sure that Always make sure that you keep returning to the you keep returning to the main topic/your thesis – main topic/your thesis – do not wander!do not wander!

Lastly, use as many Lastly, use as many documents as you can! documents as you can! (Aim for all of them.)(Aim for all of them.)