The Document-Based Question DBQDBQ

What Is the Document-Based Question? An essay that requires that you interpret primary sources documents and incorporate them into your essay Documents might include: letters, diaries, newspaper articles, speeches, legislation, political cartoons, maps, charts, graphs

Outside Information Your DBQ essay must have what we call Outside Information!!! Outside information is your knowledge of the topic that is OUTSIDE of what the documents tell you The MAJORITY of information and analysis for your essay must come from OUTSIDE INFORMATION

Question Types Most DBQ’s ask you to analyze, assess or evaluate cause and effects 1.To what extent did the American Revolution fundamentally change American society? In your answer, be sure to address the political, social, and economic effects of the Revolution in the period from 1775 to Analyze the ways in which the Vietnam War heightened social, political, and economic tensions in the United States. Focus your answer on the period 1964 to 1975.

Question Types 4.Discuss the changing ideals of American womanhood between the American Revolution (1770s) and the outbreak of the Civil War. What factors fostered the emergence of "republican motherhood" and the "cult of domesticity?" Assess the extent to which these ideals influenced the lives of women during this period. In your answer be sure to consider issues of race and class.

Nuts and Bolts You will have 15 minutes to read the documents and prepare your essay (you will not be allowed to start writing until after the 15-minute period).

Nuts and Bolts You will then have 45 minutes to write the DBQ (You actually have 115 minutes to write all three essays; but more on that with the FRQ section).

How to Prepare to Write the Essays Read the question thoroughly Analyze and breakdown the question Circle and/or underline important words and phrases Create a grid or chart brainstorm and take notes

How to Prepare to Write the Essays Remember, your outside information is where you develop a solid essay BUT, analyze the documents thoroughly to incorporate into a well- developed essay.

How to Analyze the Documents Note the SOURCE of the document. Read the document for the overall MESSAGE of the source. Write down the main messages of the source. Consider how the source relates to the prompt. Group the documents with regard to how you may incorporate them into your essay.

How to USE the Documents in your Essay Use a majority of the documents, but don’t feel you need to use ALL of them. Do NOT quote the docs! Merely copying from the documents does nothing to make your argument. You must include your own analysis, and paraphrasing helps you do that. When you cite a document, do not call it by its letter (Document A, Document B...). Instead, refer to the actual document by its contents, e.g., "In his letter to Henry Lee, Washington argues that..."

Examples of How to Use the Documents Use terms such as: –Demonstrates –Exemplifies –Illustrates –Shows –Proves –Establishes –Explains

Examples of How to Use the Documents Never say “Document A says…” Incorporate a doc this way: President Polk believed (summarize the main idea). This demonstrates that (your analysis). OR “In a letter written to so and so, President Polk argued that (main idea) which illustrated his belief that (your analysis).

Examples of How to Use the Documents Political cartoons of the day illustrated Nixon as (your analysis). Utilize charts and graphs by summarizing their findings rather than writing “the chart says.”

Examples of How to Use the Documents Any use of documents NOT supported with outside information will not earn any points and should be avoided.

How to Write the Essays - Intro Write an introductory sentence that sets the scene (don’t use flowery language)! No Joey Tribbiani!No Joey Tribbiani! Write one CLEAR sentence which states the thesis your essay will prove. Specify three or four subtopics and elaborate with simple defining sentences.

How to Write the Essays - Body Begin with a topic sentence that re- introduces one of the subtopics. Support that topic sentence with OUTSIDE INFORMATION from your brainstorm list. Support your outside information with reference to ONE or MORE of the documents. Write a concluding sentence that refers back to your thesis.

How to Write the Essays - summary Analyze prompt and brainstorm outside info Assess information, analyze docs, and devise a thesis Quick outline Manage your time wisely Write clearly and neatly Evidence, Evidence, Evidence!!!