AP World History Writing the DBQ: Thesis Statement

Document Based Question (DBQ) Essay You will have 40 minutes to write the essay. – 10 minute reading period group and analyze the documents. You will be given between 4 to 10 documents. – Documents may include maps, pictures, and charts.

What does a good thesis statement do? Answers the question Takes a stand Previews the argument

Thesis Write a thesis statement that outlines what you plan to address in your essay. The thesis statement is not a restating of the question. It is an introduction lays out what you will write about.

Thesis Statement Thesis can be in the introduction or conclusion If you begin to write your essay in the introductory paragraph, you have NOT written a good thesis statement. If your thesis statement stated, “some things are similar and some things are different;” – that is not a thesis statement – VAGUE is BAD!

Thesis Statement Example of a good thesis statement: – The Green Revolution had many causes and consequences from 1945 to the present. The main cause was the need for increased crop production and two consequences were the negative effects on the environment and more clearly defined social differences.

Thesis Activity Decide which statement is an appropriate thesis statement. PROMPT Analyze factors that shaped the modern Olympic movement from 1892 to Identify and explain what additional type of document(s) or sources would help you assess these factors.

WHAP Writing the Thesis Statement and DBQ Essay Day 2

7 Steps to the DBQ 1. Read the directions (pre writing)

Read directions 1. Read directions Mark rubric Has relevant thesis and supports that thesis with evidence from the documents. Uses all documents. Analyzes the documents by grouping them in as many ways as possible. Does not simply summarize the documents individually

Read directions 1. Read directions Takes into account the sources of the documents and analyzes the author’s point of view. Explains the need for at least one additional type of document. 1 1

Read directions 1. Read directions In margin, create list of document numbers to check off after you use each one.

7 Steps to the DBQ 2. Read and Analyze the prompt (pre writing) – Underline what the prompt is asking you to do. – Read the historical background provided

7 Steps to the DBQ 3. Write a preliminary thesis (pre writing) MUST – Thesis MUST haves: answer the prompt Time/Place 3 Categories/Groups (intro paragraph)

7 Steps to the DBQ 4. Read and analyze the documents (pre writing) a. SOAPStone (subject, occasion, audience, purpose, speaker, tone) b. POV (what influenced this document?) c. Categorize/group d. Additional Document - Why?

7 Steps to the DBQ 5. Re-evaluate thesis and plan essay (begin essay) - Write introduction paragraph – 1-2 sentence thesis – Must be in dark blue or black ink

7 Steps to the DBQ 6. Write the essay Body paragraphs X 3 (Topic sentence includes the following) Identify the grouping (negative effects on the environment) May list the documents in this group (ex. Docs 1,6,9) Example Topic Sentence: Documents 1, 6, and 9 all show the harmful effects of the Green Revolution on the environment.

7 Steps to the DBQ 6. Body paragraphs (main course of the body paragraphs) - Explain the document Show your understanding of what the document means – Use the document as evidence of the prompt – Example on next slide

7 Steps to the DBQ Doc. 1 Understanding – In doc. 1, a Han government official talks about flood prevention and requests the establishment of conservation offices in each district to help with flooding. Doc. 1 Evidence – This technology was important to Chinese society because it was extremely beneficial in preventing crop loss due to devastating floods.

7 Steps to the DBQ 6. Body paragraphs – POV Template idea: – " It makes sense that _________ (person) believes this because he/she is ______________."

7 Steps to the DBQ 6. Body paragraphs – Additional Document Must help answer the prompt Explain why you need this document EX: An additional document that would help is a graph showing how much water farmers have used over the past 100 years. It is important because if what Dr. Shiva has said about water shortages is true, then the graph will show just how much water is being used.

7 Steps to the DBQ 7. Conclusion – Rewrite thesis in new way just in case you don’t get the point in the introductory paragraph.

Rule of THREE 1. THREE Groups 2. THREE POVs 3. THREE Additional Documents

Point of View You must look for and state three (3) points of view (POV’s). POV’s are identified the following ways: – Who – What – When – Where – Why

Document POV’s What is the main idea or topic being said in the document? Why would this person be saying/creating this document at this time and place? How does the document help me answer the question that is being asked?

Scoring the DBQ There are a total of 9 points for the DBQ. The basic core consists of 7 points. The expanded core will make up the rest of the total points. YOU MUST SCORE ALL BASIC POINTS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE EXPANDED CORE POINTS.

Components of the DBQ Essay – Core Points (MANDATORY) Thesis statement that is not just a restating of the question. Using all of the documents in your essay. Grouping and thoughtfully analyzing the documents. DON’T LIST DOCUMENTS! Stating the point of view/perspective on minimum of three (3) of the documents Using the documents to support your thesis. Adding an additional document that would help support your thesis.

Components of the DBQ Essay – Expanded Core Extremely strong thesis statement. Adding more than one additional document to your essay. Completely and thoroughly answering the question. Remember, you must score all basic points in order to receive expanded core.