Document Based Question

What is it? 1 Question 55 minutes Comes before the LEQ/after SAQ Suggested 15 minutes reading time Comes before the LEQ/after SAQ 25% of total exam score

The Documents 7 Documents At least 1 will be a visual (chart, map, graph, art, etc) Use all 7 documents in your response Sourcing (HIPP) must be done for at least 4 documents Which means do it for at least 5

Scoring 7 points total Each DBQ point is worth 4.96 multiple choice questions Points: Thesis & Argument Development (2 points possible) Document Analysis (2 points possible) Using Evidence Beyond the Documents (2 points possible) Synthesis (1 point possible)

Thesis & Argument Development 2 points possible Point 1: Thesis makes a historically defensible claim and addresses ALL parts of the prompt Creates a thesis that can be defended with EVIDENCE 1st sentence- provide a specific position and NOT just restate the question 2nd sentence- supports position with 2-3 categories of support These will become your body paragraphs These sentences can be combined

Thesis & Argument Development 2 points possible Point 2: Contains a well-developed and cohesive argument throughout the essay that accounts for historical complexity by illustrating contradictory, corroborative, and qualified relationships among historical evidence

Thesis & Argument Development 2 points possible Point 2: Basically makes an effective and coherent argument that brings together the documents and outside evidence Student shows how the pieces of evidence relate Shows how evidence fits together- group documents purposefully! TIP: When reading the documents, group them together by THEME, this will help set up argument and body paragraphs

Document Analysis 2 points possible Point 1: Utilizes the content of at least six of the documents to support the stated thesis or a relevant argument You can ignore one of the documents if it does not help your argument DO NOT QUOTE DOCS DO NOT CITE DOCS NO POINTS IF YOU USE LESS THAN 6 Use of documents MUST support your thesis

Document Analysis 2 points possible Point 2: Explains the significance of the historical context, the audience, the author’s purpose, and/or the author’s point of view for at least 4 documents H.I.P.P Analysis NO POINTS IF YOU USE LESS THAN 4 Use of documents MUST support your thesis

Using Evidence Beyond the Documents 2 points possible Point 1: CONTEXTUALIZATION: uses knowledge not found in the documents to place the argument within broader historical events, developments, or processes immediately relevant to the question Provides historical contest for the topic of the essay using information NOT in the documents Think Star Wars opening crawl- you are introducing what’s going on

Using Evidence Beyond the Documents 2 points possible Point 1: CONTEXTUALIZATION Must be at least THREE sentences and be a SEPARATE paragraph AFTER the thesis/introduction and BEFORE the body paragraphs of the essay

Using Evidence Beyond the Documents 2 points possible Point 2: OUTSIDE EVIDENCE: Provides numerous examples or additional pieces of specific supportive evidence beyond those found in the documents and different from the evidence used to earn other points on the rubric Write ONE per body paragraph Evidence NOT found in the documents MUST support thesis

Synthesis 1 point possible EXTENDS the argument by explaining connections between the argument and ONE of the following: Development in a different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area A course theme and/or approach to history that is not the focus of the essay (political, economic, social, cultural, or intellectual history) A different discipline or field of study DO NOT ATTEMPT UNLESS YOU’VE TAKEN AND AP LEVEL COURSE IN THAT FIELD OF STUDY

Synthesis 1 point possible Connect the theme of your argumnet to something BEYOND the scope of your essay In conclusion Be sure your are EXPLAINING CLEARLY AND THROUGHLY how your argument connects to your synthesis topic

Synthesis 1 point possible Development in different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area THINK: HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

Structuring Your Response Thesis Paragraph Contextualization Paragraph 3 Body Paragraphs Synthesis Paragraph

Thesis Paragraph The thesis responds to all elements of the question with a specific claim using the key terms of the question. The thesis sets up later body paragraphs by establishing at least three groups of related documents based on the key terms of the question. The thesis will likely involve more than one connected sentence. The thesis should not include the analysis of specific documents. These wait for the body paragraphs.

Contextualization Paragraph The contextualization paragraph places the topic of the question into the big picture. Contextualization involves setting the scene of what other historical developments were connected to the topic of the question. Related historical developments may include aspects from other historical themes that occurred during the same time or led up to the main topic of the question.

Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence that introduces a relationship for group of documents. This relationship connects to the key terms of the question and was established in the thesis paragraph. Each body paragraph uses a set of documents to link to the thesis by using the terms of the question. All documents should be analyzed in these body paragraphs. Each document is individually mentioned. When introducing a document, the author should be the subject of the sentence, and the document number should be in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Quotations are to be avoided.

Body Paragraphs The issue of why this particular person created this document at this time should be included with the analysis of each document. These “sourcing” statements explain how the author’s point of view, author’s purpose, historical context, and/or audience may have affected the message and tone of the document. Body paragraphs should include substantial pieces of outside evidence beyond what is mentioned in the documents. This outside evidence is especially useful when directly linked to the thesis and when describing point of view. Body paragraphs should connect the documents together though topic sentences and linking words. The mention of connections and contradictions among the documents shows sophistication.

Synthesis Paragraph The last paragraph should extend the argument by connecting the question’s topic to a similar development for a different historical period, region, theme, or discipline. The synthesis paragraph is similar to the contextualization paragraph except that that the synthesis does not need to have a direct causation link to the topic of the question.