APUSH The DBQ

The DBQ An essay question that requires you to interpret primary source documents Documents may include Newspaper articles/editorials Letters/diaries Speeches Legislation Political cartoons Charts and graphs

DBQ Section II Part A “Measures students ability to analyze and synthesize historical data and to assess verbal, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence. Responses to the document based question will be judged on students ability to formulate a thesis and support it with relevant evidence.” –apcentral.collegeboard.com 1 question 55 minutes

Grading Criteria Well-developed thesis Addresses historical skill Offers effective arguments with abundant and accurate specifics to support statements Shows analysis Reaches firm, fully supported conclusions Well-written, clearly organized Utilizes significant outside information with analytical commentary

Plan of Attack Breakdown the question Splashdown outside information What is it asking? What is the historical skill? Splashdown outside information Read documents Make notes on meaning of documents Make note on outside information Review notes and combine information (organize) Construct thesis Write

Step 1- 2 minutes READ THE QUESTION AT LEAST TWO TIMES Pay careful attention to dates given Paraphrase all parts of the question Circle or highlight important aspects Ask these two questions What must I discuss in order to write a successful essay? What outside information do I know about this subject?

Splashdown Outside Information 2-3 minutes Splashdown terms, ideas, and/or concepts that come to mind after evaluating the question BE SPECIFIC-use names of people, places, events, and dates Think of significant events related to the question

Reading the documents Who wrote it and who was the audience? What is the purpose for writing it? What is the perspective or point of view of the author/image? What is the time or place? In other words, what is the context? HOW DOES THIS MATTER TO THE QUESTION? Why was this document included?

Reading the documents Understanding the purpose/meaning/significance of the document is the most important part of the document to grasp Pick the most difficult document for you to understand and don’t address it in the essay If a meaning of a picture or graph is not entirely clear do not make something up

Reading the documents Identify inconsistencies Not all documents agree Present different view points Recognize inconsistencies

Combine information Review document margin notes Review outside information Decide what you can and cannot use Insert into a venn diagram/cluster/outline

Document Order Addressing chronologically will give your essay structure/organization but more importantly you must address the historical skill Address document and ideas chronologically if…. Continuity and change Periodization

Thesis Development Read question one more time Develop an argument you can prove Make sure your thesis addresses all pertinent aspects of the question

Write your essay Provide 1-3 sentences of historical context-make it relevant to the question GET TO THE POINT Thesis 3 or 4 topic sentences / paragraphs Refer back to the question several times with analysis not with broad “this proves statements” saying a thing does not prove it

Write your essay Cite each document with the letter Include as many documents as possible Don’t ever quote documents, paraphrase

Review Breakdown Splashdown Read documents Review information Organize your arguments Construct strong thesis Write your essay