Answering DBQs Some Ideas Begbie Contest Answering DBQs Some Ideas

Document Based Questions Some “Rules” The Time and Place Rule The closer in time and place that a source and its creator were to an event, the better the source will be. Better sources might include: Direct traces of the event 1st hand accounts (created at the time) by participants or observers 1st hand accounts (created after) by “ “ “ Accounts created afterwards based on interviews or evidence from the time of the event

Document Based Questions Some “Rules” The Bias Rule Every source is biased in some way. ‘Documents’ only tell us what the creator thought happened or what s/he wants us to think happened. Use the following guidelines View every source skeptically and critically Take no piece of evidence at face value What was the creator’s point of view? Cross-check each source or piece of evidence with related data (corroboration)

Document Based Questions Truth and Significance Test for Reliability for Primary Sources Does it agree with known facts? Is there any corroborating evidence? Is that evidence reliable? When was the source made? Who made it? What was the basis for the information? Was it from personal knowledge? Was it hearsay?

Document Based Questions Truth and Significance Test for Reliability for Primary Sources (cont’d) Did the creator have the capability to form a judgment? Was the creator a disinterested observer? Did the observer have an ‘agenda’? Is there any indication of an unconscious bias?

One Approach To A DBQ Bring Read Complete At least two different coloured pens A highlighter Read The DBQ as soon as you get your paper Skim the documents to see if there is any obvious focus Complete The remainder of the paper Make notes (in writing) of anything that comes to mind

Working With The Documents Read the documents looking for material to use – highlight it Make short, point form comments to help you with issues of Time and Place (Close or Distant + or -) Bias (Does it affect the information?) Reliability (Who is the source?) (For what point is the source reliable?) Validity (Does it agree with Known facts? Other given material?)

Working With The Documents Pull your notes together with document references ie - (US purchases of the Arrow – support for Cdn industry – against US interests - D14) Look at all of the points that you have identified It doesn’t matter what they are as long as they are in the documents Do you have any personal knowledge – add it in (third person, not first person) Group your information so that similar material is together

Creating A Position Skim through your grouped material Put the groups in a logical order depending on the question (chronological, most NB to least NB, geographical, PSE, etc.) Read it in your mind based on the order that you have established What does it prove? This is your conclusion. Write it down.

Creating A Position What it proves is also your position – your thesis. You wrote it down as a conclusion. Now reword it and write it down as your thesis. Check that it is it an arguable point? ie. Does it have at least two sides? Adjust it as necessary. Be on topic. What if there is no obvious point? Ask yourself questions about the information – open-ended questions (not yes/no questions) – see what answers you get that are in the form of statements. One of these statements will form your thesis Remember – any ‘on topic’ thesis is acceptable if you support it.

Writing The basic concept of your writing is to make it informative, convincing and readable The introductory paragraph should engage the reader and provide a blueprint of your argument Your intro para will, therefore, provide material on The general topic, your focus question, your thesis and your thesis supports The first two of these in a designated topic will generally be quite short or assumed

Writing Points to remember Your thesis is the directing aspect of your essay All of your supporting points throughout the essay must be directed to supporting your thesis You may want to raise contrary points but only to demonstrate why they are weak or inappropriate The marker wants to have an easy time of it Write clearly – both physically and grammatically Proofread Spend time on planning – writing is mechanical and takes relatively little time