The Art of the DBQ Writing a Successful Essay

Introductions 1. Background information Where are we in history? When are we in history? 2. What’s your general topic? Look at the DBQ Task for help. Key terms ( vocabulary, people, etc.) 3. Thesis statement See the next slide for thesis tips

Creating a Thesis If the DBQ Task is a question, the thesis should answer it. If the DBQ Task is not a question, use the task to create one. Try turning the task into a question, and then answer it with your thesis. Remember, the thesis is the main idea that will run all through your paper.

Body Paragraphs 1. Topic sentence 2. At least 3 examples 3. Cite documents in parentheses 4. Analyze your examples! Show how they connect to your thesis 5. Transitional sentence to next paragraph

Examples Examples should be clear, well-explained and different from each other! Examples should be in YOUR OWN WORDS, and thoroughly explain what the document means. Don’t use direct quotes from the document! Don’t know what you should say about a document? Use the Scaffolding Questions. They guide you to what’s important.

Conclusion 1. Restatement of thesis and topics 2. Food for thought: leave the audience with something to think about. Here are some examples: How did this subject effect history? Is there a “moral” to this story? What lessons can be learned?