Doing the DBQ in AP US

Start pre-writing BEFORE you read the documents The DBQ is just a regular essay but with an added component You MUST use BOTH substantial outside information AND the documents It’s not about the documents – they are just a tool You don’t have to use all the documents Bare minimum is half+1 (don’t ask what to do if it’s an even number…you’re smart enough to figure that out yourself) Aim for 70% or better

Step One Read and unpack the question. But not the documents!

Step Two Brainstorm everything you can think of that is related to the topic. But don’t look at the documents.

Step Three Set up and organize your categories But don’t look at the documents

Step Four NOW you can finally look at and analyze the documents Identify the main idea Analyze them

Step Five Insert the documents into your framework It is better to ignore a document than to make poor use of it

Step Six Write the essay Don’t quote the whole document Don’t summarize all the documents and pretend that’s an essay Don’t write “Doc A says. . .” Instead, write “Thomas Jefferson wrote of his apprehension at approving the LA Purchase (Doc A).” Paraphrase documents to support your thesis. The documents are supplementary material. Don’t write your essay around them. Verbs to use when talking about documents: demonstrate, evident, reveal, identifies, suggestion, implies, indicates, reflects, exemplifies