What is a DBQ? A DBQ is a documents based question. It is an essay on the AP Exam in which the student is required to both interpret documents and use outside knowledge to answer a question.

Do’s and Don’ts on the DBQ DO: Use outside knowledge Read and cluster the documents Build clear arguments from patterns Write a clear thesis that addresses the question

Do’s and Don’ts of the DBQ: DON’T: Panic when you see the question – you know more than you think you do Use absolutes like “all”, “never”, “throughout history”, “always” Quote entire documents Write a ‘laundry list’ essay that merely goes through each document one-by-one

What steps should you take to write your DBQ?

1. DON’T PANIC - BRAINSTORM! Don’t obsess over what you DON’T know Instead, get ready to BRAINSTORM in writing what you DO know: ideas, innovations, individuals From the time period; core developments and Events. Remember: Don’t let the Documents push you around.

Are you being asked to: “analyze different points of view”? Compare and contrast? Not answering the question is the most frequently made mistake by history students. 2. UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION!

After reading the question, background information and documents, brainstorm what you DO know about the time period or theme: Individual Ideas Innovations Turning points Big historical changes Continuity with the past 3. BRAINSTORM!

Look for patterns, themes, commonalities such as bias, continuity, political point of view, change, chronological phases. Seeing these generalizations will form the basis of your THESIS. 4. Cluster the Documents and make GENERALIZATIONS

Always balance background knowledge with specific evidence from the documents Don’t sacrifice clarity for quantity HOW DO YOU USE DOCUMENTS?

How do you use the documents? paraphrase and generalize about them (ex. “some thinkers supported peasants’ rights”) analyze the time period they are from and what bearing it might have on your reason show you understand the point of view of the author demonstrate you understand subtle distinctions between or among the documents

4. NOW (and only now) write your THESIS…on the basis of your analysis of the documents, the generalizations, and your knowledge of the time period or theme.

Is this a persuasive thesis? “The Soviet state became totalitarian because of historical, cultural and political factors”

Is this a persuasive thesis? “The Soviet state became totalitarian because of historical, cultural and political factors” “The emergence of totalitarianism in the Soviet Union in the 1930’s was the result of a long history of autocracy, the transformation of the state during World War I throughout Europe, above all, the powerful ideologies and leadership of both Lenin and Stalin”

What’s a persuasive thesis? Has a strong conceptual framework Doesn’t merely restate the question Demonstrates an understanding of the time period (ANALYSIS) Demonstrates an understanding of the patterns in the documents (SYNTHESIS)