What is a DBQ? Document Based Question

 Purpose  * Not to test your knowledge of the subject, but rather to evaluate your ability to use sources to support your opinion. You will be required to work with the documents and use them to answer a question.

Am I Right?  Remember that there is actually no right or wrong answer. Your answer is YOUR interpretation of the content of the documents. As long as your answer is logical and your interpretation is supported by the content of the document you are correct.

Writing a DBQ

Purpose  To demonstrate your ability to formulate and support an answer from documentary evidence  This is best accomplished by viewing the document within the wider context of the course and the other documents provided

Steps to Follow

Read and Analyze  10 minutes initially

Plan and Write  5 minutes for planning  35 minutes to write

Analyze the Question  What are the task/directive words?  What are the parameters of the question? Time span, geographic areas, political issues, economic issues, etc.  What are other key terms in the question?  Include an historical background paragraph Analyze any key terms and parameters here  Note – usually contain more than 1 part!!

Analyze the Documents (SLOSAP)  Subject including concepts  Language & tone to understand POV  Occasion means time, place & context  Speaker including position & relation to event  Audience intended by author  Point of View of the author and the intended purpose

What Patterns Appear?  Categories are often suggested by the question  Look for different sides based on ideas, pov, similarities or differences

Don’t Just List the Documents in Your Essay!!  Find groupings for the documents. Can they be organized into a format? What is the OVERALL picture presented by the documents.

Writing the Essay  MUST include pre-writing  MUST have clear, analytical thesis Put this in your intro so you don’t forget it!!  Always refer to the documents Group the documents to use them Connect documents to the question Identify the document by number or author Use all the documents

Other Points to Remember  You must identify 2 documents that would have been useful in answering the question Think about which viewpoints are missing  Including outside information will add bonus points