1. Document Based Question

2. What is it? 1 Question 55 minutes Comes before the LEQ/after SAQ
Suggested 15 minutes reading time
Comes before the LEQ/after SAQ
25% of total exam score

3. The Documents 7 Documents
At least 1 will be a visual (chart, map, graph, art, etc)
Use all 7 documents in your response
Sourcing (HIPP) must be done for at least 4 documents
Which means do it for at least 5

4. Scoring
7 points total
Each DBQ point is worth 4.96 multiple choice questions
Points:
Thesis & Argument Development (2 points possible)
Document Analysis (2 points possible)
Using Evidence Beyond the Documents (2 points possible)
Synthesis (1 point possible)

5. Thesis & Argument Development 2 points possible
Point 1: Thesis makes a historically defensible claim and addresses ALL parts of the prompt
Creates a thesis that can be defended with EVIDENCE
1st sentence- provide a specific position and NOT just restate the question
2nd sentence- supports position with 2-3 categories of support
These will become your body paragraphs
These sentences can be combined

6. Thesis & Argument Development 2 points possible
Point 2: Contains a well-developed and cohesive argument throughout the essay that accounts for historical complexity by illustrating contradictory, corroborative, and qualified relationships among historical evidence

7. Thesis & Argument Development 2 points possible
Point 2: Basically makes an effective and coherent argument that brings together the documents and outside evidence
Student shows how the pieces of evidence relate
Shows how evidence fits together- group documents purposefully!
TIP: When reading the documents, group them together by THEME, this will help set up argument and body paragraphs

8. Document Analysis 2 points possible
Point 1: Utilizes the content of at least six of the documents to support the stated thesis or a relevant argument
You can ignore one of the documents if it does not help your argument
DO NOT QUOTE DOCS
DO NOT CITE DOCS
NO POINTS IF YOU USE LESS THAN 6
Use of documents MUST support your thesis

9. Document Analysis 2 points possible
Point 2: Explains the significance of the historical context, the audience, the author’s purpose, and/or the author’s point of view for at least 4 documents
H.I.P.P Analysis
NO POINTS IF YOU USE LESS THAN 4
Use of documents MUST support your thesis

10. Using Evidence Beyond the Documents 2 points possible
Point 1: CONTEXTUALIZATION: uses knowledge not found in the documents to place the argument within broader historical events, developments, or processes immediately relevant to the question
Provides historical contest for the topic of the essay using information NOT in the documents
Think Star Wars opening crawl- you are introducing what’s going on

11. Using Evidence Beyond the Documents 2 points possible
Point 1: CONTEXTUALIZATION
Must be at least THREE sentences and be a SEPARATE paragraph AFTER the thesis/introduction and BEFORE the body paragraphs of the essay

12. Using Evidence Beyond the Documents 2 points possible
Point 2: OUTSIDE EVIDENCE: Provides numerous examples or additional pieces of specific supportive evidence beyond those found in the documents and different from the evidence used to earn other points on the rubric
Write ONE per body paragraph
Evidence NOT found in the documents
MUST support thesis

13. Synthesis 1 point possible
EXTENDS the argument by explaining connections between the argument and ONE of the following:
Development in a different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area
A course theme and/or approach to history that is not the focus of the essay (political, economic, social, cultural, or intellectual history)
A different discipline or field of study
DO NOT ATTEMPT UNLESS YOU’VE TAKEN AND AP LEVEL COURSE IN THAT FIELD OF STUDY

14. Synthesis 1 point possible
Connect the theme of your argumnet to something BEYOND the scope of your essay
In conclusion
Be sure your are EXPLAINING CLEARLY AND THROUGHLY how your argument connects to your synthesis topic

15. Synthesis 1 point possible
Development in different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area
THINK: HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

16. Structuring Your Response
Thesis Paragraph
Contextualization Paragraph
3 Body Paragraphs
Synthesis Paragraph

17. Thesis Paragraph
The thesis responds to all elements of the question with a specific claim using the key terms of the question.
The thesis sets up later body paragraphs by establishing at least three groups of related documents based on the key terms of the question.
The thesis will likely involve more than one connected sentence.
The thesis should not include the analysis of specific documents. These wait for the body paragraphs.

18. Contextualization Paragraph
The contextualization paragraph places the topic of the question into the big picture.
Contextualization involves setting the scene of what other historical developments were connected to the topic of the question.
Related historical developments may include aspects from other historical themes that occurred during the same time or led up to the main topic of the question.

19. Body Paragraphs
Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence that introduces a relationship for group of documents. This relationship connects to the key terms of the question and was established in the thesis paragraph.
Each body paragraph uses a set of documents to link to the thesis by using the terms of the question. All documents should be analyzed in these body paragraphs.
Each document is individually mentioned. When introducing a document, the author should be the subject of the sentence, and the document number should be in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Quotations are to be avoided.

20. Body Paragraphs
The issue of why this particular person created this document at this time should be included with the analysis of each document. These “sourcing” statements explain how the author’s point of view, author’s purpose, historical context, and/or audience may have affected the message and tone of the document.
Body paragraphs should include substantial pieces of outside evidence beyond what is mentioned in the documents. This outside evidence is especially useful when directly linked to the thesis and when describing point of view.
Body paragraphs should connect the documents together though topic sentences and linking words. The mention of connections and contradictions among the documents shows sophistication.

21. Synthesis Paragraph
The last paragraph should extend the argument by connecting the question’s topic to a similar development for a different historical period, region, theme, or discipline.
The synthesis paragraph is similar to the contextualization paragraph except that that the synthesis does not need to have a direct causation link to the topic of the question.