1. The Document-Based Question
DBQ

2. What Is It?
An essay question that requires you to interpret primary source documents.
Documents might include the following:
Newspaper articles/editorials
Letters/diaries
Speeches
Legislation
Political cartoons
Charts and graphs

3. What Are the Documents for?
To discuss events and ideas with which you are familiar.
To support or refute the essay questions
Focus around the essay topic

4. When Do I Take the DBQ? After the multiple-choice section
You get a green booklet with the essay questions and DBQ
Begins with a 15 minute mandatory reading period
Evaluate and interpret the documents

5. Is There a Right Answer to Each DBQ?No
Multiple arguments
Develop your argument (thesis) with evidence (include outside information)
Use a strong historical argument

6. I Have the Question, Now What Do I Do? Getting Started
Read the question thoroughly
Explore all parts of the question (how many parts)
Highlight important aspects
Ask these two questions
Do I have an opinion about this subject?
What must I discuss in order to write a successful essay? (most important)

7. Getting Stated Cont. Gather information Address issues Decide on data
Organize plan of attack

8. Circle or underline the key parts to the question.
Sample Question
To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.
Use the documents and your knowledge of the 1940s through the 1950s, to answer the question.
Circle or underline the key parts to the question.

9. Sample Question Breakdown
To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.

10. Sample Question Breakdown
To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.

11. Sample Question Breakdown
To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.

12. Sample Question Breakdown
To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.

13. Sample Question Breakdown
To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.
Use the documents and your knowledge of the 1940s through the 1950s to answer the question.

14. Sample Question Breakdown
To what extent and how valid were the fears many Americans develop from the end of World War II through the Eisenhower administration that that communism threatened the existence and safety of the United States.
Use the documents and your knowledge of the 1940s through the 1950s to answer the question.

15. Sample Question Breakdown
Thoroughly examined and analyzed the questioned
Create a information grid
Pertinent information

16. Information Grid Valid Not Valid Maybe/maybe not
Threats from other countries
Threats from within the U.S.

17. Gather Outside Information
Jot down terms, ideas, and/or concepts
2 or 3 minutes
Decide what you can and cannot use
Insert into your grid

18. Information Grid Valid Not Valid Maybe/maybe not
Threats from other countries
Threats from within the U.S.

19. Question Breakdown To what extent – amount, degree, level…
how valid – what is the depth of truth

20. Question Breakdown The fears: why were Americans afraid of Communism.
How valid were those fears?

21. Question Breakdown that communism threatened
Where did these threats come from?
1) Other countries
2) Within the United States

22. Question Breakdown existence and safety
Both parts must be answered as equally as possible
Was the U.S. existence threatened?
Was the U.S. safety threatened?

23. OUTSIDE INFORMATION Question Breakdown
your knowledge of the 1940s through the 1950s
OUTSIDE INFORMATION

24. Outside Information Information same as the documents
That means you are on target
Brainstorm outside of the grid

25. Reading the Documents Document Order
Chronological - if so the test is asking you trace the historical development.
Otherwise – organized for compare and contrast (draw comparisons in your essay).

26. Reading the Documents Inconsistencies Not all documents agree
Present different view points
Recognize inconsistencies
SOAPS help you identify the source and differing opinions of the same event or data

27. Reading the Documents Once you decided on your thesis: (documents)
Supporting evidence
Contradicting evidence
- incorporate and acknowledge these
Why was that document included?
Add more outside info (???)

28. Thesis Development Read question one more time
Develop a argument you can prove
Make sure your thesis addresses all pertinent aspects of the question

29. Write Your Essay Get to the point
Back thesis up with facts, solid evidence not fluff
3 or 4 different issues or topic sentences
Make sure you are addressing the question
Refer back to the question several times
Include as many documents as possible

30. Final Conclusion Stay confident Don’t panic
Take a deep breath to relax
You prepared all year for the test
Everyone else is in the same boat as you

31. Other questions:
How did TWO of the following contribute to the reemergence of a two party system in the period ?
Major political personalities
States’ Rights
Economic Issues
How were the lives of the Plains Indians in the second half of the 19th century affected by technological developments and government actions?

32. Other questions:
In what ways did economic conditions and developments in the arts and entertainment help create the reputation of the 1920s as the Roaring Twenties?
Assess the success of the United States policy of containment in Asia between 1945 and 1975.

33. Other questions: DBQ 1997
To what extent did economic and political developments as well as assumptions about the nature of women affect the position of American women during the period of ?