1. APUSH
The DBQ

2. The DBQ
An essay question that requires you to interpret primary source documents
Documents may include
Newspaper articles/editorials
Letters/diaries
Speeches
Legislation
Political cartoons
Charts and graphs

3. DBQ Section II Part A
“Measures students ability to analyze and synthesize historical data and to assess verbal, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence. Responses to the document based question will be judged on students ability to formulate a thesis and support it with relevant evidence.” –apcentral.collegeboard.com
1 question
55 minutes

4. Grading Criteria Well-developed thesis Addresses historical skill
Offers effective arguments with abundant and accurate specifics to support statements
Shows analysis
Reaches firm, fully supported conclusions
Well-written, clearly organized
Utilizes significant outside information with analytical commentary

5. Plan of Attack Breakdown the question Splashdown outside information
What is it asking? What is the historical skill?
Splashdown outside information
Read documents
Make notes on meaning of documents
Make note on outside information
Review notes and combine information (organize)
Construct thesis
Write

6. Step 1- 2 minutes READ THE QUESTION AT LEAST TWO TIMES
Pay careful attention to dates given
Paraphrase all parts of the question
Circle or highlight important aspects
Ask these two questions
What must I discuss in order to write a successful essay?
What outside information do I know about this subject?

7. Splashdown Outside Information 2-3 minutes
Splashdown terms, ideas, and/or concepts that come to mind after evaluating the question
BE SPECIFIC-use names of people, places, events, and dates
Think of significant events related to the question

8. Reading the documents Who wrote it and who was the audience?
What is the purpose for writing it?
What is the perspective or point of view of the author/image?
What is the time or place? In other words, what is the context?
HOW DOES THIS MATTER TO THE QUESTION?
Why was this document included?

9. Reading the documents
Understanding the purpose/meaning/significance of the document is the most important part of the document to grasp
Pick the most difficult document for you to understand and don’t address it in the essay
If a meaning of a picture or graph is not entirely clear do not make something up

10. Reading the documents Identify inconsistencies Not all documents agree
Present different view points
Recognize inconsistencies

11. Combine information Review document margin notes
Review outside information
Decide what you can and cannot use
Insert into a venn diagram/cluster/outline

12. Document Order
Addressing chronologically will give your essay structure/organization but more importantly you must address the historical skill
Address document and ideas chronologically if….
Continuity and change
Periodization

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

14. Write your essay
Provide 1-3 sentences of historical context-make it relevant to the question
GET TO THE POINT
Thesis
3 or 4 topic sentences / paragraphs
Refer back to the question several times with analysis not with broad “this proves statements” saying a thing does not prove it

15. Write your essay Cite each document with the letter
Include as many documents as possible
Don’t ever quote documents, paraphrase

16. Review Breakdown Splashdown Read documents Review information
Organize your arguments
Construct strong thesis
Write your essay