1. DBQ FORMATING
APUSH

2. Response Format For a non argumentative response
Paragraph 1: Thesis Statement
Paragraph 2: X Statement – General setting during years provided in the prompt.
Paragraph 3: A Statement
Paragraph 4: B Statement
Paragraph 5: C Statement
Paragraph 6 – 12: Documents and how you equat them to the question prompt.
Paragraph 13: Therefore Y Statement – Contextualization

3. DBQ/FRQ Helpful Hints Avoid contractions.
Identify Documents by letter and by title, “In Document B, an excerpt from the Narrative by Frederick Douglass…” “In Document C, a chart showing when each state banned slavery…”
DO NOT USE QUOTES. The AP Reader will simply ignore them. Quotes are for English papers to full up space. On the AP Exam, you will receive zero credit for quotes. Analyze what is said instead.
Use full names the first time you are discussing an individual. NO – Johnson replaced Lincoln after his assassination. Yes, Andrew Johnson replaced Abraham Lincoln after his assassination.
Use last names there after, not first names. Do not call him Abraham, use Lincoln after the first introduction.

4. DBQ/FRQ Helpful Hints
BE SPECIFIC: Avoid “Some people” “Many people” “They” ex. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was enjoyed by many people. Technically a true statement, but unless you are specific with “Northerners” or “Abolitionists”, you are wrong. If you just say many people, are you including those in the South? They are people too and they definitely did not enjoy it.
A paragraph without specific facts to back up opinions or positions is a waste of time and space and will score no points.
Tie facts to other facts to score more points. Everything is connected to another fact. If you are talking about abolitionists, tie in Frederick Douglass then tie in the North Star newspaper or his autobiography. You could tie in William Lloyd Garrison then tie in his newspaper the Liberator. If you are talking about the Battle of Antietam, tie in the Generals involved. If you are talking about the Missouri Compromise, tie in Henry Clay, or 36˚ 30’ or tie in Maine’s entrance as a free state.