1. Dr. Afxendiou AP World History Sachem North High School
The dbq essay
Dr. Afxendiou
AP World History
Sachem North High School

2. The rubric 7 point rubric
Your essay is not graded on how good it is but if the 7 criteria are met
Thesis
2 points
Thesis present
Thesis excellent
1 point
Documents
All or all but one documents are used correctly
All or all but two documents are analyzed (POV or CAP)
Outside Information - Contextualization
Context (the big picture)
Evidence
Synthesis

3. Thesis
THESIS PRESENT
a thesis that makes a historically defensible claim and responds to all parts of the question. It is not a restatement
Has three reasons you are going to use to support your thesis
THESIS EXCELLENT
Develops and supports a cohesive argument that recognizes and accounts for historical complexity by explicitly illustrating relationships among historical evidence such as contradiction, corroboration, and/or qualification
Thesis is compelling, it is argued and supported throughout the essay

4. Documents
Referenced - Refer to all or all but one document in the essay – use the content of the documents to support the stated thesis or a relevant argument
Analyzed – explains the significance of author’s POV, context, audience, and/or purpose (CAP) for a minimum of FOUR documents
POV – point of view. Everyone has a particular lens through which they look at history and events (race, class, gender, age). Ask “what makes this person have this particular perspective?”
CAP – Context – Audience – Purpose
Context: Can you take the document and put it into a bigger picture (the bigger historical point); Can you give the story behind the document?
Audience: What is said depends on who it is said to.
Purpose: Why was this document written/created? Why did this person write and say this?

5. Contextualization (outside information)
Context - Situates the argument by explaining the broader historical events, developments, or processes immediately relevant to the question. Putting the documents into the bigger picture, showing the background
Has to be more than just a phrase or reference.
Shows the big picture
Evidence – provide an example or a specific piece of evidence beyond those found in the documents to qualify or support the document
Has to be distinct from evidence used to gain another point

6. Synthesis
Extends the argument by explaining the connections between the argument and …
HISTORICAL – a development in a different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area (think comparison-similarity to something that is relevant)
THEMATIC – a course theme and/or approach to history that is not the focus of the essay (if the question is about political aspects, you can bring in economic or social aspects)
INTERDISCIPLINARY – a different discipline or field of inquiry (art history, government and politics, anthropology)
Historical synthesis is the most straightforward and safe way
Has to be more than just a phrase or reference.