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

20. Reading the Documents
Use the three levels of questions, soaps and inferences.
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).

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

22. 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 (???)

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

24. 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

25. 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

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

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

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

29. 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?

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