1. Answering DBQs Some Ideas
Begbie Contest
Answering DBQs
Some Ideas

2. Document Based Questions Some “Rules”
The Time and Place Rule
The closer in time and place that a source and its creator were to an event, the better the source will be.
Better sources might include:
Direct traces of the event
1st hand accounts (created at the time) by participants or observers
1st hand accounts (created after) by “ “ “
Accounts created afterwards based on interviews or evidence from the time of the event

3. Document Based Questions Some “Rules”
The Bias Rule
Every source is biased in some way. ‘Documents’ only tell us what the creator thought happened or what s/he wants us to think happened.
Use the following guidelines
View every source skeptically and critically
Take no piece of evidence at face value
What was the creator’s point of view?
Cross-check each source or piece of evidence with related data (corroboration)

4. Document Based Questions Truth and Significance
Test for Reliability for Primary Sources
Does it agree with known facts?
Is there any corroborating evidence?
Is that evidence reliable?
When was the source made?
Who made it?
What was the basis for the information?
Was it from personal knowledge?
Was it hearsay?

5. Document Based Questions Truth and Significance
Test for Reliability for Primary Sources (cont’d)
Did the creator have the capability to form a judgment?
Was the creator a disinterested observer?
Did the observer have an ‘agenda’?
Is there any indication of an unconscious bias?

6. One Approach To A DBQ Bring Read Complete
At least two different coloured pens
A highlighter
Read
The DBQ as soon as you get your paper
Skim the documents to see if there is any obvious focus
Complete
The remainder of the paper
Make notes (in writing) of anything that comes to mind

7. Working With The Documents
Read the documents looking for material to use – highlight it
Make short, point form comments to help you with issues of
Time and Place (Close or Distant + or -)
Bias (Does it affect the information?)
Reliability (Who is the source?) (For what point is the source reliable?)
Validity (Does it agree with
Known facts?
Other given material?)

8. Working With The Documents
Pull your notes together with document references
ie - (US purchases of the Arrow – support for Cdn industry – against US interests - D14)
Look at all of the points that you have identified
It doesn’t matter what they are as long as they are in the documents
Do you have any personal knowledge – add it in (third person, not first person)
Group your information so that similar material is together

9. Creating A Position Skim through your grouped material
Put the groups in a logical order depending on the question (chronological, most NB to least NB, geographical, PSE, etc.)
Read it in your mind based on the order that you have established
What does it prove?
This is your conclusion. Write it down.

10. Creating A Position
What it proves is also your position – your thesis.
You wrote it down as a conclusion. Now reword it and write it down as your thesis.
Check that it is it an arguable point? ie. Does it have at least two sides? Adjust it as necessary. Be on topic.
What if there is no obvious point?
Ask yourself questions about the information – open-ended questions (not yes/no questions) – see what answers you get that are in the form of statements.
One of these statements will form your thesis
Remember – any ‘on topic’ thesis is acceptable if you support it.

11. Writing The basic concept of your writing is to make it
informative, convincing and readable
The introductory paragraph should engage the reader and provide a blueprint of your argument
Your intro para will, therefore, provide material on
The general topic, your focus question, your thesis and your thesis supports
The first two of these in a designated topic will generally be quite short or assumed

12. Writing Points to remember
Your thesis is the directing aspect of your essay
All of your supporting points throughout the essay must be directed to supporting your thesis
You may want to raise contrary points but only to demonstrate why they are weak or inappropriate
The marker wants to have an easy time of it
Write clearly – both physically and grammatically
Proofread
Spend time on planning – writing is mechanical and takes relatively little time