1. DBQ writing
What to do with your DBQ?

2. THE QUESTIONS Each DBQ has one BIG question (your essay question)
Each DOCUMENT has one, sometimes two questions to be answered (called scaffolding questions)
The DOCUMENTS will help you write your ESSAY

3. Pre-writing BRAINSTORM! Read the dbq question
Write down everything you remember about the topic before you read the documents

4. READ! When you see the documents READ each question first!
THEN go in and READ the document
Circle and translate unknown words
UNDERLINE words in the document that can help you answer the question
Many times the answer is right in the document

5. Outline Create a simple chart to organize your ideas and documents
Example of
Civilization
Document Number
Outside Information

6. INTRODUCTION THIS IS THE FIRST PARAGRAPH IN YOUR ESSAY
THE INTRODUCTION – INTRODUCES YOUR TOPIC – CIVILIZATION IN AFRICA BEFORE EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM
THE INTRODUCTION SHOULD PROVIDE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE TOPIC AND CONTAIN YOUR THESIS STATEMENT

7. YOUR THESIS
Your THESIS is the most important sentence in your introduction
Your THESIS tells the reader what you will be writing about in your essay
A good THESIS does not re-state the question, it ANSWERS THE QUESTION
Your THESIS should be the last sentence in your introduction paragraph

8. BODY PARAGRAPHS
THE NUMBER OF BODY PARAGRAPHS IS DETERMINED BY HOW YOU ORGANIZE YOUR ESSAY
EACH BODY PARAGRAPH WILL DISCUSS AN EXAMPLE OF CIVILIZATION PRE-IMPERIALISM
EACH BODY PARAGRAPH SHOULD BEGIN WITH A TOPIC SENTENCE
YOU NEED TO INCLUDE INFORMATION FROM THE DOCUMENTS IN YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS
YOU ALSO NEED OUTSIDE INFORMATION IN YOUR ESSAY

9. Conclusion The conclusion is the last paragraph of your essay
It should begin with your thesis statement
Your conclusion should recap the main ideas of your essay

11. RE-READ! then ANSWER! RE-READ the question one more time
ANSWER the question
WRITE in COMPLETE SENTENCES