1. MLK v. Malcolm X DBQ

2. Introductory Paragraphs
Two major problems
Thesis statements do not provide a roadmap
What are the main items you will talk about within your paper that will help you answer the prompt?
Did not include sufficient historical context

3. Thesis Statements
A thesis statement answers the question “Why” or “How”
In this DBQ, your thesis statement has to prove why or how either MLK’s or X’s approach to the Civil Rights Movement was more appropriate for the time.

4. Thesis Statements Continued
Good Thesis
At the time, Martin Luther King’s philosophy was better than Malcolm X’s because his non-violent approach created broader support for the Civil Rights Movement. The superiority of King’s approach is demonstrated in his non-violent strategy for the Civil Rights Movement, the integration of education, and the movements ties to economic boycott.
Poor Thesis
Martin Luther King’s philosophy was better than Malcolm X’s philosophy.

5. Insufficient Historical Context
An important component of an introductory paragraph is creating background for your reader.
Since this is U.S. History, the background in your DBQ should have given a basic summary of the Civil Rights Movement in some way.

6. Insufficient Background Development Example
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were both well-respected leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.

7. Background Development Good Example
During the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950s and 1960s, two prominent African-American men battled for political, social and economic equality for their race. Though they were fighting for the same thing, their ideas for achieving equality were exceptionally different. Martin Luther King wanted to non-violently integrate society; Malcolm X thought complete separation was the solution to inequality.

8. Example - Poor Introductory Paragraph
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were both well-respected leaders of the Civil Rights movement. However, Martin Luther King’s philosophy was better than Malcolm X’s.

9. Example - Good Introductory Paragraph
During the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950s and 1960s, two prominent African-American men battled for political, social and economic equality for their race. Though they were fighting for the same thing, their ideas for achieving equality were exceptionally different. Martin Luther King wanted to non-violently integrate society; Malcolm X thought complete separation was the solution to inequality. At the time, Martin Luther King’s philosophy was better than Malcolm X’s because his non-violent approach created broader support for the Civil Rights Movement. The superiority of King’s approach is demonstrated in his strategy for the Civil Rights Movement, education, the economy, and the issue of violence.

10. Analysis in Body Paragraphs
Many essays were not analytical.
By just summarizing the documents, you do not answer the prompt.
Like a thesis statement, analysis in the body paragraphs proves why or how one man’s approach was better than the other man’s approach.

11. Example - Summary with no Analysis
Martin Luther King believed that all men were created equal, despite their race. He hoped one day people would be able to judge others by their character and not their skin color (Doc. 2). He hoped that the people of this country would one day be able to live, work and study together in freedom.

12. Example - Summary with Analysis
With respect to integration, King’s method was a much better choice for mid-twentieth century America than Malcolm X’s. King’s philosophy was preferable because integration would help change Blacks’ and Whites’ opinions of each other; only living and working with each other can erase, or at least lessen, racism. Whites would continue the prejudice against African-Americans unless society was integrated.

13. The use of rhetorical questions
Rhetorical questions are questions that you want people to think about, but that you intend to answer in the course of your essay.
Do not use rhetorical questions in a history DBQ.
Just answer the question!

14. Rhetorical Questions Continued
“Is violence the answer?”
“How can the United States be united with two separate societies?”
Without Rhetorical Questions
“Violence is not the answer.”
“The United States could not survive as two separate societies.”

15. Quoting vs. Paraphrasing
Your instructions were to paraphrase the documents.
This means that you cannot use any portion of the the document in your essay.
Just because you did not put quotation marks around it doesn’t mean its not a quote.

16. Examples
Quotes
Martin Luther King believed that both races could work together and pray together.
X argued that Blacks should teach Blacks and Whites should teach Whites.
Paraphrase
Martin Luther King believed in integration in all settings, such as the workplace and schools.
Malcolm X argued that each race should work independent of each other.

17. Mechanics and Miscellaneous
Lots of frequent and small mistakes.

18. 1st Person
DO NOT USE FIRST PERSON IN A HISTORY ESSAY!

19. 1st Person Use of 1st Person
In my opinion, Martin Luther King’s approach was better.
I don’t believe violence solves anything.
Use of 3rd Person
Martin Luther King’s approach was better.
Violence does not solve anything.

20. Document Use
You have to use the documents. It is a Document Based Question.
You had to use all of the documents, even those that did not support your thesis.
By doing this, you create a basis for comparison.

21. Direct vs. Indirect use of documents and citation placement
Do NOT cite the documents in a direct manner.
DO cite the documents at the end of the sentence where the information is used.

22. Direct vs. Indirect Direct Use
Document 2 shows that King believed in integration.
In document 5, X argued for segregated schools.
Indirect Use
King believed in integration (Doc. 2).
X argued for segregated schools (Doc. 5).

23. Miscellaneous Mechanics
Verb tense
It is a history essay - use past tense.

24. Miscellaneous Mechanics
Contractions
In formal writing do not use contractions, spell out the word(s).
Doesn’t= does not
Can’t=cannot

25. Miscellaneous Mechanics Continued
Italicize the names of Supreme Court cases and provide the year.
Brown v. Board (1954)
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

26. Miscellaneous Mechanics Continued
The use of racial terms like colored or negro is inappropriate. These are considered to be derogatory terms today.