1. How to do a DBQ

2. DBQ Document Based Question Five paragraph essay
Using primary and secondary sources
Text, pictures, photographs, coins, maps, basically anything.

3. Step One Read the questions or prompt.
Does the prompt ask you to look for specific items? Culture, technology, government, belief systems, art, or trade?
Underline the key words.
Explain
Analyze
Describe
Quantify
Identify

4. Step Two Read/examine each document
Underline/highlight important words or phrases that connect to the prompt
Jot down notes next to the document
Does the document remind you of something you know?
Does it tie in with vocabulary you’ve learned in class?
Come up with a word or a phrase that sums up the document- WRITE THAT DOWN!

5. Step Three Categorize the documents into at least three groups
Use your topic phrases as a guide for categories
Documents can be used in more than one category
CULTURE POLITICS RELIGION

6. Step Four Compose a thesis statement
The thesis should answer/address the prompt
Make sure to include your three document category titles in your thesis.
The Egyptians used the Nile River as the basis of their culture, politics, and religion.

7. Step Five Introduce your essay
The last sentence of your first paragraph should be your thesis.
Remember! The intro paragraph is not a place to introduce facts and information.

8. Step Six Topic sentence
Sentence providing a fact/information from documents (cite).
Sentence of commentary analysis (a good spot for bias analysis)
Sentence of commentary analysis.
Transition sentence.

9. WASH RINSE REPEAT

10. Step Seven Conclusion Restate thesis statement
Include missing points of view
Explain how these new povs would help you to better address the topic
Restate thesis statement
DON’T INTRODUCE ANY NEW INFORMATION!!