1. How To Do a B D Q

2. A “Dazzling” D.B.Q. Is Like a Tasty Hamburger

3. The “Top Bun” of your essay!
The Introductory Paragraph
The “Top Bun” of your essay!
4-6 sentences

4. The Introductory Paragraph
Focus on the question at hand—do NOT begin with a “flowery” sentence!
Establish TIME & PLACE.
Define KEY TERMS from the question
Allude to the SUB-TOPICS or categories you will discuss to support your thesis statement
End with a clear, THESIS STATEMENT. [underline or highlight it!]

5. The “tasty” part of your essay! 6-12 sentences+ per paragraph
The “”Meat”” Paragraphs
The “tasty” part of your essay!
6-12 sentences+ per paragraph

6. The “”Meat”” Paragraphs
Identify your sub-topic or category in the first sentence.
Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph.
Use one or both of the documents given.
-both documents must be referred to in your answer
Bring in supportive outside information. This is critical!! * o.i.’s = “outside information”
Why were these documents selected?

7. Remember, YOU MUST COMMENT ON THEIR VALUE AND LIMITATIONS!
Questions to Ask Yourself About the Documents
Attribution  Who is this person?
Why might they be significant?
If history, is it a primary or secondary source?
What is the point of view (POV) of the author?
How reliable and accurate is the source?
What is the tone or intent of the document author?
What other information does this document call to mind? Use all available clues.
Remember, YOU MUST COMMENT ON THEIR VALUE AND LIMITATIONS!

8. How to Reference a Document in Your Essay
Thomas Paine, in his pamphlet, Common Sense, said: “………………….”
As stated in document 3,…
Joe Smith, a mid-Western delegate to the Republican convention in 1912, agreed with…..
According to Noam Chomsky in document 1…
The 19th Century historian, Frederick Jackson Turner, felt that …………………. (Doc. E)

9. The “Bottom Bun” of your essay! It holds it all together!
The Concluding Paragraph
The “Bottom Bun” of your essay!
It holds it all together!
3-4 sentences

10. The Concluding” Paragraph
Start with a “concluding phrase.”
Restate your thesis statement a bit differently.
Recap your most important/strongest argument
Put your essay answer in a larger historical/geographical perspective.
End of some trend/movement/idea, etc.
Beginning of some trend/movement/idea
End of one & beginning of another.
Do NOT end on the note that this is the reason we are where we are today!

11. Put It All Together, And

12. Ummmmm, Burger!
I Mean, A Perfect Essay!

13. DO-NOW In Class:
Create a rough draft in outline form using this format:
Write out your introductory paragraph.
Create a loose outline of your “meat” ¶s in this manner:
Skip a line from your intro. ¶
Identify the “theme”/thesis of this first “meat” ¶ [underline or highlight it]
Indent bullets listing all facts/doc. info. and other “o.i.”s that you will need in that ¶
When done with that ¶, skip a line and do the same for the other “meat” ¶s
Skip a line after your last “meat” ¶ and write you concluding ¶ out in full.

14. Outline Format
Write out your introductory paragraph in full, underlining your thesis statement.
¶1  sub-topic title
Information from a document (Doc-B)
Information from another document (Doc-A)
Some outside information (OI)
Different info. from the same document (Doc-B)
¶2  sub-topic title
Information from a document (Doc-A)
Information from another document (Doc-B)

15. Outline Format New information from the same document (Doc-B)
¶3  sub-topic title
Information from a document (Doc-A)
Information from another document (Doc-B)
Some outside information (OI)
New information from the same document (Doc-B)
Write out your concluding paragraph in full.

16. Now, Go Home & Write Your Essay And Dazzle Me With Your Brilliance!

17. YOU
CAN DO
IT!!