1. How to Write a DBQ in APUSH in FIVE EASY STEPS
Read the prompt
Brainstorm- create categories
Read the documents and place them in the categories
Write thesis
Write essay

2. STEP ONE: Read the prompt
What is the question asking? Content
Mexican American War
National identity
Declaration of Independence
What is the question asking me to DO? Historical thinking skill
Analyze cause and effect
Describe continuity and change over time (what stayed the same and what was different?)
Periodization: explaining a period in history (turning points in history)
Comparing and contrasting different periods/events in history (similarities and differences between the two)
Evaluation: How effective or ineffective was ____? Was it good or bad?

3. STEP TWO: Brainstorm
You can use a pre-write structure. (T-chart, venn diagram, outline, etc.)
Consider the categories that make sense based on the prompt.

4. STEP THREE: Read documents and set categories
Read the documents. It’s a good idea to take little notes in the margins about the main idea of each. That way you don’t spend time later re-reading each one.
Complete the “what” and “so what” on your planning sheet.
Be careful to pay attention to APPARTS stuff. Underline author/date to save time.
As you go, jot down which category each doc goes into.
Take notes in the “list of potential outside information” box. Where do these ideas fit into your categories/organizer?

5. STEP FOUR: Thesis Thesis should do the following:
Restate all parts of the question
Addresses the targeted historical thinking skill
Sets up the argument (how will your paragraphs be organized?)

6. Sample Question
Analyze the impact of World War II on American national identity and the impact of the constitution on actions undertaken by the federal government.

7. STEP FIVE: Write the body
Each paragraph should have a category. Try not to write chronologically.
You should answer the question using the documents AND outside information… DON’T RELY ON THE DOCS ALONE!
Avoid long direct quotes. Synthesize/summarize the documents instead
Outside info- build on the docs with other info
Contextualization of the topic- What else was going on during the time period?
Synthesis/argument- Does your essay support a cohesive argument? Why is this topic important in the big picture of US history? How does it relate to history before and/or after the topic? The intro and conclusion paragraphs are good places to discuss this.

8. PRACTICE!
Use this DBQ to practice steps 1-4.