Mastering the DBQ Essay in 50 Minutes
Learn how to effectively tackle a Document-Based Question (DBQ) essay within the time constraints of an AP exam. Discover valuable tips on reading, organizing, and analyzing documents, identifying key factors for grouping documents, understanding scoring criteria, and crafting a solid thesis with supporting evidence. Prepare efficiently in the first 10 minutes, utilize document analysis strategies, and aim for both basic competence and excellence in your essay to maximize your score.
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Presentation Transcript
IN THE DBQ All the information you need to complete your essay is contained in the documents. It s your job to organize, interpret, and analyze these documents. It s a skill you can learn! During the AP exam, you have 50 minutes for the DBQ: 10 minutes to prep & 40 minutes to write.
THE FIRST 10 MINUTES: READING AND ORGANIZING YOUR DBQ Read the prompt. Underline the time frame of the essay (when it happened) and the direction words the key words or phrases of the prompt (or, the stuff you re supposed to write about)
THE FIRST 10 MINUTES: READING AND ORGANIZING YOUR DBQ Example: Using the following documents, analyze responses to the spread of influenza in the early twentieth century. Time frame: early 20th century (1900s) Direction words: responses, spread of influenza You are being asked to show how people around the world responded to the spread of the flu.
THE FIRST 10 MINUTES: READING AND ORGANIZING YOUR DBQ After that read the background information & all the documents. As you read, put the documents into groups based on key factors, similarities, themes, etc. As you read, look for the viewpoint & message of each document. (Who is the author? What is the document saying?) You always have to have at least 3 groups. Characteristics for Grouping Documents (things the documents might share) Gender of author Nationality of author Pro/anti stance on issue Religious/philosophical viewpoint Level of education Idealist/realist outlook Class position in society Native/foreigner status Profession (job) of author Eye-witness (first-hand accounts) Social class Time period Second-hand accounts (friend of a friend, etc) Level of wealth
Points Basic Core (Competence) 1-7 points 1. Has an acceptable thesis. Expanded Core (Excellence) 2 points 1 Expands beyond the basic core requirements of 1 to 7 points. A student must earn 7 points in the basic core area before earning points in the expanded core area. 1 2. Understands the basic meaning of the documents (May misinterpret one document) 3. Supports thesis with appropriate evidence from all documents. (All but one document = 1 point) 4. Analyzes point of view in at least two documents. 5. Analyzes documents by grouping them in three ways. 6. Identifies and explains the need for one type of appropriate additional document or source. Examples: Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive thesis. Shows careful and insightful analysis of the document. Uses documents persuasively as evidence. Analyzes point of view in most/all documents. Analyzes the documents in additional ways groups, comparisons, syntheses. Brings in relevant outside historical content. Explains why additional types of documents or sources are needed. 2 1 1 1
THESIS STATEMENTS (IN YOUR INTRO PARAGRAPH) The thesis of your essay will be the answer to the question you have constructed. It can be more than one sentence, AND it must include WHY that is the answer to the question. It must address the terms of the question (why) and set up the structure for the rest of the essay. Your answer (thesis) should take into account all sides of the issue. Stronger essays show analysis of the issue from different perspectives. Remember, every single sentence of your essay should support your thesis.
THEN, THE REST OF YOUR ESSAY Each body paragraph is about one of your 3+ groups of sources. This grouping shows you get the basic meaning of the documents (1 pt.) & gets you the point for groups (1 pt.) Use the documents as evidence to support your thesis by explaining & analyzing them (2 pts.)
THEN, THE REST OF YOUR ESSAY Analyzes Point of View in at least 2 documents = 1 pt. This is the trickiest one! Miss it and the highest you can get is a 6! We have more examples for you in the Point of View PPT, hold on
THEN, THE REST OF YOUR ESSAY For one of your groups, identify/explain an additional document or source that would be needed, and why = 1 pt. What voices are you missing that would better help you support your thesis? Explain what type of doc, who would write it (general, no names), and why it would be useful.
Writing the Essay
A DAZZLING DBQ IS LIKE A TASTY HAMBURGER
THE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH The top bun of your essay 4 to 6 sentences
IN THE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH 1. Establish TIME & PLACE. 2. Create a clear, THESIS STATEMENT Answer the question. 3. List the SUB-TOPICS or categories you will use to support your thesis statement. 4. Focus on the question at hand do NOT begin with a flowery or cheesy sentence! Never I am going to write about Or for many reasons !!! 5. No laundry list!
THESIS STATEMENTS The thesis of your essay will be the answer to the question you have constructed. It can be more than one sentence, AND it must include WHY that is the answer to the question. Your answer (thesis) should take into account all sides of the issue. Stronger essays show analysis of the issue from different perspectives. Remember, every single sentence of your essay should support your thesis.
THE MEAT PARAGRAPHS The tasty part of your essay 8-12 sentences+ per paragraph these can be long
THE MEAT PARAGRAPHS 1. Make the 1st sentence of each paragraph your Topic Sentence. (~paragraph thesis) 2. Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph. 3. Use all of the documents given. 4. Bring in supportive outside information. This is critical!! * One way to get from a 7 to a 9! 5. Organize your docs w/ with your thoughts. What do they show about the society that produced them? 6. Every sentence you write should have something to do with the Thesis which is the answer to the question.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF ABOUT THE DOCUMENTS 1. Attribution Who is this person? 2. Why might they be significant? 3. What is the point of view (POV) of the author? 4. How reliable and accurate is the source? 5. What is the tone or intent of the document author? 6. What other information does this document call to mind? Use all available clues. Docs can be used in a variety of ways think beyond what the words say!
HOW TO REFERENCE A DOCUMENT IN YOUR ESSAY 1. Bernal Diaz del Castillo, in his book on the Conquest, said: . 2. The Tlaxcalan Codex, an Aztec book recording history, shows a .. 3. The Roman historian of 400 C.E., Ammianus Marcellinus, felt that . (Doc. E) NEVER begin with: In Document 3 .
THE CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH The bottom bun of your essay (it holds it all together) 3-4 sentences
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH 1. Conclude by restating your thesis statement a bit differently. (Don t just repeat it word-for-word explain the main ideas one more time, in a sentence or two.) 2. Put your essay answer in a larger historical 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!
DBQ STEPS 1. Evaluate the question. 2. Graphic Organizer based on the question. 1. Outside Information 2. Document Placement? 2. Work the Documents 1. Go back to graphic organizer and add info/ place docs/ or categorize docs = PES? Thesis Outline 3. 4. 5. Just add grammar!
STEP 1 = Evaluate the question. What IS the question asking me????? What is the directive? Analyze the differences and similarities between the collapse of both the Roman and Aztec Empires. Use the following areas: Domestic Foreign Social
Step 1: What is the Topic? Political Economic Social Step 2: Put in the form of a question.
Step 1: Put in the form of a question What were the differences and similarities between the Roman and Aztec Empires collapse?
Step 1: The exact time period Analyze the differences and similarities between the Roman World and the Aztec World in terms of TWO of the following: Domestic (Political Affairs) Foreign (Invaders) Social WHEN? 400 500 C.E. and 1500 1530 C.E.
Step :2 Brainstorm ALL facts Social Domestic/ Political Foreign Roman Aztec
Step 2 Step 2 Brainstorm and list all facts that can possibly be used in the essay. You may decide not to use all the facts in the list, but it is better to have too many facts than not enough. Organize your facts, paying close attention to their significance. Remember, using significant, relevant facts will move an essay from a 2-4 to a 5- 7.
Step 3: Thesis Your thesis is the ANSWER to the question you posed AND the thesis must also include WHY that is the answer.
Thesis Thesis The thesis of your essay will be the answer to the question you have constructed. It can be more than one sentence, AND it must include WHY that is the answer to the question. Your answer (thesis) should take into account all sides of the issue. Stronger essays show analysis of the issue from different perspectives. Remember, every single sentence of your essay should support your thesis.
Organize Your Thoughts Outline Pseudo Outline Number and letter your Graphic organizer and Docs
Outline Thesis Statement: Introduction Includes your thesis. Your thesis for historical writing does not need to be one sentence. You may take the paragraph if you wish. First Topic Sentence Evidence 1 ( Supporting Sentences) Evidence 2 Evidence 3 Evidence 4 First Topic Sentence Evidence 1 ( Supporting Sentences) Evidence 2 Evidence 3 Evidence 4 First Topic Sentence Evidence 1 ( Supporting Sentences) Evidence 2 Evidence 3 Evidence 4 Conclusion Refer back to your thesis Sum up your essay.
YOU CAN DO IT!!
