How To Doan APUSH

DBQ

A “Dazzling” DBQIs Like a Tasty Hamburger

The “Top Bun” of your essay!

4-7 well-developed sentences

The Introductory Paragraph

1. Establish TIME & PLACE (the question may dictate this for you, but include it anyway – don’t assume that your reader knows).

2. Create a clear THESIS STATEMENT(underline or highlight it).

3. Allude to the SUB-TOPICS or categories you will discuss to support your thesis statement*Do not make a “laundry list” of things you will say – introduce the body of your essay in the introduction

4. Focus on the question at hand—do NOT begin with a “flowery” sentence! Avoid cliches!

The Introductory Paragraph

The “tasty” part of your essay!

8-12 sentences (or more) per paragraph

The “”Meat”” Paragraphs

1. Identify your subtopic or category in the first sentence (each paragraph needs its own topic sentence).

2. Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph (consider the documents as your own ‘cheat sheets’ to writing the essay).

3. Use most of the documents given (remember the ‘half plus one’ rule).

4. Bring in supportive outside information. This is critical!! You CANNOT write an effective DBQ if the only information you include is found in the documents! (o.i. = “outside information”)

5. Why were these documents selected (do not say, “This document shows…” or “In document A…”)?

The “”Meat”” Paragraphs

1. Attribution Who or what is the document about? Who was this?

2. Why might this topic be significant to American History in general and to the question being asked specifically?

3. What is the point of view of the author?4. How reliable and accurate is the source? Is it

fact or opinion? Is it a primary or secondary source?

5. What is the tone or intent of the document author?

6. What other information (historical facts) does this document call to mind? Use all available clues.

Remember, documents can be used in a variety of ways!

Questions to Ask Yourself About the Documents

1. Thomas Paine, in his pamphlet, Common Sense, said: “………………….”

2. Joe Smith, a mid-Western delegate to the Republican convention in 1912, agreed with…..

3. The 19th century historian, Frederick Jackson Turner, felt that …………………. (Doc. E)NEVER begin with: In Document 3…

or Document A says….

How to Reference a Document in Your Essay

The “Bottom Bun” of your essay!It holds the essay together! Sum up what you have said in the essay IN A NEW WAY!

3-4 well-developed sentences

The Concluding Paragraph

1. Start with a “concluding phrase.”2. Restate your thesis statement in a different

way.3. Put your essay answer in a larger historical

perspective.End of some trend/movement/idea, etc.Beginning of some trend/movement/ideaEnd of one and beginning of another.Do NOT end on the note that this is the reason we are where we are today, this is why America is great, or any other similar cliches!Remember PEDS (political, economic, diplomatic, social)!

The Concluding” Paragraph

Put It All Together, And . . . .

Ummmmm, Burger!

I Mean, A Perfect DBQ Essay!

Create a rough draft in outline form using the following format

Skip a line after your introductory ¶.Identify the theme/thesis of the first body paragraph. (“meat” ¶) Underline or highlight it.Indent bullets listing all facts/documentation and other outside information that you will need.When done with that ¶, skip a line and do the same for the other “meat” ¶s

1. Formulate a thesis statement.2. Write your introductory paragraph.3. Create a loose outline of your essay (“meat” ¶s) in

this manner:

ASSIGNMENT

3. Skip a line after your last “meat” ¶ and write your concluding ¶ out in full.

4. Bring your outline into class tomorrow and I will divide the class up into small “peer review” groups.

5. You will then read over the outlines of the other group members and make suggestions/corrections IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER.

For Homework Tonight:

Write out your introductory paragraph in full, underlining your thesis statement.

¶1 Subtopic title Information from a document (Doc ?) Information from another document (Doc ?) Some outside information (Outside Information) Different information from same document (Doc

?)

¶2 Subtopic title Information from a document (Doc ?) Some outside information (Outside Information) Some outside information (Outside Information) Information from another document (Doc ?)

Outline Format

¶3 Subtopic title Information from a document (Doc ?) Information from another document (Doc ?) Some outside information (Outside Information) Information from another document (Doc ?) New information from the same document

(Doc ?) Outside information Additional outside information

ConclusionWrite out concluding paragraph in full.

Outline Format

Tomorrow, we will have a Peer Review Session, then you will write your essay

andDazzle Me

With Your Brilliance!

YOU CAN

DOIT!