What Is It?What Is It?

• An essay question that requires you to An essay question that requires you to interpret primary source documents.interpret primary source documents.

• Documents might include the following:Documents might include the following:

Newspaper articles/editorialsLetters/diariesSpeechesLegislation Political cartoonsCharts and graphs

What Are the Documents for?What Are the Documents for?

• To discuss events and ideas with which To discuss events and ideas with which you are familiar.you are familiar.

• To support or refute the essay To support or refute the essay questionsquestions

• Focus around the essay topicFocus around the essay topic

When Do I Take the DBQ?When Do I Take the DBQ?

• After the multiple-choice sectionAfter the multiple-choice section

• You get a green booklet with the essay You get a green booklet with the essay questions and DBQquestions and DBQ

• Begins with a 15 minute mandatory Begins with a 15 minute mandatory reading periodreading period– Evaluate and interpret the documentsEvaluate and interpret the documents

Is There a Right Answer to Each Is There a Right Answer to Each DBQ?DBQ?

• YesYes– Multiple arguments Multiple arguments

• Develop your argument (thesis) with Develop your argument (thesis) with evidence (evidence (include outside informationinclude outside information))

• Use a strong historical argumentUse a strong historical argument

I Have the Question, Now What Do I Have the Question, Now What Do I Do? Getting StartedI Do? Getting Started

• Read the question thoroughlyRead the question thoroughly• Explore all parts of the question (how Explore all parts of the question (how

many parts)many parts)• Underline important aspectsUnderline important aspects• Ask these two questionsAsk these two questions

– Do I have an opinion about this subject?Do I have an opinion about this subject?– What must I discuss in order to write a What must I discuss in order to write a

successful essay? (most important)successful essay? (most important)

Getting Started Cont.Getting Started Cont.• Your essay will follow the standard writing Your essay will follow the standard writing

formulaformula– Thesis or introductory paragraphThesis or introductory paragraph

• Opening sentenceOpening sentence• Rephrase questionRephrase question• Your opinionYour opinion• Introduce your argumentsIntroduce your arguments

– BodyBody• At least 3 full length paragraphsAt least 3 full length paragraphs• Minimum of 2 documents to backup your argumentMinimum of 2 documents to backup your argument• The more you use, the better your essay if they are used The more you use, the better your essay if they are used

correctlycorrectly

– ConclusionConclusion

Getting Started Cont.Getting Started Cont.

• Gather informationGather information

• Address issuesAddress issues

• Decide on dataDecide on data

• Organize plan of attackOrganize plan of attack

Gather Outside InformationGather Outside Information

• Jot down terms, ideas, and/or concepts Jot down terms, ideas, and/or concepts

• 2 or 3 minutes 2 or 3 minutes

• Decide what you can and cannot use Decide what you can and cannot use

• Insert into cluster/outlineInsert into cluster/outline

Reading the DocumentsReading the DocumentsUse the Use the AP-PARTSAP-PARTS to help you understand the documents to help you understand the documents

AA = Author = Author

PP = Place and Time = Place and Time

PP = Prior Knowledge = Prior Knowledge

AA = Audience = Audience

RR = Reason = Reason

TT = The Main Idea = The Main Idea

SS = Significance = Significance

Reading the DocumentsReading the Documents

Document OrderDocument Order

• ChronologicalChronological - if the test is asking - if the test is asking you trace the historical development.you trace the historical development.

• Otherwise – organized for Otherwise – organized for compare compare and contrastand contrast (draw comparisons in (draw comparisons in your essay).your essay).

Reading the DocumentsReading the DocumentsInconsistenciesInconsistencies

• Not all documents agreeNot all documents agree

• Present different view pointsPresent different view points

• Recognize inconsistenciesRecognize inconsistencies– APPARTS help you identify the source and APPARTS help you identify the source and

differing opinions of the same event or datadiffering opinions of the same event or data

Reading the DocumentsReading the Documents

Once you decided on your thesis: Once you decided on your thesis: (documents)(documents)

1.1. Supporting evidenceSupporting evidence

2.2. Contradicting evidenceContradicting evidence

- incorporate and acknowledge these - incorporate and acknowledge these

3.3. Why was that document included?Why was that document included?

4.4. Add more outside info (???)Add more outside info (???)

Thesis DevelopmentThesis Development

• Read question one more timeRead question one more time

• Develop an argument you can proveDevelop an argument you can prove

• Make sure your thesis addresses all Make sure your thesis addresses all pertinent aspects of the questionpertinent aspects of the question

Write Your EssayWrite Your Essay• Get to the pointGet to the point• Back thesis up with facts, solid evidence Back thesis up with facts, solid evidence not fluffnot fluff

– opening statement with your opinion, restate the question and 3 opening statement with your opinion, restate the question and 3 argumentsarguments

• Use ½ plus 1 of the documentsUse ½ plus 1 of the documents• Make sure you are addressing the questionMake sure you are addressing the question• Refer back to the question several timesRefer back to the question several times• be sure you cite each document usedbe sure you cite each document used

• Don’t quote document-Don’t quote document----summarize or main idea---summarize or main idea• list documents when you use them… list documents when you use them… (Doc A) (Doc 7)(Doc A) (Doc 7)

The Last WordThe Last Word

• Stay confidentStay confident• Don’t panicDon’t panic• Take a deep breath to relaxTake a deep breath to relax

• You are going to learn how to write theseYou are going to learn how to write these

• You prepare all year for the testYou prepare all year for the test

• Everyone else is in the same boat as youEveryone else is in the same boat as you

The “Top Bun” of your essay!

4-6 sentences

1. Establish TIME & PLACE.

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

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

No “laundry list!”

The “tasty” part of your essay!

8-12 sentences+ per paragraph

1. Identify your sub-topic or category in the first sentence.

2. Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph.

3. Use most of the documents given [70%].

4. Be sure to indicate Point-of-View (POV)/bias.

5. Bring in supportive outside information [o.i.]. This is critical!!

6. Why were these documents selected?

1. Identify your sub-topic or category in the first sentence.

2. Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph.

3. Use most of the documents given [70%].

4. Be sure to indicate Point-of-View (POV)/bias.

5. Bring in supportive outside information [o.i.]. This is critical!!

6. Why were these documents selected?

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.

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.

Remember, docs. can be used in a variety of ways!

Remember, docs. can be used in a variety of ways!

The “Bottom Bun” of your essay!

It holds it all together!

3-4 sentences

1. Start with a “concluding phrase.”

2. Restate your thesis statement a bit differently.

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

End of some trend/movement/idea, etc.

Beginning of some trend/movement/idea, etc.

End of one & beginning of another.

Do NOT end on the note that this is the reason we are where we are today!

1.Attribution: cite the author by name, title, or position, if possible.

1.Attribution: cite the author by name, title, or position, if possible.

Why is this person and document selected?How does it help me answer the question?

Why is this person and document selected?How does it help me answer the question?

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:

John Tyler, an English writer, said: “...”

A Dominican monk in Florence described….

John Tyler, an English writer, said: “...”

A Dominican monk in Florence described….

2. Authorial Point of View: you show awareness that the gender, occupation, class, religion, nationality, political position or ethnic identity of the author could influence his/her views.

How does this apply to the question?Why has the author written what he/she has?

How does this apply to the question?Why has the author written what he/she has?

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Balthasar Rusow, a Lutheran pastor, was naturally upset by the celebration of a Saint’s Day, since Lutherans don’t venerate saints.

Balthasar Rusow, a Lutheran pastor, was naturally upset by the celebration of a Saint’s Day, since Lutherans don’t venerate saints.

3. Reliability and accuracy of each source referenced: you examine a source for its reliability and accuracy by questioning if the author of the document would be in a position to be accurate.

How might this help you answer the question?How might this help you answer the question?

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Niccolo Machiavelli’s book on the political tactics of a Renaissance prince was probably accurate as he observed the behavior of the prince, Cesare Borgia, for many years.

Niccolo Machiavelli’s book on the political tactics of a Renaissance prince was probably accurate as he observed the behavior of the prince, Cesare Borgia, for many years.

4. Tone or Intent of the Author: you examine the text of a document to determine its tone (satire, irony, indirect commentary, etc.) or the intent of the author. Especially useful for visual documents, like art work or political cartoons.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

In his great sculpture of “David,” Michelangelo wanted to convey the confidence, and even arrogance, of Renaissance Florence at the peak of its cultural influence in 16 Europe.

In his great sculpture of “David,” Michelangelo wanted to convey the confidence, and even arrogance, of Renaissance Florence at the peak of its cultural influence in 16 Europe.

5. Grouping of Docs. by Author: you show an awareness that certain types of authors, simply by their authorship, will express similar views when you group documents by type of author.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

As Northern Renaissance humanists, Erasmus, Sir Thomas More, and Cervantes all poked fun at the foibles and scandals of late medieval society as well as of their own.

As Northern Renaissance humanists, Erasmus, Sir Thomas More, and Cervantes all poked fun at the foibles and scandals of late medieval society as well as of their own.

1. Baldassare Castiglione, in The Handbook of the Courtier, said: “………………….”

2. Erasmus of Rotterdam, a northern Christian humanist, agreed with…

3. The 19c historian, Jacob Burkhardt, felt that …………………. (Doc. 9)

NEVER begin with: In Document 3, …..NEVER begin with: In Document 3, …..

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-

E) Some outside information (OI) Different info. from the same document

(Doc-E)

¶2 sub-topic title Information from a document (Doc-A) Some outside information (OI) Some outside information (OI) Information from another document (Doc-

H)

¶3 sub-topic title Information from a document (Doc-C) Information from another document

(Doc-D) Some outside information (OI) Information from another document

(Doc-F) New information from the same

document (Doc-F) Some outside information (OI) Some outside information (OI)

Write out your concluding paragraph in full.