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Document Based Question (DBQ)

1 / Read and understand the question

  • What is the time period?

    • Use issues in the time period​

  • Are historical thinking skills required to answer the question?

    • Skills include compare + contrast, continuity or change over time, etc. 

  • Is the question category or people-specific? (political change vs. social change)

  • Is it to what degree/qualitative? ​

    • "Evaluate the extent to which" ​

    • ex. from 1800-1900, time period

2 / Skimming the Documents

  • Group the documents into 2-3 groups

    • Key themes. Consider each group as different pieces of evidence for your overall argument​

    • --> Do some go against your argument? Acknowledge that. 

  • Summarize the main ideas of each document

    • If you only had that one document, how would you answer the question? ​

3 / AP Rubric

  1. Thesis​

    1. Formula: Despite [counterargument], because [evidence 1] and [evidence 2], [my argument].

    2. Aim for one sentence ​

    3. Do not restate/summarize the prompt

    4. Intro paragraph: 4-1-1​

      1. Broad to SPECIFIC

      2. ​4 sentences of context. 1 sentence to set up thesis. 1 sentence for thesis​

  2. Context

    1. The historical context BEFORE the time period​

    2. Immediate and relative context 

      1. Name specific terms and define them. Explain their relevance to your argument​

  3. Evidence

    1. Attempt at using most/all of the documents​

    2. Connect your thesis statement with the evidence

    3. Topic sentences for body paragraphs

      1. Explains WHY​

    4. Evidence beyond the documents

      1. Bring outside knowledge to your essay. Explain and connect key terms or events within the time period​

  4. Analysis + Reasoning

    1. HAPPS

      1. Historical Context​

        1. Time period​

        2. Any big events nearby (before + after)

      2. Audience

        1. Who the source is for​

        2. Who may have viewed the source

      3. Purpose

        1. Why the source was written​

      4. Point of  View

        1. The author, illustrator, creator​

        2. Consider their background, history, bias, motives

      5. Source

  5. Complexity

    1. Outside information. Critical thinking and interpretation/analysis​

    2. Counterclaim

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