DBQ

dbq guidelines.html

<h1 id="dbq">DBQ</h1>



<h2 id="before-you-write">Before You Write</h2>

<ol>
<li>Read the question carefully. Understand that you are to answer question, not simply discuss the documents. Approach it as an essay question for which you <strong>don’t</strong> have documents.</li>
<li>Make certain you understand what the question asks you to look for in the document.</li>
<li>Establish potential categories <strong>before</strong> you examine the documents. If the question gives you categories, use those categories.</li>
<li>After you read the question and <strong>before</strong> you examine the documents, jot down all of the specific factual information that comes to mind from that time period relative to this question.</li>
<li>Have a gut reaction as to how you’re going to answer the question <strong>before</strong> you read the documents.</li>
</ol>



<h2 id="examining-the-documents">Examining the Documents</h2>

<p>The DBQ will be scored on a scale of 0-7 using an analytic rubric. That means that you get points for doing certain things. You must be <strong>certain</strong> to do these things.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>You <strong>must</strong> analysis the content of <strong><em>all or all but one</em></strong> of the documents and use that analysis to <em>explicitly</em> support your thesis. You will not be given points if you only imply or hint at how the information in the doucment answers the question. Directly state how and why the infromation supports your argument. You will not get points for simply telling what the document says.</p></li>
<li><p>Additionally you <strong>must</strong> do at least <strong>one</strong> of the following for <strong><em>all or all but one</em></strong> of the documents:</p>

<ul><li>analyze the intended audience of the document and how that affects the credibility of the document relative to your argument</li>
<li>analyze the purpose for which the document was written</li>
<li>analyze the historical content of the document</li>
<li>analyze the author’s point of view and explain why the author might have that point of view</li></ul></li>
<li><p>You <strong>must</strong> use the documents as clues to bring in information from the time period that is not mentioned in the documents.</p></li>
<li><p>You <strong>must</strong> explicitly connect the information from the documents and outside information to broaden historical events or trends.</p></li>
<li><p>You <strong>must</strong> synthesize your argument, evidence, documents, and context into a persuasive essay by doing <strong>one</strong> of the following:</p>

<ul><li>extend or modify your thesis or argument</li>
<li>account for contradictory evidence from a primary or secondary source</li>
<li>appropriately connects the topic of the question to other historical periods, geographic areas, contexts, or circumstances. In other words, how does this question fit in with the things that came before or after it.</li></ul></li>
</ol>



<h2 id="writing-strategies">Writing Strategies</h2>

<ol>
<li><p>Start with a thesis statement by taking a position that <strong>directly</strong> answers the question, establishes categories, and gives direction to those categories. You will get <strong>no</strong> points for simply restating the question into a statement.</p>

<blockquote>
  <h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
  
  <p><strong>Question:</strong> To what degree did the American Revolution result in fundamental change politically, economically, and socially between 1776 and 1800? <br>
  <strong>No credit:</strong> The American Revolution resulted in fundamental change politically, economically, and socially. <br>
  <strong>Credit:</strong> The American Revolution resulted in fundamental political change as the United States moved from the unitary system under Great Britain to the federal system under the Constitution. Economically there was moderate change as the U.S. moved from a mercantilist economy to a free economy. Socially there was little change as the women and African Americans gained few rights.</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>Begin every paragraph with a topic sentence that directly answers the question and gives yourself something to prove.</p></li>
<li><p>Use <strong><em>all or all but one</em></strong> of the documents and explicitly use the information to support your thesis or argument. Be certain to directly discuss how and why the information supports your thesis.</p></li>
<li><p>Remember to discuss one or more of the following for <strong><em>all or all but one</em></strong>:</p>

<ul><li>analysis of the intended audience of the doucment and how that affects the credibility of the document relative to yoru argument</li>
<li>analysis of the purpose for which the documetn was written</li>
<li>analysis of the historical content of the document</li>
<li>analysis of the author’s point of view and explain why the author might have that point of view</li>
<li><strong>Note: Do not become bummed out if you can’t use or explain all or all but one of the documents. You may still receive a reduced number of points for doing that, so don’t give up, just do the best you can.)</strong></li></ul></li>
<li><p>Bring outside information that is not included in the documetns and explicitly use the information to support your thesis or argument. Be certain to directly discuss how and why the information supports your thesis.</p></li>
<li><p>End every paragraph with a clincher sentence that directly ties the entire paragraph back to your thesis and directly answers the question.</p></li>
<li><p>Provide synthesis that does at least <strong>one</strong> of the following:</p>

<ul><li>extends or modifies your thesis or argument</li>
<li>accounts for contradictory evidence form primary or secondary sources</li>
<li>appropriately connects the topic of the question to other historical periods, geographic areas, contexts, or circumstances. In other words, how does this question fit in with the things that came before it or after it.</li></ul></li>
</ol>