1. A short guide to the dbq, LEQ, and thesis statements!
DBQ/LEQ Crash Course
A short guide to the dbq, LEQ, and thesis statements!

2. 4 Kinds of Prompts
Causation- What are the causes and/or effects of a major development? Which was the strongest?
Continuity and Change over Time- How did a development stay the same and change over a period of time? Which was more?
Comparison- How are multiple developments similar and different? Which was more?
Periodization- How can an era be defined? OR How can an event serves as a turning point of a larger development? (Only on LEQ)

3. Structure of a Thesis Statement
Read the Prompt…What is it asking?
Create a grid to brainstorm
Counterpoint (X)
2 Supporting Points (A & B)
Significance (Y)
Even though (X), (A&B), therefore (Y)
Confusing? Let’s Practice

4. Causation (Cause AND/OR Effect)
More so Caused/Effected
Even though _________________ had been present and serves as an underlying causes of…. (X), ____________________ (A) and _______________________ (B) occurred which caused ………. to happen which…….. (Y).
More so Didn’t Cause/Effect
Even though _________________ certainly increased …… (X), ___________________ (A) and _______________________ (B) had already been occurring ………. which…….. (Y).
Evaluate the political, cultural, and economic causes of the Revolutionary War.
To what extent did the Revolutionary Era affect the status of women, African Americans, and lower class Americans.

5. Continuity AND Change Over Time
More so Continued
Even though _________________ changed in…., (X), ___________________ (A) and _______________________ (B) remained constant ………. which…….. (Y).
More so Changed
Even though ________________ remained constant …… (X), ___________________ (A) and ______________________ (B) were dramatic changes ………. which…….. (Y).
Evaluate the shift of unfree labor during the 17th century in the British American colonies.
To what extent was the Constitution a dramatic change from the Articles of Confederation.

6. Comparison (AND Contrast)
More so Similar
Even though ________________ and ___________________ were different in …., (X), ____________ (A) and __________________ (B) had strong similarities ………. Which …….. (Y).
More so Different
Even though _________________ and ___________________ were similar in …., (X), ____________ (A) and _________________ (B) had strong differences ………. Which …….. (Y).
Compare and contrast the origins and development of the New England and Chesapeake colonies.
Compare and contrast the reforms efforts of the abolitionists, women’s rights, and temperance movements between 1831 and 1860.

7. Periodization More so Described As More so Not Described as
Even though ________________ was occurring which was counter to… (X), ___________________ (A) and ___________________ (B) were strong during ………. which allows __________________ to be considered…….. (Y).
More so Not Described as
Even though ______________ was occurring which exemplified… (X), ___________________ (A) and _______________________ (B) were strong during ………. which weakens __________________ to be considered…….. (Y).
Some historians argue the Seven Years War was a turning point in British colonial society and their relationship with England. Support, modify, or refute this contention using specific evidence.
To what extent was the Era of the Common Man accurate titled as such?

8. Contextualization Required on DBQ, Suggested on LEQ  DO IT!
Opening sentence  Setting the Stage, Zooming Out
Who / What / When / Where of general era and/or era preceding topic  Connect to narrowed essay topic
Before…. During…. Between…. For most of….
Evaluate the shift of unfree labor during the 17th century in the British American colonies.
Compare and contrast the reforms efforts of the abolitionists, women’s rights, and temperance movements.

9. Synthesis Required on LEQ and DBQ  DO IT!
Conclusion  Closing remarks, Aha! connection
Relate/compare to a previous or future development
Much like… Over time/eventually… Dates as far back as…
Evaluate the shift of unfree labor during the 17th century in the British American colonies.
Compare and contrast the reforms efforts of the abolitionists, women’s rights, and temperance movements.

10. Topic Sentence
Include category label & hint, X/A/B status, your position
Politically, Congress’s use of compromise only “kicked the can down the road” only postponed the issue of slavery, causing the strongest cause of the Civil War…..
Only slightly less defining, cultural differences regarding demographics and social beliefs helped create distinct sections….
Compare and contrast the reforms efforts of the abolitionists, women’s rights, and temperance movements.

11. Step 1: Deconstruct, Brainstorm (3-5 Minutes)
Identify the Who / What / When / Where / Skill
Decide Categories / Position
Given (Domestic/Foreign, Women/African Americans/Indians)
Not given  Political, Social, Economic
Categorize Outside Evidence

12. Step 2: Read/Analyze the Docs (10-12 minutes)
Look at source  What do you already know?
Outside Evidence
Analyze doc  Purpose, POV, Audience
Analyze Image  Context
Categorize
Women  W African Americans  AA
Political  P Economic  E Social  S
Position-ize
Did  + Didn’t  -

13. Step 3: Merge Docs with Outline (1 minute)
Add document numbers to outline
At least one document per category
Adjust thesis, if necessary

14. DBQ Essay Structure (40 minute)
Context / Thesis
X Paragraph
1-2 Documents, 1 Piece of Outside Evidence
Keep it short- this is your counter-argument, after all
A, B Paragraphs
2-3 Documents, 1-2 Pieces of Outside Evidence each
Sum up / Synthesis

15. Context / Thesis Contextualization (1 Point)
What generally had been going on in this era or previously with this general theme?
During the era of …., it was a time of ….
The United States had a history of …, during the era of … it had evolved/changed into…
Thesis (1 Point)
Use the prompt as a guide for your categories; Follow the formula
Even though X, A and B, therefore Y

16. Category / Body Paragraph Structure
Topic Sentence
Outside Evidence
First Document
Second Document
Third Document
Position Sentence