DBQ writing What to do with your DBQ?

THE QUESTIONS Each DBQ has one BIG question (your essay question) Each DOCUMENT has one, sometimes two questions to be answered (called scaffolding questions) The DOCUMENTS will help you write your ESSAY

Pre-writing BRAINSTORM! Read the dbq question Write down everything you remember about the topic before you read the documents

READ! When you see the documents READ each question first! THEN go in and READ the document Circle and translate unknown words UNDERLINE words in the document that can help you answer the question Many times the answer is right in the document

Outline Create a simple chart to organize your ideas and documents Example of Civilization Document Number Outside Information

INTRODUCTION THIS IS THE FIRST PARAGRAPH IN YOUR ESSAY THE INTRODUCTION – INTRODUCES YOUR TOPIC – CIVILIZATION IN AFRICA BEFORE EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM THE INTRODUCTION SHOULD PROVIDE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE TOPIC AND CONTAIN YOUR THESIS STATEMENT

YOUR THESIS Your THESIS is the most important sentence in your introduction Your THESIS tells the reader what you will be writing about in your essay A good THESIS does not re-state the question, it ANSWERS THE QUESTION Your THESIS should be the last sentence in your introduction paragraph

BODY PARAGRAPHS THE NUMBER OF BODY PARAGRAPHS IS DETERMINED BY HOW YOU ORGANIZE YOUR ESSAY EACH BODY PARAGRAPH WILL DISCUSS AN EXAMPLE OF CIVILIZATION PRE-IMPERIALISM EACH BODY PARAGRAPH SHOULD BEGIN WITH A TOPIC SENTENCE YOU NEED TO INCLUDE INFORMATION FROM THE DOCUMENTS IN YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS YOU ALSO NEED OUTSIDE INFORMATION IN YOUR ESSAY

Conclusion The conclusion is the last paragraph of your essay It should begin with your thesis statement Your conclusion should recap the main ideas of your essay

RE-READ! then ANSWER! RE-READ the question one more time ANSWER the question WRITE in COMPLETE SENTENCES