Writing a Document-Based Question (DBQ) Essay

Examples of Historical Documents (Copy into notes.) Political statement (Declaration of Independence) Maps Newspaper & magazine articles Graphs & Charts Biography or autobiography Paintings, engravings, and photographs Political cartoons Non-fiction book of a historical event Artifacts Letters and Diaries Sculptures Constitutions Architecture Scriptures Medical texts Excerpts – quotations from written documents

Reading Documents Read all directions carefully. Name: ________________________ Global Studies _____, Period ______ Reading Documents Read all directions carefully. Read the question that is associated with each document. Underline/highlight key words like: How Why When Who What Where

Study the document carefully. Legends and keys on maps and charts should be read through at least twice to be sure that you are clear what the chart map/chart is teaching you. Read labels on political cartoons carefully; many times they help give clues to “solve” the cartoon.

3. Answer the question asked in sentence form 3. Answer the question asked in sentence form. Some responses will need more than one sentence. 4. Be sure to shadow the question in your response. For example: - What is the capital of Louisiana? - The capital of Louisiana is Baton Rouge. - How does geography affect culture? - One way geography affects culture is by the language a people develop. 5. Be sure to refer to the document clearly .

Document 1 Answer The diagram clearly shows goods buried with the deceased, so people from Neolithic times probably practiced a belief in the after-life.

Document 2 Answer The mural shows a man with the head of a bird. He, along with Isis, are probably gods which would most likely classify Egypt’s religion as polytheistic.

Copy into Notes: DO NOT DIRECTLY QUOTE FROM THE DOCUMENT. STATE THE IDEAS IN YOUR OWN WORDS. This shows comprehension.

Document 3 Answer God commands the Israelites to stop being polytheistic and to honor only one God according to the quotation.

lion horse

Document 4 Answer This relief shows King Ashurbanipal high up on his horse killing the lion with his bare hands practically. This makes him a great warrior and proves that he was picked by the gods to rule.

Essay Topic 4

Beginning to Write the Essay Take the main idea of the question and write a thesis statement in your own words. A thesis states the purpose of your essay. For example: As societies began to understand their relationships among themselves and their environments, their spiritual beliefs began to become more complex and even differed from other societies. The underlined text states what each body paragraph will be about. From here, you will write each body paragraph that uses at least one document that supports your underlined point. When using written documents, paraphrase, which state what the documents states IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

Outside Information that goes with Doc. 1 Egyptians – buried pharaohs with prized possessions in pyramids Shang China – oracle bones used to communicate with dead ancestors to predict the future Greece – if not buried properly, a person could not get to the afterlife; 2 coins over the eyes to pay for the passage over the River Styx to get to afterlife Zoroaster (Persia) – good life = good afterlife

Outside Information that goes with Doc. 2 Greeks – polytheistic as well Human forms & emotions Were not afraid – different from other cultures Gods responsible for different things in nature plagues Egypt – pharaoh = god

Outside Information that goes with Doc. 3 Judaism – covenant with Abraham Monotheism Christianity Islam Code of morality – Ten Commandments Scriptures - Torah

Outside Information that goes with Doc. 4 Polytheistic Mesopotamian kings = high priest of the religion Gods chose him to be king Also, Mandate of Heaven – Shang China

Outline the Essay Thesis: Many ancient civilizations shared common spiritual and religious beliefs. Many civilizations from earlier times had some similar religious beliefs and customs. Many ancient civilizations had similar religious beliefs.

BP 1 Topic Sentence These civilizations were alike in that they shared a belief in the afterlife. Document For example, Document 1 - gravesite Outside Information Furthermore, the ancient Egyptians buried their pharaohs with all of their treasures and belongings to use and prosper in the afterlife.

BP 2 Topic Sentence Another way that ancient civilizations were similar spiritually was that many were polytheistic. Document For example, Document 2 – gods Isis and Ra Outside Information In addition, the ancient Greeks competed in the Olympics in order impress and honor Zeus, their chief deity. In the Greeks case, they saw their gods as having human qualities.

Writing the Essay (Don’t panic.) Thesis statement: Ancient civilizations shared some similar beliefs in their religion and spiritual beliefs. Throughout history many civilizations have had common spiritual beliefs. The religious beliefs were similar because all these civilization like the Egyptians and Persians had or shared the same beliefs in one or more Gods. --- 1. no because – body 2. too specific – not just about gods 3. summarize whole essay in one sentence

BODY PARAGRAPH 1 Topic Sentence 1: (This topic sentence will be the 1st way you will show your thesis.) Throughout history, a number of civilizations developed their own beliefs in the afterlife.

Document that backs up this topic sentence, stated in your own words: For example, the diagram of the burial site clearly shows goods buried with the deceased, so people from Neolithic times probably practiced a belief in the afterlife.

Outside knowledge that elaborates on document and commentary: Furthermore, the Ancient Egyptians built elaborate pyramids and temples for their pharaohs to help them get to the afterlife.

BODY PARAGRAPH 2 Topic Sentence: (This topic sentence will be the 2nd way you will show your thesis.) Transitional Expression: In addition, certain civilizations practiced polytheism in order to explain why certain things in their environments happened.

Document that backs up this topic sentence, stated in your own words: For example, the ancient Egyptians believed that Ra, the sun god, gave them sunlight, which helped grow crops. He and other gods like Isis, as shown in the mural, controlled Egyptian life.

Outside knowledge that elaborates on document and commentary: Even though people like the Egyptians valued their many gods, the Israelites worshipped differently. For example, the Israelites believed in one, all-powerful God, who first revealed himself to the prophet Abraham. From the covenant God made with Abraham, Judaism was founded.

Conclusion: Transition: To conclude, religious beliefs were important in the lives of ancient peoples. In modern times, religious beliefs are still as important as they were in ancient times. These beliefs help to individualize societies and to create faiths that help understand everyday life and how to behave in it.