How to do a DBQ

DBQ  Document Based Question  Five paragraph essay  Using primary and secondary sources  Text, pictures, photographs, coins, maps, basically anything.

Step One  Read the questions or prompt.  Does the prompt ask you to look for specific items? Culture, technology, government, belief systems, art, or trade?  Underline the key words. Explain Analyze Describe Quantify Identify

Step Two  Read/examine each document  Underline/highlight important words or phrases that connect to the prompt  Jot down notes next to the document Does the document remind you of something you know? Does it tie in with vocabulary you’ve learned in class?  Come up with a word or a phrase that sums up the document- WRITE THAT DOWN!

Step Three  Categorize the documents into at least three groups  Use your topic phrases as a guide for categories  Documents can be used in more than one category CULTUREPOLITICSRELIGION

Step Four  Compose a thesis statement  The thesis should answer/address the prompt  Make sure to include your three document category titles in your thesis. The Egyptians used the Nile River as the basis of their culture, politics, and religion.

Step Five  Introduce your essay  The last sentence of your first paragraph should be your thesis.  Remember! The intro paragraph is not a place to introduce facts and information.

Step Six  Topic sentence  Sentence providing a fact/information from documents (cite).  Sentence of commentary analysis (a good spot for bias analysis)  Sentence providing a fact/information from documents (cite).  Sentence of commentary analysis.  Sentence providing a fact/information from documents (cite).  Sentence of commentary analysis.  Transition sentence.

WASH RINSE REPEAT

Step Seven  Conclusion Include missing points of view Explain how these new povs would help you to better address the topic  Restate thesis statement  DON’T INTRODUCE ANY NEW INFORMATION!!