DBQs for Dummies (or smart people) How to approach one and write a solid essay.

What is a DBQ?  A DBQ stands for Document Based Question.  The purpose of a DBQ is to analyze documents to respond to a question.  A DBQ can actually be easier than a Free Response Question (Essay) if you know how to handle the documents effectively  What you need to include in your DBQ: 1.Thesis 2.Majority of Documents 3.Grouping of Documents 4.Assessing the Validity of the Authors’ POV

Step 1: Read the Background Information & Prompt  Read the background information. It will include some insight into what the question will be asking. Do not draw heavily from this in your essay, but use it as a way to help organize your thoughts.  Read the prompt carefully:  What is it asking? What type of essay will you have to write?  Common types of essays in DBQs: 1.Comparisons (Compare AND Contrast) 2.Change over Time 3.Analysis  What background information do you already know that can help you answer the question? This part is important. You need to include outside information in a DBQ to get a top score.

Step 2: Documents 1.Skim through the documents. 2.Read each document and analyze them for key things: 1.Source: 1.Primary or Secondary? 2.Who is the author? 3.When was it made/written? 2.Importance of the document 3.Point of View 3.Place the documents into groupings/categories 4.Establish relationships between/among the documents

Step 3: Document Analysis: Categories/Grouping  Geographic – dealing with the the relationships between people and the Earth  Social – The relationships and order/classes of people  Political – dealing with the government  Religious – the spiritual beliefs of a people  Intellectual (Arts) – the education and achievements of people  Technology – the advancements that make life easier for people.  Economics – the relationships of money and trade between people and countries.  Other – various other categories that might serve your purposes

Geography  Location  Physical (Natural)  Movement  Human Environment Interaction  Region

Social  Family  Gender Relations  Social Classes  Inequalities  Life Styles

Political  Leaders & Elites  State Structure  War, Diplomacy, & Treaties  Courts & Laws

Religion  Holy books/texts  Beliefs & Teachings  Conversion  Sin/Salvation  Deities

Intellectual/Arts  Art  Music  Writing & literature  Philosophy  Math & Science  Education & Academics

Economics  Type of System (Socialist, capitalist, etc.)  Technology & industry  Trade & commerce  Capital & money  Types of businesses

Document Analysis: Point of View  What is the Point of View (POV) of the author?  Is it a Primary or Secondary Source?  POV is all about establishing connections. When writing, a simple formula to use is: “It makes sense that (person) holds this position because he is (reason).”  Example: It makes sense that Hitler found Jews detestable because none of them would go on a date with him (note: this is not true. Probably.).  The following website does a good job of explaining how to use POV or explain bias in a DBQ: 

To Include in your Essay:  Provides an appropriate, explicitly stated thesis that directly addresses all parts of the question and does NOT simply restate the question.  Discusses a majority of the documents individually and specifically.  Demonstrates understanding of the basic meaning of a majority of the documents.  Supports the thesis with appropriate interpretations of a majority of the documents.  Analyzes the documents by explicitly grouping them in at least three appropriate ways.  Takes into account both the sources of the documents and the authors’ points of view.  You may refer to relevant historical information not mentioned in the documents.