1. How to Write a DBQ Essay
The WHAP Way!

2. 1) Analyze the Question Circle the subject Underline the verb
Bracket the boundaries or limits

3. 2) Read Attributions & DOCS
ATTRIBUTION-phrase, info that identifies and describes the author/origin of a DOC
AND gives insight to understanding of POV
In the source line, circle anything “suspicious” that you think might have influenced the author/doc
As you read the DOCS, look for a pattern
Look for ways you can put DOCS in logical groups
SLOSAP analysis of each DOC

4. 3) Pre Write
Decide what your categories will be and write them in the blank white space in the “green book”
Political Economic Social
1,4 2,6 3,5
Group DOCS by category
Remember a single DOC can fall in more than one group
Remember, a group can consist of only 1 DOC
Write a practice THESIS

5. 3.a) Thesis Has the categories named Takes a stand
Answers the Question
All parts of the question
Time Period (not required) makes the THESIS stronger!

6. 4) INTRO paragraph THESIS statement/sentence/s
Time Period/Occasion/Event that caused the need for the DOCS to be written
Don’t forget to identify your various groups that you put the DOCS in!

7. 5) 3 or 4 Body Paragraphs
EACH paragraph must tie back to the categories (grouping) in the Thesis Statement
This is where you discuss each of the DOCS you put in that group and how they support your thesis
EACH paragraph explain POV of at least ONE DOC!
Explain WHAT might have influenced the Speaker of the Particular Document in terms of POV or BIAS!

8. 6) Conclusion
Explain what 2 additional DOCs or Points of View would have helped you support your thesis.
HOW would they help
Think about whose POV is missing
WHY would that POV be important to the question
Restate your THESIS in a different way

9. How to Reference a DOC
Marco Polo, European Traveler, in his “collected letters” (DOC 1) stated,”….”
The Greek Historian Herodotus in his
“History of the Persian Wars” (DOC 5) referred to…..
The Byzantine Emperor in his “Edict on Taxes” (DOC 3) instructed…..

10. Larry Bell’s Twelve Power Words
Support
Back it up
Prove
Explain
Teach me or show me
Tell the steps
Summarize
Tell the main idea
Tell the beginning, middle, and end of
Predict
Hypothesize
Make an educated (smart) guess
Compare
Tell ALL THE WAYS they are the same AND All the ways they are different
Contrast
Tell ALL the ways they are different
Trace
Outline
Follow the path
Analyze
Break down into parts
Tell about the parts
Infer
Read between the lines
What is the hidden meaning
Evaluate
Tell the good and the bad
Judge it
Formulate
Create
Put together
Describe
Tell me about
Paint a picture in words

11. There are 300 ways to say “SAID”
Find a better word for “Said”:
Implies, confesses, suggests, contents, declares, remarks, reports, affirms, hints, maintains, proposes, comments, observes, implores, responds, insists, writes, alleges, asserts, admits, discloses, insinuates, reveals, demands, explains, emphasizes, proclaims, insists, acknowledges, concedes, replies, divulges, argues