1. Aim: How can I get a 5 on the AP World DBQ Essay?
Your Essay Question: Using the documents, analyze Han and Roman attitudes toward technology. Identify one additional type of document and explain briefly how it would help your analysis.

2. Directions
The following question is based on the accompanying Documents 1-8.
In your response you should do the following:
Thesis: Present a thesis that makes a historically defensible claim and responds to all parts of the question. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place, either in the introduction or the conclusion.
Argument Development: Develop and support a cohesive argument that recognizes and accounts for historical complexity by explicitly illustrating relationships among historical evidence such as contradiction, corroboration, and/or qualification.
Use of the Documents: Utilize the content of at least six of the documents to support the stated thesis or a relevant argument.
Sourcing the Documents: Utilize the content of at least six of the documents to support the stated thesis or a relevant argument.

3. Directions Continued…
Contextualization: Situate the argument by explaining the broader historical events, developments, or processes immediately relevant to the question.
Outside Evidence: Provide an example or additional piece of specific evidence beyond those found in the documents to support or qualify the argument.
Synthesis: Extend the argument by explaining the connections between the argument and ONE of the following.
A development in a different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area.
A course theme and/or approach to history that is not the focus of the essay (such as political, economic, social, cultural, or intellectual history).
A different discipline or field of inquiry (such as economics, government and politics, art history, or anthropology).

4. Document 1
Source: Han government official, writing to local officials concerning flood prevention, early second century B.C.E.
I request that you establish water conservation offices in each district and staff them with people who are experienced in the ways of water. There should be one high official and one deputy with just enough workers to meet the need. For the area on both sides of each river select one person as chief hydraulic engineer. Order inspections of the waterways, the walls of the cities and their suburbs, the dikes and rivers, canals and pools, and government buildings and cottages, and supply enough workers to those who are to carry out the repair work in each district.

5. Document 2
Source: Huan Guan, Han government official, Discourses on Salt and Iron, first century B.C.E.
In earlier times workers were allowed to do both foundry work and salt-boiling as long as they reported the work and paid a tax. Tools manufactured by individual families to do this work were well-made. Today the iron tools that workers are required to use are produced by the state using convict labor; these tools are often crude and not very functional. In previous times the tools manufactured by workers for their own use and for sale were of excellent quality. Now that the state has monopolized the salt and iron trades, most of the tools provided to the workers are hard and brittle and the responsible government officials are often not available to take complaints. Good implements are hard to come by. Salt and iron are now sold at very high prices by the state and many common people cannot afford to buy either. Some of the poorest peasants now have no choice but to till the soil with wooden plows and cannot afford salt to season their food.

6. Document 3
Source: Huan Tan, upper-class Han philosopher, New Discourses, about 20 C.E.
Fuxi* invented the pestle and the mortar. Later on, the pestle and the mortar were cleverly improved in such a way that the whole weight of the body could be used, thus increasing the efficiency ten times. In time, the power of animals—donkeys, mules, oxen and horses—was added. Later, water power was also applied, and the benefit was increased a hundredfold.
*Fuxi is a mythological wise emperor.

7. Document 4
Source: History of the Early Han Dynasty (government- sponsored history), about 200 C.E.
Tu Shih was appointed governor of Nanyang [about 31 C.E.]. He was a generous man and his policies were peaceful. He destroyed evil-doers and established the dignity of his office. Good at planning, Tu Shih loved the common people and wished to save their labor. He invented a water-powered blowing-engine for the casting of iron agricultural implements that allowed people to enjoy great benefit for little labor. His invention has been widely adopted and used.

8. Document 5
Source: Cicero, upper-class Roman political leader, On Duty, first century B.C.E.
Now, as to which crafts and other means of earning a living are suitable for a gentleman to practice and which are degrading, we have been taught more or less the following: Vulgar and unbecoming to a gentleman are all the jobs hired workers take on, whose labor is purchased rather than their skill. All craftsmen spend their time in vulgar occupations; no workshop can have anything enlightening about it.

9. Document 6
Source: Plutarch, Greek-born Roman citizen and high official, describing second-century B.C.E. Roman political leader Gaius Gracchus, first century C.E.
He was especially anxious about road building, paying attention to utility as well as to that which was beneficial to grace and beauty. For the roads were carried straight through the country without wavering, and were paved with quarried stone, and made solid with masses of tightly packed sand. Hollows were filled up and bridges were built across whatever wintry streams or ravines cut the roads. And both sides were an equal and parallel height with the result that the road for its entire course had a level and beautiful appearance. Besides these things, he measured the whole road mile by mile and set up stone columns as distance indicators. He also placed other stones on either side of the road at lesser intervals so that it would be easier for those who had horses to mount them from the stones without requiring a groom to help.

10. Document 7
Source: Seneca, upper-class Roman philosopher and adviser to Emperor Nero, first century C.E.
I do not believe that tools for the crafts were invented by wise men. The question of whether the hammer or the tongs came first does not seem important to me. Both were invented by someone with a mind that was nimble and sharp, but not great or elevated.

11. Document 8
Source: Frontinus, Roman general, governor of Britain, and water commissioner for the city of Rome, first century C.E.
All the aqueducts reach the city at different elevations. Six of these streams flow into covered containers, where they lose their sediment. Their volume is measured by means of calibrated scales. The abundance of water is sufficient not only for public and private uses and applications but truly even for pleasure. The water is distributed to various regions inside and outside the city, to basins, fountains and public buildings, and to multiple public uses.
Compare such numerous and indispensable structures carrying so much water with the idle pyramids, or the useless but famous works of the Greeks.

12. Document 1 SUBJECT OCCASION AUDIENCE PURPOSE SPEAKER TONE (POV)
Han official is ordering local officials on how to organize their labor force with use of technology in order to prevent disaster from floods
OCCASION
China, early 2nd century B.C.E.
AUDIENCE
Local Han officials
PURPOSE
To make sure the government is maintaining public works and controlling floods
To convey idea that technology is essential part of empire and requires government intervention
SPEAKER
Han government official
TONE (POV)
Shows concern for people and property; gives the impression that technology is there to aid the Chinese (urgent, straightforward/organized)

13. Document 5
SUBJECT
Cicero is stating that the jobs of craftsmen and hired workers that work with hands are “vulgar” and unbecoming; says that gentlemen do not work with their hands
OCCASION
Italy, 1st century B.C.E.
AUDIENCE
Other upper class men
PURPOSE
To distinguish between quality professions and vulgar professions
SPEAKER
Cicero, upper class Roman political leader
TONE (POV)
Lacks respect for inventions and inventors (craftsmen); technology is necessary, but not for enlightened minds

14. GROUPING THE DOCUMENTS
Make a list of all the characteristics that are shared by more than one document or author. Note: Documents can belong in more than one group, because documents have more than one characteristic. In fact, excellent essays often have one document that is simultaneously organized into three or four groups of documents. Group the documents in at least three ways.
THINK ABOUT…
How are some of the documents related?
What do they have in common?
You must do more than simply say they are Han or Roman documents.
COMMON GROUPINGS:
Social class of author
Philosophers vs. officials
Pro-technology vs. con-technology
Role of government in relation to technology

16. DBQ RUBRIC
Points
1. Presents a thesis that makes a historically defensible claim and responds to all parts of the question (does more than re-state). 1
2. Develops and supports a cohesive argument [presumably supporting the thesis] that recognizes and accounts for historical complexity by explicitly illustrating relationships among historical evidence such as contradiction, corroboration, and/or qualification.
3. USES the content of at least SIX of the documents to support the stated thesis or a relevant argument
4. EXPLAINS the significance of author’s POV, context, audience, and/or purpose for at least FOUR documents.
5. Situates the argument by explaining the broader historical events, developments, or processes immediately relevant to the question. (HISTORICAL CONTEXT)

17. DBQ RUBRIC
Points
6. Provides an example or additional piece of specific evidence beyond those found in the documents to support or qualify the argument. Must be 1) distinct from evidence used to earn other points and 2)more than a mere phrase or reference. 1
7. SYNTHESIS: Extends the argument by explaining the connections between the argument and:
A development in a different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area
OR A course theme and/or approach to history that is not the focus of the essay (political, social, etc.)
OR A different discipline or field of inquiry (such as econ, gov & politics, art history, or anthropology

18. THESIS EXAMPLE
Han China’s attitude toward manufacturing and labor was more open and positive than the Romans who had a more systematic and class-divided society, therefore causing general attitudes of labor and technology to be low. This thesis not only summarizes, it also compares the differences in attitude and even includes an analysis of the reasons behind those differences. The Han dynasty emphasized efficiency in their tools, as well as using technology to prevent natural disasters. The Romans, however, marveled at their civilization’s advancements, yet refused to glorify those who work with tools and crafts. This thesis characterizes each empire’s attitude toward technology, along with comparing the two empires’ attitudes (which is not required).

19. Using the Documents as Evidence
Don’t start sentences or paragraphs with “Document #___ says”. Doing this is setting yourself up for a summary or paraphrasing of a document. DO Use the Author and the Name of the Work to refer to a document “John Smith in his book The History of the World said…(Doc. #____)”

20. Using the Documents as Evidence
Example of supporting a thesis with a document: “Huan Guan embodies the Confucian Han view that technology is good, as long as the government uses technology to benefit the people. Crude or brittle tools are of no help, and reflect poorly on the government.” Example of showing POV: “This is interesting because although you would expect a Han government official to praise the current government and its decisions, Huan Guan is instead opposed to the current government and shows concern for the peasants.”

21. OUTLINING YOUR ESSAY 1ST PARAGRAPH Introduction Thesis BODY X 3
1.Topic sentence should state the GROUP.
2.Remainder of paragraph should individually address documents. 3.Point of view of at least four documents should be addressed.
4. EACH paragraph must include documents from the Rome AND the Han.
5. EACH paragraph must include “outside information” AND analysis.
CONCLUSION
Restate thesis
Add HISTORICAL CONTEXT if you didn’t in your intro.
SYNTHESIS: Connect your thesis to another time or place.

22. Outlining Your Essay Intro Paragraph
Thesis: The Han dynasty emphasized efficiency in their tools, as well as using technology to prevent natural disasters. The Romans, however, marveled at their civilization’s advancements, yet refused to glorify those who work with tools and crafts. Add Historical Context: What else was going on at this time? - Silk Road  increased trade & cultural diffusion - Other Classical era empires such as the Gupta

23. Outlining Your Essay 2nd and 3rd Paragraphs
Follow the order of your thesis, and use your groups to organize your documents.
EACH paragraph must include documents from the Rome AND the Han.
EACH paragraph must include “outside information” AND analysis.

24. ANALYZE POINT-OF-VIEW
Ask yourself…
Who is the author of the source?
Why might this person have this particular opinion?
Analyze point-of-view for at least FOUR DOCUMENTS.
Attribution is not sufficient.
Point of view comes from THREE SOURCES:
1.AUTHOR’S FRAME OF REFERENCE (nationality, gender, age, religion, occupation, political background, education, personal experience).
2.Historical Context – time in which it was written.
3.Tone – use of the language.
I do not believe that tools for the crafts were invented by wise men. The question of whether the hammer or the tongs came first does not seem important to me. Both were invented by someone with a mind that was nimble and sharp, but not great or elevated.
- Seneca, upper-class Roman philosopher and adviser to Emperor Nero, first century C.E.

25. Your Conclusion Add HISTORICAL CONTEXT if you didn’t in your intro.
SYNTHESIS: Connect your thesis to another time or place.
EXAMPLE: Attitudes towards technology in America today is similar to those of the Han and Romans. While many Americans laud advancements of modern medicine, computer technology and space exploration, there are naysayers who believe social media and overreliance on technology is hurting our society and morals.