1. DBQ – Back to the drawing Board
What does your DBQ need to do?
What should my thesis have?
What should I do with the documents?
What should I do about outside information?
What about Contextualization / Synthesis?

2. What does my DBQ need to do?
It’s a test question about 2 things:
1. Your historical knowledge.
2. Your ability to analyze historical documents.
You need to show
1. You understand the relevant history.
2. You can apply the documents to the relevant history.
If you do those 2 things, you’ll score well and everything else is gravy.

3. Let’s talk about the thesis…
A separate, brief, introductory paragraph that makes it clear that
1. You understand what the question is really asking. (All of the parts)
2. You have an understanding of the big ideas that are relevant to this question.
3. You have an answer; take a stand on the question.

4. What should I do with the documents?
Analyze the document, don’t just describe it.
Analysis = Evidence + Context
The document is the evidence, your job is to provide the context
The context is how the document relates to your argument (thesis)
Your analysis MUST include an explanation of how the document supports your thesis
Your analysis should include: 1 of the following: Intended Audience, Purpose, Historical Context, Author’s Point of View

5. What about Outside Information?
Remember – It is a history test. You need to prove that you know some history.
Show that you understand the big picture and can support the big picture with some specifics.
You need at least 3 ideas / facts that could not just be taken from the provided information.

6. Outside information (cont.)
When analyzing documents, you explain how the documents relate to an important piece of outside information.
When analyzing the speaker of documents, demonstrate that you know things about the speaker.
Don’t just name drop / fact bomb.
Explain how the fact connects to thesis.

7. What about Contextualization and Synthesis?
These don’t matter if you haven’t done the other parts well.
If you do the other parts very well, these parts may have already happened.
Remember You need to show
1. You understand the relevant history.
2. You can apply the documents to the relevant history.
Synthesis = Demonstrates understanding of the complexity of the issue.
Contextualization = Demonstrates that you understand where this historical episode fits into the overall scope of US History
How is this episode similar / different to other things that have happened in US History.

8. Example: The document you are given is an excerpt from the Gettysburg Address.
Your analysis of the document includes a reference to the House Divided speech. You address historical context by explaining why Lincoln said different things, at different times for different audiences / purposes.
You have hit Outside Information, Context, Audience, Purpose AND contextualization

9. What needs to be in a DBQ? Thesis that takes a stand.
Don’t be overly flowery
Don’t hesitate to underline your primary thesis sentence.
General knowledge about how the question relates to the overall time period, context
Some specific Outside Knowledge that highlights the General Knowledge
Demonstrated understanding of how the documents connect to the thesis

10. DBQ Grading – New Style 7 Points
1 Point - Thesis
0-4 Use of Docs
1 Point - Broader Historical Context
1 Point - Synthesis

11. 1 Point for Thesis Address all parts of the question.
Take a stand / make an argument.
Demonstrates understanding of what question REALLY asks.
Do not JUST restate the question.

12. 4 Points – Use of Docs / Outside Info
Use 6 documents (all but 1)
Connect docs to thesis (analysis = evidence + context)
For each one address one of the following
Audience, Purpose, Context, P.O.V.
1 More Point – Use of relevant OUTSIDE Information -

13. 1 Point - Contextualization
Connects this argument, and documents to broader historical context of the time

14. 1 Point – Synthesis (Demonstrates complexity of understanding)
Accounts for contradictory arguments
Connect to another historical period / episode / circumstance
Appropriately modifies the stated argument or thesis

15. DBQ 101 - Reading the Question
Read and highlight the question:
Look for Question action words like agree / disagree – Why – Demonstrate – to what extent - evaluate – assess - discuss
Note any dates referenced in the question – What is going on at that time period? When is the date in relation to the big 12? –
Note any people / events / terms referenced in the question.
Re-write the question in your own words focusing on “What is it really asking?”
Blurb! Make a stream of consciousness list of ideas / terms / considerations that pop into your head in relation to the question
Go back and read the question again – does anything from your blurb list make you re-consider what the question is all about?
Now read the documents and ask yourself how the documents relate to the items from your blurb / parts of the question

16. 1977
The debate over the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 revealed bitter controversies on a number of issues. Discuss the issues involved and explain why these controversies developed.

17. Using the documents Remember – Analysis = Evidence + Context
YOUR JOB – Provide the context – Explain how the evidence relates to the bigger picture
Crucial to address time / audience / purpose

18. Why do I ask you to SOAPSTone?
What does it mean to Analyze the Docs v. Describe them?
If analysis = evidence + context – then Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose are all the context…..
Who is saying something and WHEN matters.
Example: A coach with 3 Superbowl rings makes a controversial call at the end of the game that results in a loss. V. A rookie head coach with a losing record makes the same call with the same results….

19. You should refer to the documents in context.
Contextualizing Doc References
You can assume the reader is familiar with them, but you should not assume the reader has them memorized.
+ Showing you understand why the SPEAKER is important is part of your analysis….
You should refer to the documents in context.

20. NEVER begin with: In Document 3, …
How to Reference a Document in Your Essay
Thomas Paine, in his pamphlet, Common Sense, said: “………………….”
Joe Smith, a mid-Western delegate to the Republican convention in 1912, agreed with…..
The 19c historian, Frederick Jackson Turner, felt that …………………. (Doc. E)
NEVER begin with: In Document 3, …

21. DBQ – Document Red Flags
Overquoting – You do not need a direct quote from the documents you use
Quotes you do use should be short and targetted. (Less than a line)
Using the documents just to describe.
Not just what …. SO WHAT

22. THE BIG BUT In most DBQs you are asked to make generalizations.
Keep in mind that no generalization is perfect, you need to ID and address the big BUT…
This is “Understanding the Complexity of the Issue”

23. Common Mistakes
Discribing v. Analysing
IdentiFy Source’s – Context of who is saying It and why they would say that at that time
The “why these controversies developed” part of the question
Ignoring chronology
Confuzing Ratification era Federalists v. Anti-Feduralists with Federalists v. Dem-Rep
Federalists v. Antifederalists is SO …. Not appropriate in 1795
If language is deliberately inflammatory … that matters
“Womanish attachment to France”
“Anglican, monarchical”
Hamilton document that criticized A/S is a big BUT
Slander v. Freedom of Press (do we know Zenger?)
Bipartisan v. Partisan