1. How to write a DBQ Essay

2. Understanding the documents  1. Who is speaking?  2. What is the date?  3. Is it a Primary or Secondary source of information?  What information is found in the document?  What other information do you know about in relation to this document?

3. How do I write a DBQ?  1. Read the directions on the page. Understand the historical context and the task.  2. Analyze and answer the questions after each document.  3. Create a box outline of the documents deciding which documents will be used to answer the task question.

4. How do I write a DBQ?  4. Determine how many paragraphs are needed in the essay.

5. How do I develop a thesis?  All document-based essays must have a thesis. A thesis is a statement of opinion about a topic. It is what you will write about and prove in your essay. The thesis statement is in your introduction to the essay.

6. How do I develop a thesis?  To create a thesis, you must use the task and tell the reader of the essay what you will be proving.  *Rewording the task is often as easy way to create a thesis statement because the task is what you are being asked to prove when you write the DBQ.

8. After you have your thesis…  You need to support the thesis in the body paragraphs!  When writing a DBQ, you may reference specific documents by using quotation marks.  **BE VERY CAREFUL TO NOT QUOTE THE WHOLE DOCUMENT**  Cite only what is needed

9. Body Paragraphs  Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence relating to the thesis.  At the end of the paragraph you MUST cite the document you are referencing (i.e document 2 or documents 3 and 4).

10. Outside information  Outside information is anything that is not found in the documents that you already know.  Outside information should be underlined or highlighted in your essay.  If you highlight- please make sure that it is in a light color so I can still read what you wrote.