Dbq Writing Tips

Document Based and Essay Writing Tips 8-Step Strategy 1. Read the question three times . Do not move on until you fully understand it.

2. Identify the task by circling the main words. (For example: assess the validity, compare and contrast, evaluate relative importance, analyze the significance, etc.)

3. Ask yourself “what do I have to prove?” (E.g. Foreign policy is more important than domestic policy).

4. Pay special attention to economic, political, and social issues that need to be included.

5. Make a list (outline) of outside information (as if you were writing a standard essay).

6. Examine the documents, underlining any key words or phrases that you may use later in the essay. Reread the question again after reading the first three documents.

7. Construct a thesis that is well-developed and clear. If the thesis is a mystery to the writer, it will be a mystery to the reader!

8. Write your essay.

Some Key Points to Remember:  Start with outside information first & write it down; then read the documents; then construct a thesis.  Make your life easier by constructing a thesis that can reasonably include most/ all of the documents (even if you don’t really believe your thesis). It is better to be “practical” than “right.”  Use as many documents as you can as long as they fit your thesis.  Don’t explain documents -- that is not your task! AP readers have a list and a summary for each document. Use documents to reinforce your main points and outside information.  Don’t rewrite large portions of documents. Try to limit quotations to 1 sentence or less.  Reference author’s you are citing (e.g. …“In the letter by Abraham Lincoln”)  Cite documents used, e.g., (Doc. A), (Doc. F) DBQ Dos & Don'ts

Don't do the following things Do the following things with a DBQ with a DBQ Read carefully and make sure you understand the Respond to a question that isn't question being asked. asked. Quickly jot down the major themes/events/people Use "I" statements such as "I think you associate with this topic or question. that Document A portrays..." Summarize the documents. The Read over the documents, noting the year and reader knows the content of the author/source of each one. If the document seems to documents and is interested in how support or oppose a possible perspective or opinion you view the document relating to the on the question, note that in the margin. question. Quote long passages from the Write out a preliminary thesis and outline of your documents. Use an ellipsis "..." if you major points. need to quote. Try to impress the reader with big As you begin to write, remember to weave the words that are used incorrectly. This documents into your answer, always focusing on the has the opposite effect of what is thesis. intended. Spend so much time reading and Include your knowledge of the era along with your underlining the documents that you analysis of the documents. have to rush your writing. Begin writing your answer until you Be sure to include your own analysis/perspective on have a good sense of your thesis and the question. how you want to approach the question. Write "I ran out of time" on the If you can knowledgeably quote or refer to an bottom of your essay. You had as historian who has a perspective on this question, much time as every test-taker in include his or her perspective. America. Keep an eye on the clock so that you can have time to re-read your essay for any obvious technical errors. Be as specific as possible when you include historical information. Be assertive and forceful in making your points.