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Document Based Question (DBQ) Essay Writing Activity

A Document Based Essay will be part of your AP US History Test in May. There will only be ONE DBQ on theExam, which counts 25% of your total score. Learning the skills required to master this form of writing will help you earn a better score. There are practice DBQ’s in the back of your American Pageant textbook. The required DBQ differs from the standard essays in its emphasis on the ability to analyze and synthesize historical data, and use verbal, quantitative, or pictorial materials as historical evidence to support your argument. The DBQ will also be judged on your ability to analyze the documents (HIPP) AND to use them appropriately as evidence in your argument.

The DBQ will require students to show mastery of one of the four types of questions: Cause/Effect, Turning Point, Compare/Contrast, and Continuity & Change Over Time. Outside knowledge is also very important and must be incorporated into the student’s essay if the highest scores are to be earned. You should NOT QUOTE directly from the Documents and you SHOULD you parenthetical citation to cite your use of documents (Doc. A). Your essay should be constructed to earn maximum points based on the DBQ Rubric (See DBQ Rubric & Outline).

Look at the DBQ’s on pages A114-A115. We will examine this DBQ in this exercise.

  1. Carefully read the Prompt for the DBQ (Clue-Prompt is in bold). Analyze exactly what the prompt is asking you to do. Note: Pay attention to the time period (dates-context). Before you examine the documents, Write a Preliminary Thesis:
  1. Carefully examine each document that accompanies the DBQ prompt. For each document, complete the “HIPPO” Analysis: Historical Context, Intended Audience, Purpose, Point of View of Author,Outside information.

Document A:

  1. Historical Context (Time Period, Date, Topic): ______.
  1. Intended Audience: ______.
  1. Purpose (Purpose of Author): ______.
  1. Point of View-Author (bias? Perspective?): ______.

5. Outside Information related to the time period, document, question but,NOTfound anywhere in the DBQ. (Specific Historical Term-Based Evidence required related to the document):

a)

b)

Document B:

  1. Historical Context: ______.
  1. Intended Audience: ______.
  1. Purpose: ______.
  1. Point of View-Author: ______.

5. Outside Information related to the time period and document but NOT found in the document. (Specific Evidence Explained in relation to the document):

a)

b)

Document C:

  1. Historical Context: ______.
  1. Intended Audience: ______.
  1. Purpose: ______.
  1. Point of View-Author: ______.

5. Outside Information related to the time period and document but NOT found in the document. (Specific Evidence Explained in relation to the document):

a)

b)

Document D:

  1. Historical Context: ______.
  1. Intended Audience: ______.
  1. Purpose: ______.
  1. Point of View-Author: ______.

5. Outside Information related to the time period and document but NOT found in the document. (Specific Evidence Explained in relation to the document):

a)

b)

Document E:

  1. Historical Context: ______.
  1. Intended Audience: ______.
  1. Purpose: ______.
  1. Point of View-Author: ______.

5. Outside Information related to the time period and document but NOT found in the document. (Specific Evidence Explained in relation to the document):

a)

b)

Document F:

  1. Historical Context: ______.
  1. Intended Audience: ______.
  1. Purpose: ______.
  1. Point of View-Author: ______.

5. Outside Information related to the time period and document but NOT found in the document. (Specific Evidence Explained in relation to the document):

a)

b)

Document G:

  1. Historical Context: ______.
  1. Intended Audience: ______.
  1. Purpose: ______.
  1. Point of View-Author: ______.

5. Outside Information related to the time period and document but NOT found in the document. (Specific Evidence Explained in relation to the document):

a)

b)