Five Steps to Writing a Good DBQ Essay

What is A DBQ essay question?

• Is a question based on a series of up to 10 documents? The documents may be letters, parts of speeches, photographs, cartoons, maps, charts, graphs, or other written records.

• The student is required to write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction and conclusion.

• The student is required to use evidence from the documents to support his or her response. A word of caution, the student should not just repeat or directly quote the information from the documents. Students must include specific historically relevant information not included in the documents.

A DBQ essay must have three parts:

-Introduction (beginning)

-Body (middle)

-Conclusion (ending)

DBQ Terms:

Historical context – background information about the topic of the essay.

Task – The question that the student needs to answer in the essay. Usually the task involves answering more than one thing.

Documents – Each DBQ has usually between 4 to 9 documents. A document can consist of an excerpt from a speech, a political cartoon, a graph or chart, etc..

Scaffolding questions – The questions that appear at the end of each document. On assessment and social studies exams the scaffolding questions are graded.

Outside information – Information that is not presented in the documents that must be included in the essay. This information can come from class notes, text, or even the brain. This information must be relevant to completing the task.

Document information – Information that is included in the documents that is used in the essay to complete the task. Students should try to use information from ALL the documents in the essay.

Thesis statement – The final sentence of the introduction that informs the reader of the direction of the essay will. This statement must relate to the task, all information presented in the essay should relate to the thesis statement.

Introductory paragraph – The first paragraph of the essay. The introduction should consist of at least four sentences and include the thesis statement at the end of the paragraph.

Body paragraphs – The paragraphs that follow the introduction and that precede the conclusion. The number of body paragraphs is dependent upon how many items the task is asking the writer to complete.

Conclusion – The final paragraph of the essay. This paragraph should begin by restating the thesis statement followed by three to four sentences.

Five Steps to writing a good DBQ essay:

Follow these steps as you write your DBQ essay.

1.Read the thesis statement and task carefully. (What is the question being asked?)

Do not look at the documents.

Underline the required tasks and the terms that are unique to the question. Count the number of tasks.

2. Brainstorm

-Write down ideas on what you already know about the topic before you look at the documents.

3. Read documents and answer questions

-Using a highlighter, point out items related to the question or thesis statement.

As you read the documents try to determine if the document describes a positive or negative effect and label accordingly with a P or N.

1. Prepare graphic organizer

-Using a pen and a pencil organize and mark down information related to your topic.

i.e. writing in pen for prior knowledge / writing in pencil for document information

A Brief Example:

Why European settlers moved west
Doc. / The impact of the railroad on the West
Doc. / The impact of western expansion on the Native Americans
Doc.
Gold was discovered in California
New Homes
Overcrowded cities and job offers of working on the railroad / 2
3, 6
PK / Safer than trips either by sea or wagon train
Pleasure or sport
Cut travel time from 3 months to one week / 4
5
PK / Killing the Indians
Loss of land
Failure of the Dawes Act / 7
7
PK

Cross out any prior knowledge in your graphic organizer that is in the documents. (in other words repetitive information)

Check for relevant outside information you will use in your document.

1. Write your essay

-Include all three parts / prior knowledge / document

DBQ HINT-- The author needs to thoroughly address all aspects of the task by accurately analyzing the document sources. The key for the amount of sources to use is { (n/2)+1 }. (in other words if 7 documents are presented you must use at least use four in your essay).

MAIN IDEA SENTENCE-

A sentence describing what you will be talking about in your essay or research paper (i.e. a road map).

 It can also be described as a statement of purpose, intent or main idea of an essay.

This sentence can also be called a thesis statement.

1. A thesis statement defines the focus of your essay
2. A thesis statement should reflect the point of view of your essay
3. A thesis statement prepares the reader for the facts and details you will you use.
4. A thesis statement does not have to be long or complicated.
5. The thesis statement can appear any where in the opening paragraph.



I.INTRODUCTION—The opening paragraph should accomplish two things: gain your reader’s interest in your subject, and identify the focus or thesis that you will develop in the main part of your essay.

Ways to draw your reader’s attention to your subject:

-Open with a series of questions about your topic.

-Define an important subject-related term.

-Present a startling or unusual fact or figure.

-Quote a well-known person or literary work.

- Provide an interesting story or anecdote about the subject.

-The three step method.

The three steps method:

-Begin with a very general statement.

-Become more specific with each sentence you write.

-End with the Main Idea Sentence (MIS), and be sure that it is very specific.

Having trouble writing an introduction for a historical essay or DBQ? Try this

Line 1: Place/Topic

Line 2: Specific Era/Time Period

Line 3: Theme

Line 4 : Thesis – must relate to task/question

Example:

Technological developments have had a tremendous impact on American history.

During the age of Industrialization, 1865- 1900, technological developments helped to

increase the nation’s economic output.During this time period, many of these developments effected people in different ways. New inventions, changes in transportation and communication and rapid economic growth had positive and negative results for the American people.

DBQ HINT--Use the historical context from your DBQ and/or your graphic organizer if you’re having trouble composing your introductory paragraph.

***Please Note— Do not copy the historical context word for word because you will lose points. (not to mention that it is plagiarism!)

II.BODY—The developmental paragraphs are the heart of the essay. They must clearly and logically support your thesis.

Parts of the body:

• Be sure to include topic sentence, supporting and outside information in the body sentences. Topic sentences should relate back to the thesis.
• Analyze and interpret the document accurately. Use them as evidence to support your thesis. Use as many as possible.
• Use information from the documents in the body of the essay but avoid long quotations.
• Cite your documents e.g. (Doc. 1)
• Incorporate outside information. (From your outline/block)
• All paragraphs should flow smoothly from one to the next (use transitions: in addition, as a result).

(Each body paragraph must include both outside information and document information relating to one part of the task. When using document information you must mention the document number, for example; Document 3 , an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, states the reasons why colonists wanted to break away from England. Be sure to start each paragraph with a topic sentence.)

DBQ HINT—Your supporting paragraphs should include:

• -Both document and prior knowledge information.
• -Summation of this similar information demonstrating analysis and synthesis.
• -Use of your graphic organizer and or outline to keep you focused.
• -Should be at least three paragraphs in length to support your thesis adequately.
• -Citing each document with the appropriate number at the end of a reference.

1. CONCLUSION—The closing or summary paragraph should tie all the important points in the essay together and draw a final conclusion for the reader.

The ending should:

-Leave the reader with a clear understanding of the essay topic.

-Restate your thesis statement and sum up the way the evidence backs up your thesis

-Include author reflection beyond repeating the thesis.

-Summarize the body paragraphs and provide brief examples if necessary to emphasize reflection.

-End with a clincher sentence. A clincher sentence leaves the reader with something to remember or think about (optional).

DBQ HINT— The conclusion of the theme and problem introduced in the thesis must be an established framework going beyond a restatement of the thesis, task or historical context. In other words, there must be a clear summation of the theme and problem.

Things to avoid when writing an essay:

1. Do not restate the task

1. Never write in the first person: “I feel...” “In my opinion...” “I will show...”

1. Never begin an essay with: “In this essay, I will show or write...”

1. Never address the reader directly: “as you see...”

1. Never use informal language or slang

1. Never end your essay with: “In conclusion...”
2. Avoid mixing past and present tenses.
3. Avoid the use of singular and plural in the same sentence
4. Alot is not a word. Do not use it when writing your essay.
5. Learn the difference between their (possession) and there (location, in a place).

1. Learn the difference between affect (to influence or change) and effect (a result of consequence, brought about by a cause)

1. Learn the difference between then (at that time, next in line, space, and order. “If it snows then bring your skis.”) andthan (used to introduce the second element or a clause of unequal comparison. “She is better than I.”)

Using Transitions to Connect Ideas in your DBQ and Thematic Essays

A transition is a word or a phrase that relates two parts of a piece of writing. Within paragraphs, transitions are used to connect sentences and, sometimes, parts of sentences. When you write for the Global History Regents Exam, make sure to use transitions to show how your ideas are connected to one another. The following are some transitions that you might find useful.

1. Transitions to show chronological order, or order in time:

First, second, finally, next, then, afterward, later, before, eventually, in the future, in the past, recently.

2. Transitions to show degree order:

more, less, most, least, most important, least important, more importantly

3. Transitions to show cause and effect order

one cause, another effect, as a result, consequently, therefore

4. Transitions to show comparison and contrast

likewise, similarly, in contrast, a different kind, unlike this, another difference

5. Transitions to introduce examples

for example, one example, one kind, one type, one sort, for instance

6. Transitions to introduce a contradiction

nonetheless, however, in spite of this, otherwise, instead, on the contrary

7.Transitions for classifications

another group, the first type, one kind, one type, one sort, for instance

8. Transitions to introduce a conclusion, summary, or generalization

 therefore, as a result, in summary, in general

Directions: Use the following rubric to help write your DBQ.

Question:

______

1. What is the time period of your question?

1. What does the question ask you to examine (specifically)

Document A

Source: ______

Reason for Use:

Document B

Source: ______

Reason for Use:

Document C

Source: ______

Reason for Use:

Document D

Source: ______

Reason for Use:

Document E

Source: ______

Reason for Use:

Outline sheet for DBQ Essay Writing

Question:

Paragraph One:
Important terms, people, events, & dates / Thesis Statement:
Underline your thesis statement in your essay.
Paragraph 2:
Main Idea:
Doc.#__ Fact 1: / Outside Fact 1:
Paragraph 3:
Main Idea:
Doc.#__ Fact 1: / Outside Fact 1:
Paragraph 4:
Main Idea:
Doc.#__ Fact 1: / Outside Fact 1:

Conclusion: Reaffirm your introduction.

Self-Evaluation Checklist:

Answer the following questions based upon your DBQ.

1.)Does the thesis statement indicate the direction of the essay? Does it relate to the task?

Yes _____No_____ If not, what is the thesis statement? ______

______

How many sentences comprise the introduction? ______

2.) What topic does the first body paragraph discuss? ______

*How many documents are used? ______

*Is outside information included? Yes _____ No _____

*Does the information in the paragraph relate to the task? Yes __ No___

*Does the paragraph provide supporting details and facts? Yes __ No ___

How might this paragraph be improved? ______

______

3.) What topic does the second body paragraph discuss? ______

*How many documents are used? ______

*Is outside information included? Yes _____ No _____

* Does the information in the paragraph relate to the task? Yes _ No_

*Does the paragraph provide supporting details and facts? Yes _ No _

How might this paragraph be improved? ______

______

4.) What topic does the third body paragraph discuss? ______

*How many documents are used? ______

*Is outside information included? Yes _ No _

* Does the information in the paragraph relate to the task? Yes _ No_

*Does the paragraph provide supporting details and facts? Yes _ No _

5.)How many different documents were used in the DBQ? _____

6.)Should more documents be used in this DBQ? Yes__No__

7.) Does the conclusion begin by restating the thesis? Yes __ No __

8.) In the space below comment on how you might improve this DBQ?