Name ______Date ______

Tips for Writing a DBQ Essay

  • DO NOT list the documents, but rather weave them into your writing. Make a statement, and then support it with specific evidence from the documents
  • Analyze rather than repeat what is in the document. Ask yourself: what does this document have to do with the question or task?
  • POV analysis: Why did this person say/write/draw/compose this thing at this time and this place? How or why does that person's position in society influence what they are saying?
  • Additional document: Whose voice is missing and if it was present, what would it contribute to the analysis that is not already there? How would it be different from the sources you have?
  • Use other knowledge to supplement the documents
  • DO NOT quote from every document; rather explain what it means and what it implies for the topic.
  • Cite documents in parentheses when you are finished using it. If referring to a source in your writing, use the name of it or the name of the source
  • DO NOT use contractions in formal writing (didn’t=did not, couldn’t=could not, etc.)
  • DO NOT use “I” or “you”
  • Avoid using questions-turn them into statements
  • The topic sentence for each paragraph should indicate grouping

Sentence stems for POV analysis

“One must be cautious when examining this document because ______is ______and may be ______”

“One must note that ______is ______, so they may ______.”

“The reliability of this source is questionable because….”

“The point of view expressed in this document may be skewed because…”

Sentence stems for Additional Documents/Voices

“An additional document that would aid in analysis of this topic would be from the view of a ______because ______”

“It would be helpful to have a source from a ______because ______”

“In order to further explore this topic, a document from ______would be helpful to see ______”

Instead of constantly using the word “said,” try utilizing one of the words below. These words have much stronger connotations than “said.”

SynonymMeaning

added / to embellish or enhance an argument
continued / to further an earlier point
stated / to say, usually confined to quotes or paraphrases from documents
announced / to declared publicly or formally
asserted / to state positively, with great confidence but no objective proof
commented / to make a remark to explain, interpret, or criticize
declared / to make known clearly and openly
observed / to mention casually
remarked / to make a brief, casual statement of opinion
reported / to give an account of