How to Earn Full Points on a DBQ (Document-Based Question)

Overview

• Applicable for APUSH, AP World, and AP Euro.
• Follow three main steps to understand the process.

Step One: Understanding the Prompt

1. Identify the Time Period:

   • Note specific years or centuries.
   • Misinterpretation can lead to losing points.
   • Use digital annotation tools during exams.

2. Identify the Category:

   • Mark keywords in the prompt like "society," "economics," etc.
   • Focus on the specified category (e.g., social vs. political effects).

3. Determine Historical Thinking Skill:

   • Sometimes explicitly stated; other times, decide based on the prompt.
   • Skills include causation, continuity, change over time, etc.

Step Two: Analyzing the Documents

• Read Quickly:

  • Spend about 1-2 minutes per document.

• Start with the Citation:

  • Understand who wrote it, when, and why.

• Summarize Main Ideas:

  • Write in your own words, use annotation tools.

• Group Documents:

  • Identify thematic categories like "economic," "social," etc.

• Avoid Simple Summaries:

  • Create a structured argument rather than a list of document descriptions.

Step Three: Writing the Essay

• Thesis Statement:

  • Historically defensible, establishes a line of reasoning.
  • Should include specific evidence.

• Contextualization:

  • Situate argument in a larger historical context.
  • Relevant events before the prompt’s time period; be specific.

• Evidence Section:

  • Describe content of documents (1 point for 3 documents).
  • Support argument with evidence (2 points for at least 4 documents).
  • Evidence beyond documents (1 point).
  • Group documents; avoid listing them.

• Analysis and Reasoning:

  • Source documents for historical situation, audience, purpose, or POV (2 documents for 1 point).
  • Earn complexity by using all 7 documents or sourcing 4 documents.

Tips and Resources

• DBQ Planning Sheet: Helpful for organizing thoughts.
• Cram Courses: Offer detailed explanations of each skill and rubric point.
• Annotations: Use digital tools for better organization during exams.

Conclusion

• Follow these strategies for a well-structured, high-scoring DBQ essay.
• Utilize available resources and practice regularly.

These notes summarize the steps and strategies outlined in the lecture for effectively writing a DBQ essay. They provide a structured approach to understanding the prompt, analyzing documents, and crafting a coherent and supported argument.