The following guides are intended to help you produce a top-notch analytical essay for the AP exam.

DBQ Guides – Essay Writing Guide

1. Read the question carefully. Underline the tasks and key words in the question.
2. Consider the historical background of the question. What key information do you already know?
3. Make a preliminary thesis based on the question.
4. Look at the sources carefully and answer the following questions for each source. (SOAPS analysis)
   • What is the subject?
   • What is the occasion?
   • Who is the audience?
   • What is the purpose?
   • Who the speaker?
5. Check your understanding of the sources by making a chart organizing them into which do or do not support your thesis.
6. Organize your sources again by chronological order and/or if they relate directly to each other. Select parts of the documents to quote or paraphrase. Always refer to the sources by the author’s name or the tide of the sources.
7. Recheck your thesis to make sure that it acknowledges complications in the question.
8. Consider what other kinds of documents would make it easier to prove or disprove your thesis.
9. Begin writing your essay.
10. Be sure to conclude the essay with restatement of the thesis, a summary of the evidence, and a direction for further study of the issue.

DBQ Guides – Guide #2

1. Make sure that your essay has all of these essential parts:
   • states its thesis
   • defines its terms
   • marshals supporting evidence to back up its claims
   • anticipates counter-arguments
   • comes to a reasoned conclusion
2. Approach the historical issue in the DBQ by:
   • identifying the source of each document
   • Checking for internal consistencies (and inconsistencies) between and among documents
   • Establishing a context for each document and for the historic question as a whole

How the DBQ is scored:
Argument – Thesis must be well-developed and clearly focused; acknowledges the complexity of the question itself.
Critical Thought – In-depth document analysis, confrontation and discussion of conflicting sources and information; relevance of outside knowledge to the argument.
Evidence – Balance between documents and outside information; liberal use of both; may include an occasional, insignificant error.
Writing Style – Must be well-organized and well-written; cogent.

DBQ Guides – Guide #3

Note:
The purpose of the DBQ (Document Based Question) is not to test your knowledge of the subject, but rather to evaluate your ability to practice the historian’s craft. You will be required to work with the documents and use them to answer a question.
Writing the DBQ is an acquired skill, one that takes practice. You should not get discouraged if you do not “get it” right away. The goal is to acquire the skill by May. Remember that there is actually no right or wrong answer. Your answer is YOUR interpretation of the content of the documents. As long as your answer is logical and your interpretation is supported by the content of the document you are correct. The following is your guide to writing a successful DBQ.

Historical Concerns

1. Read carefully the question prompt and the historical background. Underline the tasks demanded and the terms which are unique to the question.
2. Read the documents carefully
   1. Make sure that you understand the content of the document.
   2. What is the author’s Point of View (POV)?
   3. Where is the tension?
      1. Are there people from the same place with differing POV?
      2. Is an African critiquing the Africans or is it an Indian?
      3. Which is biased, which demonstrates great knowledge?
   4. What is the origin of the document?
      1. Government record, diary entry, folktale, speech, etc…
   5. What is the purpose of the document?
      1. Is the document valid or is it hearsay?
   6. If time, gender, age or nationality were changed would the person be saying the same thing?
3. You should strive to use all of the documents (omitting no more than 1).
4. Do not simply site the documents in “laundry list” fashion. You should strive to IMPOSE order on the documents. Find groupings for the documents. Can they be organized into a format? What is the OVERALL picture presented by the documents. Can you use the documents implicitly?
5. Your essay should be an ANALYSIS of the documents and their content. You are demonstrating analysis if you are doing the following:
   1. Your essay contains a thesis which divides your answer into categories.
   2. The documents are used as evidence to support your thesis.
   3. Frequent reference is made to the terms of the question.

1. 1. • Be certain that your answer is always focused directly on the question.
      • Do not drift afield.
2. Be certain that, if the question allows, you exploit all of the following in writing your answer.
   1. Point of View (POV) is both indicated and discussed from several angles.
   2. The Validity (VAL) of documents is noted.
   3. Change Over Time (COT) is recognized and discussed (if this occurs in the documents)
   4. Did the pendulum of history swing in the chronological course of the documents? Did it swing back again?
   5. Documents have been cited by either naming the author and/or noting the number of the document.
3. When you look at the big picture, what is missing? What would you like to know that would make things clear in your mind?
   1. Who or what could provide you with additional information?
   2. If SOMEONE could provide you with this information, in what format would it appear? (Letter, speech, official document)*

Literacy Concerns

1. The essay has an adequate introduction in which the time frame is noted.
2. The thesis provides an answer to the question and divides the answer categories.
3. Proper essay style is used (think 5 paragraph format where applicable).
4. Grammar and spelling are adequate (do not misspell words that are supplied in the documents).
5. You have not referred to yourself in the essay and you have not told the readers what they are “goinc, to learn”.
6. All of the documents have been used in a manner which makes their use readily apparent to the reader.
7. Quotations are limited to a phrase which is placed within the context of your answer.
8. ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION have been answered.
9. A conclusion exists which summarizes the evidence, restates the thesis indicates a direction for further study or occurrences.
10. Base all of your comments on the documents, NOT on outside information. Outside information may be used to enhance understanding but it must not be the basis of your argument.

Throughout the year student should make a list of the titles and TYPES of documents they have read for all assignments. This will provide them with a sampling of TYPES of documents and what they contain.

DBQ Guides – Guide #4

DBQ emphasis is on analysis and synthesis of historical data and the use of verbal, quantitative and pictorial materials as evidence to support your thesis. The DBQ is judged on its thesis, argument and supporting evidence.

Suggestions

1. Read the question and develop a preliminary thesis – pay particular attention to ALL of the parts of the question
2. In your thesis, show the complexity of the question – that there is more than one side to every argument
3. In your introduction, do NOT restate the question. Be more creative.
4. Do NOT let the documents drive the essay – develop your position on the question and then use the documents as supporting evidence to convince the reader that your thesis is correct.
5. Cite as much relevant outside information as you can – show the reader that you have a strong grasp of the history – outside info supports your case and the more supports, the stronger the essay
6. Assume the reader does not have the documents and has never seen them. You must make them understandable and must cite the source (NOT DOCUMENT A) and if you can the source’s point of view (and why you believe they feel the way they do)
7. Try to incorporate MOST documents – they are your supports and the more supports, the better the essay
8. Writing is important: (watch hand writing)
   1. the introduction and thesis are the key – make them good
   2. clear and concise sentences
   3. avoid long paragraphs
   4. refer back to the thesis throughout essay – remind the reader what you are trying to prove
   5. strong conclusion
9. Keep your verb tense the same – its history and so it is easy – WRITE IN THE PAST TENSE

DBQ Guides – Guide #5

1. Steps
   1. Read and analyze 10 minutes initially
   2. Plan and write 40 minutes
2. Analyzing the Question
   1. What are the task or directive words?
   2. What are the parameters given in the question? (time span, classes, political and economic but not social causes, etc.)
   3. What are the other key terms in the question?
   4. Historical background paragraph. (Analyze key words and parameters here as well.)
   5. Remember, the questions are usually complex with more than one part.
3. Analyzing the Documents
   1. WHO wrote it? (Author’s frame of reference) WHO was the intended audience?
   2. WHAT type of document is it? WHAT is content or meaning?
   3. WHEN was it written? What was context of that period?
   4. WHERE was it written?
   5. WHY was it written?- (purpose and audience)
   6. HOW was it written?
      1. Make inferences about the point of view by examining the language and tone for bias.
      2. Talk about the validity and reliability of a source.
4. How do the documents fit together? Look for a pattern!
   1. Usually suggested in the question
   2. Ideas or points of view
   3. Similarities or differences
   4. Bias