Document Based QuestionDocument Based Question

APUSHAPUSH

Steps…Steps…Directions: Follow the steps in Directions: Follow the steps in the order in which they appear. the order in which they appear. dissect the questiondissect the question organize your thoughts organize your thoughts analyze the documents analyze the documents write your essay.write your essay.

DBQDBQ

Step 1:Step 1: Read the Directions Read the Directions Carefully!Carefully!

DBQDBQ• Step 2:Step 2: Read the Document Based Read the Document Based

Question. Question. • Approach it as an essay question for Approach it as an essay question for

which you DON’T have documents.which you DON’T have documents.

Read the Document Based Question very Read the Document Based Question very carefully and ask yourself:carefully and ask yourself:

What is the What is the time frametime frame of the essay of the essay question? question?

Put the question in the CONTEXT of the Put the question in the CONTEXT of the events and culture of this period. Think of events and culture of this period. Think of the the themesthemes and labels of this era. and labels of this era.

What, if any, What, if any, geographic areasgeographic areas are are involved? involved? Underline the Underline the operative wordsoperative words like analyze, like analyze, assess the validity, evaluate, to what assess the validity, evaluate, to what extent, evaluate the relative importance of extent, evaluate the relative importance of etc. found in the question. etc. found in the question. Be sure you are responding to the prompt.Be sure you are responding to the prompt.

Underline or circle the words which Underline or circle the words which comprise the core of the question.comprise the core of the question.What judgment is it asking you to make?What judgment is it asking you to make? Does it have more than one part? Does it have more than one part? You MUST answer the question. You MUST answer the question. Do not try Do not try to answer the question you to answer the question you wishwish had been had been askedasked..

Step 3:Step 3: Write a Write a Preliminary Thesis Preliminary Thesis Statement Statement before you read the before you read the documents. documents.

write a preliminary thesis statement write a preliminary thesis statement that addresses all parts of the that addresses all parts of the question.question.

Step 4:Step 4: NEVER tell the reader what NEVER tell the reader what your are going to do, JUST DO IT.your are going to do, JUST DO IT.Avoid lengthy direct quotations from Avoid lengthy direct quotations from the documents !the documents !Avoid “In my opinion”, “I think” , Avoid “In my opinion”, “I think” , “We”, “us”“We”, “us”Avoid generalizations “always”, Avoid generalizations “always”, “never”“never”

Step 5:Step 5: Include Outside Information. Include Outside Information. As the general directions have As the general directions have indicated, you are required to indicated, you are required to integrate substantial, relevant integrate substantial, relevant outside information into your essay. outside information into your essay.

Step 6:Step 6: Reading and Analyzing the Reading and Analyzing the Documents: Documents: Read and analyze each document looking Read and analyze each document looking for the most important points. for the most important points. Note the author, the date, and any clear Note the author, the date, and any clear biasbias for each document. for each document. Circle or underline key words and phrases. Circle or underline key words and phrases. Most documents are designed to trigger the Most documents are designed to trigger the memory of outside information. memory of outside information. Many documents can be used to support Many documents can be used to support both sides of a question. both sides of a question. Remember that a document is NOT a fact, Remember that a document is NOT a fact, but a piece of evidence to interpret. but a piece of evidence to interpret.

Step 7:Step 7: Provide your Provide your INSIGHTINSIGHT into into the complexity of the question. the complexity of the question.

This is particularly important in This is particularly important in reaching the highest [7-8-9] scores.reaching the highest [7-8-9] scores.

impress the reader with your impress the reader with your analysis of the question in the first analysis of the question in the first paragraph. paragraph.

The reader has only approximately The reader has only approximately two minutes with your essaytwo minutes with your essay

Step 8:Step 8: Cite your documents! Cite your documents!Most readers agree that using (Doc Most readers agree that using (Doc A) at the end of the sentence is the A) at the end of the sentence is the preferred method. preferred method. Or cite within, “according to ….”Or cite within, “according to ….”

Some Useful Explanations & Some Useful Explanations & AcronymsAcronyms

SOAPSSOAPS

– SS SubjectSubject What is being discussedWhat is being discussed– OO OccasionOccasion Context of eventsContext of events– AA AudienceAudience Message directed at?Message directed at?– PP PurposePurpose Recommended action to the Recommended action to the

readerreader– SS SpeakerSpeaker What/Who is the source?What/Who is the source?

PERSIAPERSIACatagories for database brainstormingCatagories for database brainstorming

– PP PoliticalPolitical– EE EconomicEconomic– RR ReligionReligion– SS SocialSocial– II IntellectualIntellectual– AA ArtsArts

TOADTOAD

TOAD TOAD – ThesisThesis– Outside detailOutside detail– Analyze Documents Analyze Documents

SPRITESPRITE

SS SocialSocial

PP PoliticalPolitical

RR ReligiousReligious

II IdeologicalIdeological

TT TechnologicalTechnological

EE EconomicEconomic

A.P. U.S. History Rubric A.P. U.S. History Rubric Check SheetCheck Sheet

ThesisThesis

Well developed and clearly focused (8-9)Well developed and clearly focused (8-9)

Clear and adequate (5-7)Clear and adequate (5-7)

Confused, limited, or missing (2-4)Confused, limited, or missing (2-4)

No thesis, provides an inappropriate No thesis, provides an inappropriate response (0-1)response (0-1)

Document Usage (DBQs only)Document Usage (DBQs only)

Sophisticated use of a substantial number Sophisticated use of a substantial number of documents (8-9)of documents (8-9)Several documents used, may be more Several documents used, may be more descriptive than analytical (5-7)descriptive than analytical (5-7)Few documents used, significant errors in Few documents used, significant errors in document interpretation (2-4)document interpretation (2-4)No document used, obvious No document used, obvious misunderstanding of documents (0-1)misunderstanding of documents (0-1)

Critical ThoughtCritical Thought Strong interpretation and analysis (8-9)Strong interpretation and analysis (8-9)

Limited or superficial analysis, mostly Limited or superficial analysis, mostly descriptive (5-7)descriptive (5-7)

Limited or no understanding of the Limited or no understanding of the question (2-4)question (2-4)

Shows a complete lack of understanding Shows a complete lack of understanding (0-1)(0-1)

EvidenceEvidenceAbundant, appropriate, dealing with all Abundant, appropriate, dealing with all aspects of question (8-9)aspects of question (8-9)

Uses some factual information (5-7)Uses some factual information (5-7)

Superficial or missing supporting Superficial or missing supporting information (2-4)information (2-4)

Little or no evidence (0-1)Little or no evidence (0-1)

Writing StyleWriting StyleWell organized and well written (8-9)Well organized and well written (8-9)

Acceptable organization and writing (5-7)Acceptable organization and writing (5-7)

Weak organization and/or poorly written Weak organization and/or poorly written (2-4))(2-4))

May be incomprehensible (0-1)May be incomprehensible (0-1)

Error LevelError LevelNo errors or errors are insignificant (8-9)No errors or errors are insignificant (8-9)

May contain minor errors (5-7)May contain minor errors (5-7)

May contain major errors (2-4)May contain major errors (2-4)

Has substantial factual errors (0-1)Has substantial factual errors (0-1)

LIST OF TRANSITIONAL WORDS FOR WRITING LIST OF TRANSITIONAL WORDS FOR WRITING ESSAYSESSAYS

John A. BraithwaiteJohn A. Braithwaite

The following is a list of transition The following is a list of transition words to help students write more words to help students write more fluently and meaningful essays.fluently and meaningful essays.

Indicating similarity or addition:Indicating similarity or addition:

againagain equallyequally in factin factalsoalso equally importantequally important in generalin generalandand forfor in the same in the same

fashionfashionanotheranother for examplefor example likewiselikewiseasas for instancefor instance moreovermoreoveras ifas if further(more)further(more) of courseof courseas much asas much as in addition in addition similarlysimilarlyas thoughas though in addition toin addition to tootoobesidesbesides in a like mannerin a like manner

Indicating dissimilarity, or contradictionIndicating dissimilarity, or contradictionalthough although even thougheven though on the contraryon the contraryand yetand yet howeverhowever on the other on the other handhandanotheranother in comparisonin comparison otherwiseotherwiseas ifas if in comparison toin comparison to stillstillaway fromaway from in place ofin place of thanthanbesidesbesides in spite ofin spite of unfortunatelyunfortunatelybutbut insteadinstead unlessunlessby comparisonby comparison less importantless important whereaswhereasconverselyconversely neitherneither whilewhilediffering fromdiffering from neverthelessnevertheless yetyeteven ifeven if notwithstandingnotwithstanding

Indicating cause, purpose, Indicating cause, purpose, consequence, or resultconsequence, or result

asas for this reasonfor this reason provided thatprovided that

accordinglyaccordingly fortunately fortunately sincesince

as a result as a result hence hence soso

becausebecause in any casein any case thenthen

consequentlyconsequently in factin fact thereforetherefore

forfor it began withit began with thusthus

finallyfinally of courseof course unfortunatelyunfortunately

Indicating spatial order or referenceIndicating spatial order or referenceaboveabove behindbehind herehereacrossacross belowbelow in a cornerin a corneracross fromacross from beneathbeneath in back of in back of adjacentadjacent besidebeside in front ofin front ofagainstagainst betweenbetween insideinsidealongsidealongside beyondbeyond in the middlein the middleamongamong downdown nearneararoundaround eventuallyeventually next tonext toatat facingfacing ononbeforebefore fartherfarther oppositeoppositeoutsideoutside to the side ofto the side of upupoverover towardtoward uponuponthroughoutthroughout underunder withinwithinthroughthrough underneathunderneath withoutwithout

Indicating Chronology or Sequence:Indicating Chronology or Sequence: afterafter first, second, etc.first, second, etc. presentlypresentlyafterwardafterward formerlyformerly provided thatprovided thatas soon asas soon as hereafterhereafter secondlysecondlyat firstat first in the beginningin the beginning sincesinceat lastat last in the meantimein the meantime thenthenat lengthat length in the second placein the second place thereafterthereafterat presentat present in the first placein the first place soonsoonat the same timeat the same time laterlater to begin withto begin withbeforebefore meanwhilemeanwhile untiluntilduringduring moments latermoments later whenwhenearlierearlier nextnext whilewhilefinallyfinally nownow yetyetfirst of allfirst of all onceonce

Indicating priority or importanceIndicating priority or importanceabove allabove all furtherfurther nextnextalsoalso furthermorefurthermore of greaterof greaterbesidesbesides in addition toin addition to of less of less importanceimportanceequally importantequally important in the first placein the first place provided thatprovided that11stst, 2, 2ndnd etc etc more importantmore important to begin withto begin withfor one reasonfor one reason moreovermoreover

Indicating example or summaryIndicating example or summary

as a resultas a result in briefin brief on the wholeon the whole

as I have saidas I have said in conclusionin conclusion onceonce

first, second, etcfirst, second, etc in factin fact secondsecond

for examplefor example in other wordsin other words specificallyspecifically

for instancefor instance in shortin short to sum upto sum up

in any casein any case in the first placein the first place in any eventin any event

in the second placein the second place

Common Essay TermsCommon Essay Terms

Commerce: Related to trade between Commerce: Related to trade between people, businesses, states, or people, businesses, states, or countries.countries.Cultural: The behavior patterns, arts, Cultural: The behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions,beliefs, institutions,intellectual achievements, etc of a intellectual achievements, etc of a community.community.Diplomatic: Related to the Diplomatic: Related to the relationships between countries and relationships between countries and the leaders of those countries. the leaders of those countries. Involves ambassadors, embassies, Involves ambassadors, embassies, the secretary of state, etc.the secretary of state, etc.

Economic: related to the production, Economic: related to the production, development and management of development and management of wealth. Includes banking, stocks and wealth. Includes banking, stocks and bonds, tariffs and trade.bonds, tariffs and trade.

Geographic: Issues related to place, Geographic: Issues related to place, environment, topography, access to environment, topography, access to water, natural boundaries, like water, natural boundaries, like mountains and oceans, and climate, mountains and oceans, and climate, resources, and population.resources, and population.

Political: Of or related to the affairs of Political: Of or related to the affairs of government: Includes the branches of government: Includes the branches of government, the constitution and its government, the constitution and its amendments, political, parties, and ways amendments, political, parties, and ways in which people use the government to in which people use the government to influence the behavior and financial influence the behavior and financial standing of themselves and others.standing of themselves and others.Social: Related to how people live together Social: Related to how people live together in groups. Social history often focuses on in groups. Social history often focuses on minority groups and women, questions of minority groups and women, questions of daily life, and class structure.daily life, and class structure.Technological: Related to new inventions Technological: Related to new inventions and how those inventions impact upon and how those inventions impact upon daily life, industry, warfare, etc.daily life, industry, warfare, etc.