How to write a DBQ
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This document provides instructions for how to write a DBQ (document-based question) essay. It explains that a DBQ asks students to answer an open-ended question about a historical period or event using primary source documents as evidence. It outlines the steps to writing a successful DBQ, including analyzing the documents, creating an outline, developing a thesis statement, writing body paragraphs with evidence from the documents, and concluding by restating the thesis. Mastering the DBQ essay format helps students improve their historical analysis skills and ensures they can pass required history exams for graduation.
How to write a DBQ
- 1. Let’s All Learn How to Write a DBQ
- 2. What is a DBQ? •Your job will be to examine who or what the document is about, when and where it takes place and how the information that is being presented can be used to create an essay that answers your task. •DBQ stands for document based question. •A DBQ is an essay that you will create using the documents in the DBQ and your own knowledge. •The documents in a DBQ might be a picture, newspaper article, photograph, political cartoon, charts, writings from history etc. •The documents are usually Primary source documents which let you to get closer to the topic by letting you examine history like a historian.
- 3. Why do I have to Write a DBQ? • Writing a DBQ is like the work of real historians. • Instead of reading a textbook or listening to other people tell you what to think, you get to decide what you think. • Another reason is that you live in New York State. Every student in New York State must take exams in history that requires them to write DBQ’s to earn a score high enough to pass the exams and graduate. You must take and pass the following tests: • Eighth Grade Social Studies Assessment • Tenth Grade Global Regents. • Eleventh Grade U.S. History Regents. • You must pass both of the regents to graduate H.S.
- 4. How Do I Analyze the Documents? 1. Who is Speaking? 2. What is the Date? 3. What is the Explicit (clearly defined) Meaning? 4. What is the Implicit (implied or what it might mean) Meaning? 5. Is it a Primary or Secondary source of information?
- 5. How do I Write a DBQ? 1. Read the directions page. Understand the historical context and the task. 2. Analyze and answer the scaffolded questions for each of the documents 3. Create a box outline of the documents deciding which document will be used for each of the tasks. Example: Describe how New Yorkers worked for women’s rights. Describe how others worked for women’s rights. 1, 3, 5 2, 3, 4, 6
- 6. How do I Write a DBQ? 4. Determine how many paragraphs are needed in the essay. 5. You need one paragraph for the introduction, one for every task you must write about and a conclusion Describe how New Yorkers worked for women’s rights. Describe how others worked for women’s rights. 1, 3, 5 2, 3, 4, 6 Introduction + Body Paragraph Body Paragraph + Conclusion
- 7. Creating Your Introduction In order to create an introduction to your essay you must include three basic pieces to the introduction. Introduction + Body Paragraph Body Paragraph + Conclusion 1. You must explain who or what you are writing about and when or where it took place. This information comes from the historical context and your own knowledge. 2. You must create a thesis statement; an opinion about the task you are writing about. 3. Decide on an interesting question to open your essay and grab the readers attention.
- 8. How Do I Develop a Thesis? All document-based essays must have a thesis. A thesis is a statement of opinion about a topic. It is what you will write about and prove in your essay. You must have a thesis in your introduction to the essay. To create a thesis you must use the task (or tasks) and tell the reader of the essay what you will be proving. Rewording the task is often an easy way to create a thesis statement because the task is what you are being asked to prove when you write the DBQ.
- 9. Support Your Thesis With Evidence in the Body Paragraphs! You have to prove your thesis by using evidence from the documents and relevant (connected to the topic) outside information. Outside information is any information about the topic of your essay that is not contained in the documents.
- 10. What does a Thesis Look Like?
- 11. Let’s Give it A Try…
- 12. So, Where Does The Thesis Go?
- 13. Creating an Introduction with a thesis statement!
- 14. Creating Your Essay: Body Paragraphs Each of the body paragraphs is made up of three parts. Introduction + Body Paragraph Body Paragraph + Conclusion 1. A topic sentence which is based on the task that the paragraph will cover. 2. Three pieces of evidence about the task that the paragraph covers. One of the pieces of evidence should be outside information. 3. A transition sentence at the end that leads to the task that the next paragraph will discuss.
- 15. Creating Your Essay: The Conclusion The conclusion is made up of three parts. Introduction + Body Paragraph Body Paragraph + Conclusion 1. Always start with the words “In conclusion,” 2. Restate the main idea or thesis that you created and used in your introduction. 3. Summarize and restate the main ideas from your body paragraphs.
- 16. In conclusion, 1. Read the directions page. Understand the historical context and the task. 2. Analyze and answer the scaffolded questions for each of the documents 3. Create a box outline of the documents deciding which document will be used for each of the tasks. 4. Determine how many paragraphs are needed in the essay. 5. Create an introduction that contains a thesis statement. 6. Include at least one body paragraph for each of the tasks. 7. Create a conclusion that restates the main idea of the thesis and summarizes the main ideas of the body paragraphs.