1 of 25

What is a DBQ

2 of 25

What is a DBQ?

  • DBQ = Document Based Question
  • A DBQ is an essay based on documents (sources).
  • You are given several historical documents that you will analyze
  • You will analyze historical documents to answer questions.
  • Based on the evidence you collect from the documents, you write an essay.

3 of 25

HERE’S THE KICKER

  • The DBQ is not about you answering the question correctly.
  • You become a “history detective” using evidence to support your ideas.
  • The DBQ is about you being a historian
    • You will be using ALL of these documents to draw a conclusion related to the prompt
    • Based on the evidence you collect from the documents, you write an essay.

4 of 25

DBQ’s are Hard

  • DBQ is usually designed to scare you!
  • This is to force you to use the documents rather than only outside info
  • FOR THE MOST PART, YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE TOPIC!
  • Understand the game, and DON’T PANIC
  • “I think I put down something wrong!”
    • That’s ok. You’re a kid.

5 of 25

Why Do We Do DBQs?

  • Helps you think like a historian.
  • Strengthens reading and writing skills.
  • Encourages critical thinking.
  • Teaches how to use evidence in arguments.
  • DBQ’s advance your inteligence

6 of 25

What Kinds of Sources Will I See?

  • Primary Source: First-hand account (e.g., diary, photo, speech).
  • Secondary Source: Interprets or explains the past (e.g., textbook, article).
  • You’ll use BOTH in a DBQ.

7 of 25

Primary sources

  • A primary source is an original object or document -- the raw material or first-hand information.
  • Eye witness accounts are also a primary source, but are less reliable than a document.

8 of 25

A primary source - is an original object or document -- the raw material or first-hand information.

  • Artifacts/ Fossils
  • Historical and legal documents
  • Results of an experiment
  • Statistical data
  • Pieces of creative writing
  • Art objects
  • Eye witness accounts

9 of 25

Primary Source Examples

  • Diaries
  • Poetry
  • Personal Interviews
  • Government Documents
  • Autobiographies
  • Photographs
  • Artifacts/Fossils

​

10 of 25

Secondary sources�

  • A secondary source is something written about a primary source.
  • You can think of secondary sources as second-hand information.
  • If I tell you something, I am the primary source. If you tell someone else what I told you, you are the secondhand source.

11 of 25

PURPOSE

To get expert opinions in order to evaluate what really happened.

To gain insight by examining the same event from different perspectives.

To form your own opinion.

To save time by reading information collected from a number of different sources.

12 of 25

Secondary sources

  • Secondary source materials can be:
  • Articles in newspapers
  • Magazines
  • Book or movie reviews
  • Encyclopedias
  • Articles that review other sources
  • Textbooks
  • Biographies
  • Wikipedia
  • Documentaries

13 of 25

Analysis of Sources

Historians use Primary sources to create Secondary sources.

14 of 25

Primary or secondary sources. Explain whether they are RELIABLE or USEFUL?

A letter

Textbooks

Internet

15 of 25

What’s in a DBQ Packet?

BACKGROUND ESSAY: GIVES YOU CONTEXT AND BIG IDEAS.

THE PROMPT: THE QUESTION YOU MUST ANSWER.

DOCUMENTS (3–10): CHARTS, QUOTES, IMAGES, MAPS, ETC.

DOCUMENT QUESTIONS: HELP YOU ANALYZE EACH DOCUMENT.

16 of 25

Steps to Complete a DBQ

Highlight

Highlight your evidence.

Write

Write your DBQ essay.

Plan

Plan your body paragraphs.

Write

Write a thesis (main argument).

Sort

Sort documents into “buckets” (categories).

Analyze

Analyze each document and answer the questions.

Read

Read the Background Essay.

17 of 25

Writing Your Essay

18 of 25

What Are “Buckets”?

  • Buckets = Main ideas or topics for paragraphs.
  • Sort documents into 2–5 buckets based on the topic of focus and the evidence they show.
  • Buckets help you plan your essay and stay organized.

19 of 25

Writing a Thesis Statement

  • A thesis is your answer to the DBQ question.
  • It should include:
    • The main idea (argument).
    • The 2–3 buckets (reasons).
    • Use the “Chicken Foot” visual.
  • Thesis (Main idea)

/ | \

  • Bucket 1 Bucket 2 Bucket 3

​

20 of 25

DBQ Essay Structure

  • Intro Paragraph: Hook, background info, thesis.
  • Body Paragraphs (3-5): Each paragraph = 1 bucket.
    • Topic sentence
    • Evidence from documents
    • Explanation
  • Conclusion: Restate thesis, wrap-up thoughts.

21 of 25

Background Info/Historical Context

​

Thesis and Baby Theses

​

Evidence (w/ citations)

​

Reasoning (Inferences and Argument)

22 of 25

23 of 25

Strategy: Rainbow Highlighting

Background Info/Historical Context

​

Thesis and Baby Theses

​

Evidence (w/ citations)

​

Reasoning (Inferences and Argument)

Sourcing (Attribution, POV, Bias)

​

Corroboration (Outside Info, Other Docs)

​

Counter-Argument

24 of 25

Strategy: Rainbow Highlighting

Background Info/Historical Context

​

Thesis and Baby Theses

​

Evidence (w/ citations)

​

Reasoning (Inferences and Argument)

Sourcing (Attribution, POV, Bias)

​

Corroboration (Outside Info, Other Docs)

​

Counter-Argument

25 of 25

Strategy: Rainbow Highlighting

RAINBOW EDITING