AP DBQs AP DBQs New Rubric Thesis A1
AP DBQs
AP DBQs - New Rubric ● Thesis A+1 - presents a defensible position ● Context B+1 - describes the broader historical circumstances ● Evidence C +1 -5 ○ +1 - uses content from two of the documents to support argument ○ +1 - uses content from four of the documents to support argument ○ +1 - uses one example of outside information to support argument ○ +1 - uses a second example of outside information to support argument ● Analysis & Reasoning D +1 -3 ○ +1 - uses one HAPP from one document to support argument ○ +1 - uses one HAPP from a second document to support argument ○ +1 - demonstrates a complex understanding of the prompt (opposite skill, nuance, synthesis)
AP DBQs - Process 1. Carefully read question: ○ What is the skill? - change/continuity, cause/effect, OR compare/contrast ○ What is the era? - remember evidence must come from the era in the question, context is up to (can include) the starting date ○ What would be my answer if there were no documents? - don’t spend very much time on this, but it will help you frame what you are thinking about 2. Analyze documents - for each one write a quick summary & HAPP so you don’t have to re-read 3. Group documents/outside information into essay form: ○ What docs/OI support idea A, B, or X? ○ Formulate thesis 4. Write ○ P 1 - Intro: Context, Connection, Thesis ○ P 2 - Body 1: Topic Sentence, Evidence, Analysis (TEA) (A Paragraph) ○ P 3 - Body 2: Topic Sentence, Evidence, Analysis (TEA) (B or X Paragraph) ○ If you can get to P 4: Body 3: Topic Sentence, Evidence, Analysis (TEA) (B or X Paragraph) ○ Do not worry about conclusions - no points to be gained in a conclusion
AP DBQs - Paragraphs Every body paragraph has a topic sentence/evidence/conclusion: ● ● ● Topic Sentence: The most important cause of Manifest Destiny was American ideas of cultural superiority. Present evidence from docs/OI always relating it back to your point (say cause OR effect) Conclusion Sentence: Therefore, American ideas of superiority over Native Americans and Mexicans led the country to take over land in the Great Plains and Pacific Coast. Use the language of the question: ● ● Causation - say cause (evaluate most/least important if asked) Effects - say effect (evaluate most/least important if asked) Change/Continuity - say change or continuity (evaluate if there were more changes or continuities OR which one had a greater impact on society) Compare/Contrast - say similarities or differences (evaluate if there were more similarities or differences OR which one had a greater impact on society)
AP DBQs - Intros All introductions start with contextualization, what was happening prior to the time period defined in the question. ● ● ● Every essay starts with “Prior to…. ” Define what was happening, explain the example and then connect it to the topic of the essay Conclude intro with thesis Prompt: Evaluate the causes of the Civil War 1848 -1861. Prior to 1848, the United States was completing Manifest Destiny. The US acquired Louisiana from France in 1803 and then added Texas, Oregon, and the Mexican Cession in the 1840 s under President James K. Polk. The Mexican Cession was acquired in a war with Mexico and the US finally gained access to California and the Pacific Coast. Each time America gained land, a debate would start over the expansion of slavery and after the Mexican American War, the US was unable to determine the future of slavery which led to the Civil War. One cause of the Civil War was the breakdown of American politics. However, the most important cause of the Civil War was slavery.
AP DBQs - Documents ● ● ● Documents do not go in the introduction Documents will never be in the first/last sentence of a body paragraph - need topic and conclusion sentences Documents should be in your own words and cannot be copied directly from the document even if you put it in quotes Documents should be used to prove your point, don’t write summaries Document process: 1) summarize doc 2) HAPP 3) prove point Prompt: Evaluate the causes of the Civil War 1848 -1861. Doc 1 is an excerpt from Uncle Tom’s Cabin Topic Sentence: The most important cause of the Civil War was slavery. For example, in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin she described how families were separated and violated (doc 1). Her purpose was expose how awful slavery was to people in the North who were unaware of the problem. This showed that slavery contributed to the Civil War because many who read her book wanted to do anything possible to end slavery. Go on to next doc/OI that helps prove point. . .
AP DBQs - Outside Information (OI) ● ● ● OI does not go in the introduction OI will never be in the first/last sentence of a body paragraph - need topic and conclusion sentences OI should be used like a document to prove your point, don’t write summaries or just define terms OI process: 1) explain term/event/development 2) prove point OI should go wherever it fits best in the body paragraph; try to go in order whenever possible Prompt: Evaluate the causes of the Civil War in the period 1848 -1861. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry is our OI Topic Sentence: The most important cause of the Civil War was slavery. John Brown tried to take over Harper’s Ferry and start a slave revolt. He was captured and put to death, but he scared to the South into thinking the North was going to take away their slaves. This contributed to the start of the Civil War because the South seceded and fought to defend slavery. Go on to next doc/OI that helps prove point. . .
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