Document Based Question APUSH Steps Directions Follow the
Document Based Question APUSH
Steps… Directions: Follow the steps in the order in which they appear. dissect the question organize your thoughts analyze the documents write your essay.
DBQ Step 1: Read the Directions Carefully!
DBQ • Step 2: Read the Document Based Question. • Approach it as an essay question for which you DON’T have documents.
Read the Document Based Question very carefully and ask yourself: What is the time frame of the essay question? Put the question in the CONTEXT of the events and culture of this period. Think of themes and labels of this era.
What, if any, geographic areas are involved? Underline the operative words like analyze, assess the validity, evaluate, to what extent, evaluate the relative importance of etc. found in the question. Be sure you are responding to the prompt.
Underline or circle the words which comprise the core of the question. What judgment is it asking you to make? Does it have more than one part? You MUST answer the question. Do not try to answer the question you wish had been asked.
Step 3: Write a Preliminary Thesis Statement before you read the documents. write a preliminary thesis statement that addresses all parts of the question.
Step 4: NEVER tell the reader what your are going to do, JUST DO IT. Avoid lengthy direct quotations from the documents ! Avoid “In my opinion”, “I think” , “We”, “us” Avoid generalizations “always”, “never”
Step 5: Include Outside Information. As the general directions have indicated, you are required to integrate substantial, relevant outside information into your essay.
Step 6: Reading and Analyzing the Documents: Read analyze each document looking for the most important points. Note the author, the date, and any clear bias for each document. Circle or underline key words and phrases. Most documents are designed to trigger the memory of outside information. Many documents can be used to support both sides of a question. Remember that a document is NOT a fact, but a piece of evidence to interpret.
Step 7: Provide your INSIGHT into the complexity of the question. This is particularly important in reaching the highest [7 -8 -9] scores. impress the reader with your analysis of the question in the first paragraph. The reader has only approximately two minutes with your essay
Step 8: Cite your documents! Most readers agree that using (Doc A) at the end of the sentence is the preferred method. Or cite within, “according to …. ”
Some Useful Explanations & Acronyms
SOAPS –S Subject –O Occasion –A Audience –P Purpose reader –S Speaker What is being discussed Context of events Message directed at? Recommended action to the What/Who is the source?
PERSIA Catagories for database brainstorming –P –E –R –S –I –A Political Economic Religion Social Intellectual Arts
TOAD – Thesis – Outside detail – Analyze Documents
SPRITE S P R I T E Social Political Religious Ideological Technological Economic
A. P. U. S. History Rubric Check Sheet
Thesis Well developed and clearly focused (8 -9) Clear and adequate (5 -7) Confused, limited, or missing (2 -4) No thesis, provides an inappropriate response (0 -1)
Document Usage (DBQs only) Sophisticated use of a substantial number of documents (8 -9) Several documents used, may be more descriptive than analytical (5 -7) Few documents used, significant errors in document interpretation (2 -4) No document used, obvious misunderstanding of documents (0 -1)
Critical Thought Strong interpretation and analysis (8 -9) Limited or superficial analysis, mostly descriptive (5 -7) Limited or no understanding of the question (2 -4) Shows a complete lack of understanding (0 -1)
Evidence Abundant, appropriate, dealing with all aspects of question (8 -9) Uses some factual information (5 -7) Superficial or missing supporting information (2 -4) Little or no evidence (0 -1)
Writing Style Well organized and well written (8 -9) Acceptable organization and writing (5 -7) Weak organization and/or poorly written (2 -4)) May be incomprehensible (0 -1)
Error Level No errors or errors are insignificant (8 -9) May contain minor errors (5 -7) May contain major errors (2 -4) Has substantial factual errors (0 -1)
LIST OF TRANSITIONAL WORDS FOR WRITING ESSAYS John A. Braithwaite The following is a list of transition words to help students write more fluently and meaningful essays.
Indicating similarity or addition: again also and another as as if as much as as though besides equally important for example for instance further(more) in addition to in a like manner in fact in general in the same fashion likewise moreover of course similarly too
Indicating dissimilarity, or contradiction although and yet another as if away from besides but by comparison conversely differing from even if even though however in comparison to in place of in spite of instead less important neither nevertheless notwithstanding on the contrary on the other hand otherwise still than unfortunately unless whereas while yet
Indicating cause, purpose, consequence, or result as accordingly as a result because consequently for finally for this reason fortunately hence in any case in fact it began with of course provided that since so then therefore thus unfortunately
Indicating spatial order or reference above across from adjacent against alongside among around at before outside over throughout through behind below beneath beside between beyond down eventually facing farther to the side of toward underneath here in a corner in back of in front of inside in the middle near next to on opposite up upon within without
Indicating Chronology or Sequence: after first, second, etc. afterward formerly as soon as hereafter at first in the beginning at last in the meantime at length in the second place at present in the first place at the same time later before meanwhile during moments later earlier next finally now first of all once presently provided that secondly since then thereafter soon to begin with until when while yet
Indicating priority or importance above all also besides equally important 1 st, 2 nd etc for one reason furthermore in addition to in the first place more important moreover next of greater of less importance provided that to begin with
Indicating example or summary as a result in as I have said in first, second, etc in for example in for instance in in any case in in the second place brief conclusion fact other words short the first place on the whole once second specifically to sum up in any event
Common Essay Terms
Commerce: Related to trade between people, businesses, states, or countries. Cultural: The behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, intellectual achievements, etc of a community. Diplomatic: Related to the relationships between countries and the leaders of those countries. Involves ambassadors, embassies, the secretary of state, etc.
Economic: related to the production, development and management of wealth. Includes banking, stocks and bonds, tariffs and trade. Geographic: Issues related to place, environment, topography, access to water, natural boundaries, like mountains and oceans, and climate, resources, and population.
Political: Of or related to the affairs of government: Includes the branches of government, the constitution and its amendments, political, parties, and ways in which people use the government to influence the behavior and financial standing of themselves and others. Social: Related to how people live together in groups. Social history often focuses on minority groups and women, questions of daily life, and class structure. Technological: Related to new inventions and how those inventions impact upon daily life, industry, warfare, etc.
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