How to Write a DBQ COMPONENTS OF AN

How to Write a DBQ

COMPONENTS OF AN ESSAY • Introduction • Body Paragraphs • Conclusion • Five Total Paragraphs

INTRODUCTION Components of the Introduction Paragraph 1. Establish time and place 2. Main Points (sub-topics) 3. Thesis Statement – underline this Should be 4 -6 sentences

INTRODUCTION (continued) • Establish Time and Place: • Main Points: State main point of each body paragraph(topic sentences) – You should have an appropriate, logical number of main points (most likely 2 or 3)! – These should support your thesis!

INTRODUCTION (continued) • Thesis: Is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. ** A thesis answers the document question with your interpretation of the answer** **It must have a subject and an opinion** **It must answer all parts of the question** Example: Shoes are the best clothing accessory. Shoes = subject Opinion = the best clothing accessory

Thesis Practice Document Question: For what reasons did the North and South fight the Civil War? • Example 1: The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different. – Strengths? Weaknesses? • Example 2: While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions. – Strengths? Weaknesses? • Example 3: While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government. – Strengths? Weaknesses?

BODY PARAGRAPHS COMPONENTS OF A BODY PARAGRAPH • Topic Sentence (these were your main points in the introduction paragraph) • Integrated Quote / Evidence – 1 or 2 quotes per body paragraph • Elaboration 1 / Commentary • Elaboration 2 / Commentary • Outside Information • Analyze bias or point of view • Transition Sentence

BODY PARAGRAPHS (continued) • Topic Sentence: main point of body paragraph *It is your mini-thesis or “mini-me”* *Each topic sentence should support your thesis*

BODY PARAGRAPHS (continued) • Integrated Quote / Evidence: quote from the document or paraphrase – What to do: • Thomas Paine, in his pamphlet, Common Sense, said: “…………………” (Document 4). • The 19 c historian, Frederick Jackson Turner, felt that ………………… (Document E). – What NOT to do: • Document 4 says, “-----. ” • The chart in document 6 illustrates, ………….

BODY PARAGRAPHS (continued) • Elaboration 1 / Commentary: – your comments support and explain the concrete detail • Elaboration 2 / Commentary: – your comments support and explain the concrete detail • Outside Information: – Include any relevant or supportive outside information (Prior Knowledge) – Must include at least two pieces of outside information throughout the entire essay!! – Honors must include at least three pieces of O. I. !!

BODY PARAGRAPHS (continued • Analyze bias or point of view: – What is the authors point of view? – How is their view limited? – How does it fit into your thesis? Does it support it? Does it argue against it? – You must do this for at least two documents throughout the essay!! • Transition Sentence: sentence that leads into next body paragraph

CONCLUSION • Thesis: clearly stated; re-stated from introduction (re-worded) • Summarize Essay: summarize main points of essay • Impact Statement: leave reader in “awe”; make us feel something – End or beginning of a trend/movement/idea – NOT that’s why we are the way we are today! 3 -4 Sentences