How to Write a Document Based Question Essay

STEP 1 ❖ What does the prompt say? ❖ Take a minute to record your thoughts about what you will be writing about. If you are unclear email or ask your teacher for more clarification.

STEP 2 ❖ Do the reading! ❖ In order to write anything reading must be done. In the case of a DBQ one must really look at the documents and work your way through the material. I encourage my students to take notes on the reading to help support their claims.

STEP 3 ❖ Write your thesis. ❖ State the historical context / intro sentence / origins of what you will be discussing in the essay. Follow up with a brief one sentence that addresses the topics that will be covered in each body paragraph.

STEP 4 ❖ Write a brief outline of the essay. ❖ This is not only a great habit but shows prior thought and will get you a much better grade.

STEP 5 ❖ A. Introduce the claim of that paragraph/ topic sentence. ❖ B. Explain the topic sentence and you believe so strongly that this is true. (Example) ❖ C. Provide evidence that can help prove your point. ❖ D. Identify the significance of the evidence and continue to comment on it. ❖ E. Explain the topic sentence and you believe so strongly that this is true. (Example) ❖ F. Provide evidence that can help prove your point. ❖ G. Identify the significance of the evidence and continue to comment on it. ❖ H. Conclusion or connection to the next paragraph.

STEP 6 ❖ Continue to write all the paragraphs. ❖ Once this is completed make sure that you step away from it and come back the next day to make sure it is still as good as you remember it.

STEP 7 ❖ READ ALOUD!!! ❖ This is so important as it is your first line of defense on whether it is a good or bad essay. If you really want to do some good have someone else read it.

QUESTIONS TO ASK ❖ • Have I offered my reader evidence to substantiate each assertion I make in my paper? ❖ • Do I thoroughly explain why/how my evidence backs up my ideas? ❖ • Do I avoid generalizing in my paper by specifically explaining how my evidence is representative? ❖ • Do I provide evidence that not only confirms but also qualifies my paper’s main claims? ❖ • Do I use evidence to test and evolve my ideas, rather than to just confirm them? ❖ • Do I cite my sources thoroughly and correctly?

ELEMENTS OF A GOOD ESSAY ❖ 1. Does the essay answer the question/deal with the topic that was set? ❖ 2. Does it cover all the of arguments or viewpoints? (Have you missed one side of the argument? ) ❖ 3. Have you covered the main points in sufficient depth? ❖ 4. Is the essay analytical in style and questioning in approach? (as above) ❖ 5. Have you developed and sustained the argument throughout the essay? (Check what you’re saying) ❖ 6. Is the argument logical and realistic? (as above) ❖ 7. Is the content accurate and relevant? ❖ 8. Is the material logically arranged? (check the structure by drawing up a contents list) ❖ 9. Is there a sense of direction, a reason why one paragraph follows another?