Tips on the DBQ (Document Based Question)

Background – The essay writing portion of the AP Exam (Section II) includes Part A (DBQ) and Part B/C (two Free Response questions). You are allowed 2 hours, 10 minutes to complete these three essay questions. Students should spend the first 15 minutes reading the DBQ and preparing/outlining the responses. After the 15 minute reading period, 45 minutes are allowed on the DBQ. Following the DBQ, pick two out of the four essays (do the ones that you know the most about) and spend 30 minutes on each of them.

I. Preparation

a. Use a black pen

b. Carefully, read the instructions

c. Carefully, read the question

i. Think about the question

ii. What is the question asking you to do?

iii. Pay attention to the time frame of the question. You can go outside a little, but don’t spend a long time on it

d. Before you read the documents, make a list of historical facts you want to include in the essay. This is your outside information

e. Quickly read through the documents

i. Underline the points you want to remember

ii. Consider how you may use each document

iii. Make notes to yourself beside the document

iv. Note the sophistication of the document. Why was it written? Is there a bias? How reliable is the information provided?

v. Identify any contradictions – either between documents or within a particular document

vi. Classify the documents according to their content, or dates, or authors, or whatever else might be a common thread. Do not connect all the documents

f. Make a list of facts, information, and ideas from the documents you want to include in the essay

g. Don’t just paraphrase the documents, analyze them

II. Write the Essay

a. In your first paragraph, include:

i. A broad general statement concerning the question

ii. A thesis – You must have a thesis! A thesis is what you are trying to prove in your essay. You can only prove the thesis by using historical facts from your memory and the documents. Underline the thesis

iii. An organization statement. This statement includes the points you are going to use to prove the thesis

b. In your second paragraph, describe the historical setting of the question

i. State what is going on in the U.S. at the time of the question

ii. Depending on the question, you may want to go back in time a little before the time of the question and/or go forward a little in time

iii. Include outside information. You need 3 or 4 per point you were trying to make

iv. Make this a quick paragraph. You have a lot to do yet!

c. In your third paragraph, refer back to your thesis and begin to answer the question

d. In subsequent paragraphs, finish the essay

e. In the conclusion, summarize your main points. Do not introduce new material

III. Things To Remember

a. The DBQ is like a mini-research paper. It measures your ability to interpret historical evidence

b. The documents are in chronological order

c. Include information from the documents and information not in the documents

d. Analyze the documents, don’t just recite what’s in them. Focus on the causes and consequences. What is their significance and how do they relate to the question? Don’t use long quotes

e. When you use information from the documents, identify the document by its letter. Example – (doc. A), (doc. B), etc.

f. You do not have to use all of the documents, but use most of them

g. Answer the question asked. Don’t go off track

h. A better written essay will probably be scored higher

i. There is always one colonial essay question and one cold war question

j. Varying viewpoints help the essay

k. It should be politically correct

l. Common Weaknesses:

i. Mere paraphrasing of the documents – Don’t do this!

ii. Too many direct quotes

iii. Using only outside information

iv. Using only information from the documents

v. Not paying attention to the time frame of the question

m. Relax!