History Documents Based Evidence (DBQ) Essay Contest
In American exams, a document-based question (DBQ), also known as data-based question, is an or series of short-answer questions that is constructed by students using one's own combined with support from several provided sources. Usually, it is employed on timed .
The DBQ is an unfamiliar type of in-class essay for many students, but it does not need to be a source of dread or panic. In this guide I'll go over the DBQ's purpose and format, what the documents are and how to use them, how this type of essay is scored, and how to prepare. I'll tell you everything you need torock this unique type of essay!
The document based question was first used for the 1973 AP United States History Exam published by the , created as a joint effort between Development Committee members Reverend Giles Hayes and Stephen Klein. Both were unhappy with student performance on free-response essays, and often found that students were "groping for half-remembered information" and "parroted factual information with little historical analysis or argument" when they wrote their essays. The goal of the Document Based Question was for students to be "less concerned with the recall of previously learned information" and more engaged in deeper historical inquiry. Hayes, in particular, hoped students would "become junior historians and play the role of historians for that hour" as they engaged in the DBQ.
Answers to the document questions and an example essay.
I have a document-based essay coming up for my history class, and I've never done one before. Can anyone give me some advice on how to approach or structure a document-based essay? Any tips or strategies would be appreciated! Thanks!
When approaching a document-based essay, the key is to carefully analyze the provided documents, develop an argument, and support it using evidence from the documents. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you structure your document-based essay effectively:
As a veteran of the DBQ, I'm here to answer all your questions. Why do the AP History exams even have a document-based question? What will it look like on the exam? What are these documents, anyways? Let's dive right in.
The point of the document-based question is not to torment you but actually to put you in the historian's shoes as an interpreter of historical material. Cool, right?
What is the origin of the document?
The documents contained in the document-based questions are rarely familiar texts (for example, the and are not likely to be on a U.S. history test), though the documents' authors may be major historical figures. The documents vary in length and format.
Here are some examples of documented essay topics:
4. Create an outline: Plan your essay by organizing the information from the documents into relevant categories or themes. This will help you present a clear and well-structured argument.
[PDF] Document-Based Essay - History
6. Address each document in the body paragraphs: Dedicate a paragraph to each major point or category you identified in your outline. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence and include specific references to the documents to support your argument. Analyze the relevance and reliability of the document's information, and make sure to connect these points to your thesis.
[PDF] Writing a Document Based Essay: A 10-Step Approach
7. Address conflicting perspectives: If there are documents that present opposing viewpoints, address them and explain why your argument still holds weight. This will demonstrate your ability to critically analyze various perspectives.
What Is a Document-Based Question (DBQ)? - Spark Admissions
- Consider the source: Pay attention to who produced the document, when it was created, and any potential biases or limitations that it may have. This will help you assess the credibility of the information and strengthen your overall analysis.
What is a DBQ? The Document-Based Question Explained
If you were going to go back and write an essay for your friend about this after you've reviewed your "documents," your thesis might be something like one of these examples: