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Strategies to Help You Show the DBQ Who’s Boss


QUESTION • What does it say? • If it’s unclear, state it in your own words.

BRAINSTORM • List all possible information you know about the question without looking at the documents. • If there is a time limit, make sure events fit the particular timeframe. • Keep this information visible throughout the essay so that you do not forget to include any relevant facts. • You will not score well if you do not include substantial and specific outside information.

THESIS • Compose a rough thesis statement before looking at the documents. • Make sure your thesis answers the question directly. • Identify categories within your thesis that will allow you to examine the question fully.

ORGANIZATION • If the question provides a structure, use that structure to outline your essay. • If not, use the categories you identified in your thesis to develop your structure. • Compose an outline using your categories and details from your brainstorm.

DOCUMENTS • Use APPARTS or a similar strategy or chart to examine each document. • Examine bias in every document. • Categorize the documents to fit the structure of your essay. • Strategize where in your outline you can insert analysis of specific documents. • Look out for contradictory documents and challenge yourself to use opposing documents creatively in your essay. • Avoid “laundry listing” documents within your essay. • Use a majority of the documents but not necessarily all of them.

COMPOSING • Analysis and synthesis must be your goal. • Avoid summarizing documents and quoting sources at length. • Demonstrate how the documents support your thesis. • Never use “Document A says…” or “In Document A…” State the author’s name or the source itself. It is acceptable to put (A) or (Document A) at the end of a sentence applying a particular document. • Remember to incorporate just as much outside information into your essay as documentary analysis.

PRACTICE The only way to show the DBQ who’s boss is to practice several DBQ’s throughout your preparation for the exam.