The DBQ Defined…The DBQ Defined…

• A Document-Based Question means A Document-Based Question means they want a they want a document based answer!!document based answer!!

• The essay will refer to a number of The essay will refer to a number of documentsdocuments

• You will You will NOTNOT have an immediate have an immediate answer, so don’t worry!!!answer, so don’t worry!!!

What do you do?What do you do?

• ReadRead the instructions the instructions

• AnalyzeAnalyze the documents the documents

• OutlineOutline; group documents into ; group documents into categoriescategories

• WriteWrite a well-organized essay a well-organized essay

• IntegrateIntegrate the documents into your the documents into your essay as supportessay as support

Rule # 1:Rule # 1:Don’t Panic…….READ!Don’t Panic…….READ!

• The answer is in the documents, not The answer is in the documents, not your worries your worries

• Time is short (50 minutes) and worry Time is short (50 minutes) and worry wastes timewastes time

• Get moving to maximize each momentGet moving to maximize each moment

Rule # 1:Rule # 1:Don’t Panic……READ! (cont’d)Don’t Panic……READ! (cont’d)

• Read quicklyRead quickly

• Make notes in test booklet as you readMake notes in test booklet as you read

• Categorize documentsCategorize documents

Things to be aware of….Things to be aware of….

• You WON’T know that much about the You WON’T know that much about the subjectsubject

• You are being judge on your ability to You are being judge on your ability to analyze documentsanalyze documents

• You NEED to use all of the documents!You NEED to use all of the documents!

Before you start writing:Before you start writing:• Read and analyze the documents for Read and analyze the documents for

reference and usereference and use

• Outline, but outline quickly Outline, but outline quickly

The “Top Bun” of your essay!

4-6 sentences

1. Establish TIME & PLACE.

2. Create a clear, THESIS STATEMENT.[underline or highlight it!]

3. Allude to the SUB-TOPICS or categories you will discuss to support your thesis statement

4. Focus on the question at hand—do NOT begin with a “flowery” sentence!

No “laundry list!”

The “tasty” part of your essay!

8-12 sentences+ per paragraph

1. Identify your sub-topic or category in the first sentence.

2. Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph.

3. Use all of the documents given.

4. Be sure to indicate Point-of-View (POV)/bias.

5. Bring in supportive outside information [o.i.]. This is critical!

6. Why were these documents selected?

1. Identify your sub-topic or category in the first sentence.

2. Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph.

3. Use all of the documents given.

4. Be sure to indicate Point-of-View (POV)/bias.

5. Bring in supportive outside information [o.i.]. This is critical!

6. Why were these documents selected?

1. Attribution Who is this person?

2. Why might they be significant?

3. What is the point of view (POV) of the author?

4. How reliable and accurate is the source?

5. What is the tone or intent of the document author?

6. What other information does this document call to mind? Use all available clues.

1. Attribution Who is this person?

2. Why might they be significant?

3. What is the point of view (POV) of the author?

4. How reliable and accurate is the source?

5. What is the tone or intent of the document author?

6. What other information does this document call to mind? Use all available clues.

Remember, docs. can be used in a variety of ways!

Remember, docs. can be used in a variety of ways!

1.Attribution: cite the author by name, title, or position, if possible.

1.Attribution: cite the author by name, title, or position, if possible. Why is this person and

document selected?How does it help me answer the question?

Why is this person and document selected?How does it help me answer the question?

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:

John Tyler, an English writer, said: “...”

A Dominican monk in Florence described….

John Tyler, an English writer, said: “...”

A Dominican monk in Florence described….

2. Authorial Point of View: you show awareness that the gender, occupation, class, religion, nationality, political position or ethnic identity of the author could influence his/her views.

How does this apply to the question?Why has the author written what he/she has?

How does this apply to the question?Why has the author written what he/she has?

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Balthasar Rusow, a Lutheran pastor, was naturally upset by the celebration of a Saint’s Day, since Lutherans don’t venerate saints.

Balthasar Rusow, a Lutheran pastor, was naturally upset by the celebration of a Saint’s Day, since Lutherans don’t venerate saints.

3. Reliability and accuracy of each source referenced: you examine a source for its reliability and accuracy by questioning if the author of the document would be in a position to be accurate.

How might this help you answer the question?How might this help you answer the question?

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Niccolo Machiavelli’s book on the political tactics of a Renaissance prince was probably accurate as he observed the behavior of the prince, Cesare Borgia, for many years.

Niccolo Machiavelli’s book on the political tactics of a Renaissance prince was probably accurate as he observed the behavior of the prince, Cesare Borgia, for many years.

4. Tone or Intent of the Author: you examine the text of a document to determine its tone (satire, irony, indirect commentary, etc.) or the intent of the author. Especially useful for visual documents, like art work or political cartoons.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

In his great sculpture of “David,” Michelangelo wanted to convey the confidence, and even arrogance, of Renaissance Florence at the peak of its cultural influence in 16c Europe.

In his great sculpture of “David,” Michelangelo wanted to convey the confidence, and even arrogance, of Renaissance Florence at the peak of its cultural influence in 16c Europe.

5. Grouping of Docs. by Author: you show an awareness that certain types of authors, simply by their authorship, will express similar views when you group documents by type of author.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

As Northern Renaissance humanists, Erasmus, Sir Thomas More, and Cervantes all poked fun at the foibles and scandals of late medieval society as well as of their own.

As Northern Renaissance humanists, Erasmus, Sir Thomas More, and Cervantes all poked fun at the foibles and scandals of late medieval society as well as of their own.

1. Baldassare Castiglione, in The Handbook of the Courtier, said: “………………….”

2. Erasmus of Rotterdam, a northern Christian humanist, agreed with…

3. The 19c historian, Jacob Burkhardt, felt that …………………. (Doc. 9)

NEVER begin with: In Document 3, …..

NEVER begin with: In Document 3, …..

The “Bottom Bun” of your essay!

It holds it all together!

3-4 sentences

1. Start with a “concluding phrase.”

2. Restate your thesis statement a bit differently.

3. Put your essay answer in a larger historical perspective.

End of some trend/movement/idea, etc.

Beginning of some trend/movement/idea, etc.

End of one & beginning of another.

Do NOT end on the note that this is the reason we are where we are today!

BE CONFIDENT!!BE CONFIDENT!!• The information needed is IN THE The information needed is IN THE

DOCUMENTS!!DOCUMENTS!!

• Try to bring in other information if you Try to bring in other information if you cancan

• Stay on topicStay on topic

• Watch the timeWatch the time

Don’t……Don’t……• Quote extensivelyQuote extensively

• Do a “laundry list” approachDo a “laundry list” approach

• Stray off topicStray off topic

• Forget to answer the whole questionForget to answer the whole question

• Waste timeWaste time

Summary…..Summary…..• Don’t panic. Do it!Don’t panic. Do it!

• The answer is in the documents!The answer is in the documents!

• Organize and be clearOrganize and be clear

• Wake up that reader and make them Wake up that reader and make them pay attention to your brilliance!pay attention to your brilliance!

Create a rough draft in outline form using this format:

Skip a line from your intro. ¶

Identify the “theme”/thesis of this first “meat” ¶ [underline or highlight it]

Indent bullets listing all facts/doc. info. and other “o.i.”s that you will need in that ¶

When done with that ¶, skip a line and do the same for the other “meat” ¶s

1. Write out your introductory paragraph.

2. Create a loose outline of your “meat” ¶s in this manner:

3. Skip a line after your last “meat” ¶ and write you concluding ¶ out in full.

4. Bring your outline into class tomorrow and I will divide the class up into small “peer review” groups.

5. You will then read over the outlines of the other group members and make suggestions/corrections IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER.

Write out your introductory paragraph in full, underlining your thesis statement.

¶1 sub-topic title Information from a document (Doc-B) Information from another document (Doc-

E) Some outside information (OI) Different info. from the same document

(Doc-E)

¶2 sub-topic title Information from a document (Doc-A) Some outside information (OI) Some outside information (OI) Information from another document (Doc-

H)

¶3 sub-topic title Information from a document (Doc-C) Information from another document

(Doc-D) Some outside information (OI) Information from another document

(Doc-F) New information from the same

document (Doc-F) Some outside information (OI) Some outside information (OI)

Write out your concluding paragraph in full.