How to D.B.Q.

A.P. U.S. History IMr. Clark

What is a D.B.Q.?The acronym D.B.Q. stands for Document-

Based Question.A DBQ is a question that focuses around one

or more documents. The documents can be a graph, cartoon, short

excerpt, picture, etc., basically anything that a student can obtain information from.

D.B.Q. Process

STEP 1Read the essay question carefully and then CIRCLE any key words, dates, etc.

in the question.

What were the major arguments used by each side

(the supporters and the opponents) in the debates over the ratification of the

U.S. Constitution?

STEP 2BRAINSTORM any names, dates, key

events, etc. that relate to the essay question.

WRITE down these items in any blank space you can find.

DO NOT take any more than 2 minutes!!!

representationFederalistsAnti-FederalistsRepublicansassumptionBill of RightsAlexander HamiltonRoger Shermanlarge vs. small statesThomas Jeffersonfederal vs. state power

9 of 13 statesDelawareVirginiaNew YorkNew Hampshiretyranny1787PhiladelphiaGeorge Washingtonslave vs. free states

STEP 3READ each of the

documents carefully!CIRCLE any key points contained within each

document.

Document 1

This excerpt is from a newspaper, The Massachusetts Sentinel, October 20, 1787.

Let us look and behold the distresses which prevail in every part of our country… the complaints of our farmers… the complaints of every class of public creditors… the melancholy faces of our working people… our rotting ships in our harbors… the insults that are offered to the American name and characters in every court of Europe… View these things, fellow citizens, and then say that we do not require a new, a protecting, and efficient federal government if you can.

STEP 4Now that you have read all of

the documents and CIRCLED any and all key information,

you are to CHART the documents on a “T-chart”.

YES NO

FOR AGAINST

136

245

STEP 5Now that you have read the essay

question, analyzed the essay question, brainstormed information about the

essay question, analyzed the documents, and charted the

documents…WRITE your thesis statement for the essay topic (rough

draft)!!!

What were the major arguments used by each side

(the supporters and the opponents) in the debates over the ratification of the

U.S. Constitution?

There were numerous arguments, both by supporters

and opponents, used in the debate over the ratification of

new United States Constitution.

STEP 5 Reminders• Does my THESIS STATEMENT answer

ALL of the parts of the essay topic?• If I am asked to “choose a side”, did I

actually CHOOSE a side?• Remember, never to offer your

opinion or write in 1st person!

STEP 6Once your rough draft of your

thesis statement is done, WRITE down the THREE areas/topics that best

support your thesis sentence!

There were numerous arguments, both by supporters

and opponents, used in the debate over the ratification of

new United States Constitution.

(1)Bill of Rights

(2) Federal power vs. State power

(3) Economic power

STEP 6 Reminders• Does the essay topic offer me THREE

“natural” areas that I can discuss?• If there are no “natural” areas, should

I try and S*P*E*R*M?

STEP 7Now that you have the rough draft of your thesis sentence as well as the THREE general areas/topic supporting your

thesis, WRITE your introductory paragraph.

STEP 7 Reminders• PLEASE do not forget to B-B-T-1-2-3!!!• Try and use some of the information from your BRAINSTORMING session for

your background sentences!• Remember to K*I*S*S

STEP 8Begin writing the BODY of

your essay!

STEP 8 Reminders• Did you reinforce your THESIS statement in EACH

paragraph?• Did you use FACTS to support your paragraph?

• Did you incorporate DOCUMENTS in each of the body paragraphs (at least 1… minimum)?

• Did I properly integrate the documents into the essay (not referring to them as Document 1 or Document B)?

• Did I rephrase the documents instead of quoting them?• If I did HAVE to quote the document, did I limit the

quotes I did use (NO MORE than 3-4 words)?

STEP 9You are almost there… Now

it is time to “close the deal”! Write the

CONCLUSION to your D.B.Q. essay.

STEP 9 RemindersYour CONCLUSION should

ALWAYS contain a restatement of your thesis statement, and must NEVER be shorter than

three sentences!

STEP 10

PROOFREAD

STEP 10 Reminders• Did I check for spelling errors?• Did I check for grammar errors?• Did I use any contractions?

• Did I use accurate FACTS to support my essay?• Did I use all of the “brainstorm” info?

• Did I use “one more than ½” of all the documents to support my essay?

• Did I use capitalization properly?• Did I use advanced vocabulary?