AIM: HOW DO I PROPERLY WRITE AN AP WORLD HISTORY

DBQ ESSAY?

MOTIVATIONHAN DYNASTY ROMAN EMPIRE

VENN DIAGRAM

DOCUMENT BASED QUESTION

Overview• This is the first essay you will see on the AP Exam

• As the name implies, this question is based on a group of documents that cover one topic.

Typically 5-10 documents Usually around a particular period

of time

PURPOSE OF DBQ

Designed to test your ability to work with and understand historical documents. You must write an essay that: Has a relevant thesis and supports that

thesis with evidence from the documents Uses all of the documents Analyzes the documents by grouping them

in as many appropriate ways as possible. Does not simply summarize the documents individually

Takes into account the sources of the documents and analyzes the author’s point of view

Identifies and explains the need for at least one additional type of document

Steps to Writing a

DBQ Essay

STEP 1Process the questionYou cannot begin to think about the document until you

know what you are being asked to do!Underline the important stuff (time period, culture,

location)Circle what you are supposed to analyze and the actions

you need to take (compare and contrast, change over time, etc.)

Note what the additional document is supposed to do.

ExampleUsing the documents, analyze Han and Roman

attitudes towards technology. Identify one additional type of document and explain briefly how it would help your analysis.

What do you know the documents are about?What are you being asked to do?What could an additional document do? For each document, you need to ask yourself what attitude toward technology is being conveyed.

STEP 2

Determine the main idea of each document

Read each document. In two sentences or less, summarize the main

idea of each document.

I do not believe that tools for the crafts were invented by wise men. The question of whether the hammer or the tongs came first does not seem important to me. Both were invented by someone with a mind that was nimble and sharp, but not great or elevated. - Seneca, upper-class Roman philosopher and adviser to Emperor Nero, first century C.E.

STEP 3 ANALYZE POINT-OF-VIEW Ask yourself… Who is the author of the source? Why might this person have this particular opinion?

Analyze point-of-view for at least TWO DOCUMENTS. Attribution is not sufficient. Point of view comes from THREE SOURCES:

1.AUTHOR’S FRAME OF REFERENCE (nationality, gender, age, religion, occupation, political background, education, personal experience)2.Historical Context – time in which it was written3.Tone – use of the language

I do not believe that tools for the crafts were invented by wise men. The question of whether the hammer or the tongs came first does not seem important to me. Both were invented by someone with a mind that was nimble and sharp, but not great or elevated. - Seneca, upper-class Roman philosopher and adviser to Emperor Nero, first century C.E.

STEP 4 MISSING VOICES/DOCUMENTSWhose voice is absent? What type of document would help you better answer the question?

THERE ARE DOCUMENTS FROM THE FOLLOWING SOURCES:

Han government officialUpper-class Han philosopherGovernment-sponsored history of the Han Upper-class Roman political leaderUpper-class Roman philosopherRoman general Roman citizen/high official

WHAT TYPE OF DOCUMENT WOULD HELP YOU BETTER

ANSWER THE QUESTION?

STEP 5

GROUPING THE DOCUMENTS

Group the documents in at least three ways. Think about…How are some of the documents related? What do they have in common? You must do more than simply say they are Han or Roman documents.

Common Groupings:Social class of authorPhilosophers vs. officialsPro-technology vs. con-technologyRole of government in relation to technology

STEP 6

Write your introduction paragraph and thesis

It must answer the questionIt must address all parts of the questionIt must not be vague or simply restate the questionIt must be explicitly stated in the introduction or conclusionIt may appear as one sentence or as multiple sentences.

DBQ Essay Structure

OPTION I. 1ST PARAGRAPHIntroductionThesis

BODY X 31.Topic sentence should state the GROUP2.Remainder of paragraph should individually address documents. 3.Point of view should be addressed in each of the three paragraphs.

CONCLUSIONRestate thesis

OPTION II.

Paragraph 1- INTRO AND THESIS (WHAT DO YOU WANT TO PROVE?)

Thesis: Major points to be made in essay

Paragraph 2- KEY ELEMENTS IN HAN ATTITUDES ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

List three to five important points. Make sure there is some connection to the documents.

PARAGRAPH 3- KEY ELEMENTS IN ROMAN ATTITUDES ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

List three to five important points. Make sure there is some connection to the documents.

PARAGRAPH 4- WAY THAT HAN AND ROMAN ATTITUDES WERE ALIKE AND DISSIMILAR

List at least two similarities and three differences, or visa versa.

PARAGRAPH 5- CONCLUSION Review the major points you have proven

WHEN USING DOCUMENTS

You must paraphrase the document and then cite it

(Doc. #____)

Use the Author and the Name of the Work to refer to a document

John Smith in his book The History of the World said…

Never write “In Document One…”

DBQ GROUP

ACTIVITY

DIRECTIONS: IN YOUR ASSIGNED GROUPS YOU WILL EACH COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING GRAPHIC ORGANIZER ON EACH OF THE DOCUMENTS. WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED YOU WILL SELECT A GROUP MEMBER TO WRITE THE CHART ON YOUR ASSIGNED DOCUMENT ON THE SMART BOARD! BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS DOCUMENTS IN CLASS!!!

DOCUMENTS 1-8SUBJECT

OCCASION

AUDIENCE

PURPOSE

SPEAKER

TONE

DOCUMENT 1

SUBJECT Han official is ordering local officials on how to organize their officials and labor force with use of technology in order to prevent disaster from floods

OCCASION China, early 2nd century

AUDIENCE Local Han officials

PURPOSE To make sure the government is maintaining public works and controlling floods

To convey idea that technology is essential part of empire and requires government intervention

SPEAKER Han government official

TONE Shows concern for people and property; gives the impression that technology is there to aid the Chinese

DOCUMENT 2SUBJECT Huan Guan is writing about the problems that lack of

technology and poor government policy is having on the people

OCCASION China, first century B.C.E.

AUDIENCE Government officials

PURPOSE To advise the government that their policies (using convict labor to make tools and monopoly on salt and iron) has had devastating effects on the people

Also, to let the Han government know that it is their job to rectify the situation and improve the available technologies

SPEAKER Huan Guan, Han government official

TONE Critical of recent government policies

DOCUMENT 3

SUBJECT Huan Tan is listing the progress of technology after the emperor’s first invention.

OCCASION China, about 20 C.E.

AUDIENCE Educated, mostly upper class Chinese; government

PURPOSE To show the benefits that technology has provided to the Chinese people

SPEAKER Huan Tan, upper-class Han philosopher

TONE Shows appreciation for the benefits of technology. Attitude that technology is a “gift” from enlightened emperors.

The mortar is a bowl, typically made of hard wood, ceramic or stone.

The pestle is a heavy club-shaped object, the end of which is used for crushing and grinding.

DOCUMENT 4

SUBJECT Stating how Tu Shih, a Han governor, cared for the Chinese people and used technology to benefit them

OCCASION China, about 200 C.E.

AUDIENCE People who might be losing faith in the Han Dynasty

PURPOSE To glorify the actions of the early Han dynasty and show how effective their inventions were in minimizing human labor

SPEAKER Someone hired by the government (“government sponsored”)

TONE Shows appreciation for the accomplishments of the Han dynasty; glorifies them

DOCUMENT 5

SUBJECT Cicero is stating that the jobs of craftsmen and hired workers that work with hands are “vulgar” and unbecoming; says that gentlemen do not work with their hands

OCCASION ROME, 1st century B.C.E.

AUDIENCE Other upper class men

PURPOSE To distinguish between quality professions and vulgar professions

SPEAKER Cicero, upper class Roman political leader

TONE Lacks respect for inventions and inventors (craftsmen); technology is necessary, but not for enlightened minds

DOCUMENT 6SUBJECT Plutarch is explaining Gaius Gracchus’ road building

enterprises with special attention to their usefulness and aesthetics

OCCASION Roman Empire, 1st century C.E.

AUDIENCE Other upper class men

PURPOSE To show that the Roman upper class did appreciate technology that benefitted the upper class (no mention of how commoners benefitted; designed roads to specifically help those with horses)

SPEAKER Plutarch, Greek born Roman citizen

TONE Shows appreciation for the usefulness and aesthetics of Roman roads

Shows admiration for Gracchus’ hard work in road building

DOCUMENT 7

SUBJECT Seneca is stating that it takes someone nimble and sharp to make inventions, but these craftsmen are not the greatest minds of his day

OCCASION Roman Empire, 1st century C.E.

AUDIENCE Other upper class men

PURPOSE To differentiate between those who work with hands and those that work with minds

SPEAKER Seneca, upper-class Roman philosopher and advisor to emperor Nero

TONE Lacks respect for craftsmen (degrades their achievements and abilities)

Not concerned about hammers and tongs because as an upperclassmen, he would never use them

DOCUMENT 8

SUBJECT Frontinus praises Roman aqueducts and their uses in the city of Rome. He describes its intelligent design and how it benefits the public

OCCASION Roman Empire, 1st century C.E.

AUDIENCE Other Roman officials (so they can see that he is doing a good job as water commissioner)

PURPOSE To glorify Roman aqueducts and their numerous benefits; to show Roman superiority over Egyptians and Greeks

SPEAKER Frontinus, Roman general, governor of Britain, and water commissioner

TONE Shows pride for Roman aqueducts and appreciates their practical and aesthetic nature

(keep in mind, he is the water commissioner for Rome – his job and income depends on the aqueducts)