How To Write a

1
How To Write a DBQ! ??
By Stacie M. Tarsitano
2

• 1. Read the question carefully!
• What are the demands of the
• question?
• Underline/Highlight the key aspects of the
  question.
• How would you answer this without
• the documents?

3

• 2. Brainstorm
• What do you know?
• Names, dates, events, etc.
• Write your Thesis.

4

• 3.Read and Analyze the documents.
• Look at key aspects of the doc
• author
• When was it written?
• What is the main point/view?
• Underline/Highlight this key info.
• Write notes in margin summarizing
• documents and how you might use
• them.

5

• 4.Reread the question.
• How do your documents relate?
• In what ways can you use this document
• to support your thesis/argument?

6

• 5. Write Thesis and three main points.
• If necessary, re-write your Thesis.
• Outline using only OUTSIDE info.
• From text, notes, charts, etc.
• Select documents that relate to your
• main point.
• Create chart Agree/Disagree
• Supports/Does Not

7

• 6. Write your essay using the documents
  throughout!
• Do Not quote!
• Do Not re-state the documents!
• Do Not string docs together
• Use your outside information and
• support it with the documents.

8
How to cite your documents Single
Document The San Francisco 49ers have the best
football team in the history of the NFL as shown
by five Super Bowl rings, numerous Hall of Fame
players and coaches, and the consistent quality
of play demonstrated throughout the franchises
history (Doc.4).
9
How to cite your documents Multiple
Documents The Oakland Raiders have struggled
for many years in the NFL, despite moving to
different cities, hiring a wide variety of
coaches, and using many of the 49ers key, but
older and close to retirement, players (Docs. 2,
7).
10

• Lets Review!
• Look at demands of the question.
• 2. Develop an argument/thesis.
• 3. Support an argument using background
  knowledge.
• 4. Read, highlight and consider the different
  sources/documents.
• 5. Outline essay weaving texts and ideas from
  multiple documents to support your different
  arguments

11
Examples of Additional Primary
Sources Architectural plans
Maps Advertisements Letters Diary
Entries Art Work Music/Lyrics Tax
Records Inventories Bills of
Sale Indentured Records Obituaries Poetry/Lit
erature Military Records Census
Information