Document Based Question (DBQ)

Vocabulary

1. DBQ: Document Based Question

2. Context: Relating to the main idea; time period
3. Task: assignment of the student
4. Thesis Statement: What you will prove in your essay
5. Document: Sources of historical information that support the
main idea
6. Citing Documents: Using supporting evidence from
documents
7. Outside Information: Your knowledge not included in the
documents

8. Additional Performance Vocabulary:

i) Discuss: means “to talk about something using facts,
reasoning, and argument; to present in some detail.”

ii) Describe: means “to illustrate something in words or tell

about it.”

iii) Show: means “to point out – to set clearly a position or idea
by stating it and giving data to support it.”
iv) Explain: means to make plain or understandable; to give
reasons for or causes of – to show the logical development
or relationships of.”
 DBQ Essay Components

1) Introduction (4 – 6 sentences)

• General (to) Specific

• Restate/Summarize Historical Context (3 – 4 sentences)
– Indicate Topics to be discussed
– Use relevant facts and dates
• Thesis Statement (1 sentence)
– This is what your essay will prove
– Restating the task
– Last sentence in the paragraph
– Use your practice from the boxes above.

2) Body (Several paragraphs – more than 2 paragraphs)

• Develop information that proves your thesis using supporting evidence

from your documents and your knowledge.
• Use facts, dates, events, and examples
• Address all elements of the question/task
• Use various sentence structure

3)Conclusion (3 – 5 sentences)

• Specific (to) General

• Restate thesis statement (Which was in the introduction paragraph)
• Summarize major points
 Process for Completing a Document Based Question

• Step 1 - Read
A. Directions Part A
B. Historical Context
C. Task
D. Read the information in BOXES

• Step 2 - Write a thesis statement

✔ Thesis statement will come from the task
✔ Use the practice boxes to help you write a thesis.

✔ Thesis statement is what you will prove in the body of your

essay!

• Step 3 – Brainstorm information on the topic

➢ Write down any information you know about the topic, use the
graphic organizer box for in class DBQs or on the actual test
use the blank pages provided in the test booklet or a separate
sheet of paper

• Step 4 - Read and answer all document questions

• Step 5 – Read directions for Part B Essay

• Step 6 – Complete/Develop graphic organizer. Remember the

documents should feed your essay, however don’t forget outside
information!
 Now you are ready to write your essay!!!!

Thesis Statement Writing

Boxes:
Write your thesis statement here:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Brainstormideas on thesis. Use the box below. You can use

a graphic organizer.
Use the “box method” graphic organizer to list ideas that support
your essay.

Document # and Document

Outside Information
Description Information
Use answers from the DBQ Bring in outside
questions for document information related to that
Document # _____ information. Make sure that
part of the document.
Brief description of the you focus on the task (essay
question).
document.

Use answers from the DBQ Bring in outside

questions for document information related to that
Document # _____ information. Make sure that
you focus on the task (essay part of the document.
Brief description of the
question).
document.

Use answers from the DBQ Bring in outside

questions for document information related to that
Document # _____ information. Make sure that
you focus on the task (essay part of the document.
Brief description of the
question).
document.
 Use answers from the DBQ Bring in outside
questions for document information related to that
Document # _____ information. Make sure that
you focus on the task (essay part of the document.
Brief description of the
question).
document.

Use answers from the DBQ Bring in outside

questions for document information related to that
Document # _____ information. Make sure that
you focus on the task (essay part of the document
Brief description of the
question)
document.
 Use answers from the DBQ Bring in outside
questions for document information related to that
Document # _____ information. Make sure that
you focus on the task (essay part of the document.
Brief description of the
question).
document.
 Citing Documents

Three ways to cite document information in a DBQ:

1. Parentheses
Use parentheses to cite documents as in these examples - (Document 4)
(Document 5) (Document 1)
Make sure that you are writing the word “Document” and the number of the
corresponding document you are referring to.

2.Within the sentence

– Cite within a sentence using the following phrases
“According to Document 2…” or “In Document 5…”
Do not use sentences that begin this way as topic sentences.

3. End of paragraph
At the end of the paragraph (Documents: 3 and 4). Use this
manner of citing as a “last resort”.