Monday, March 10, 2008

DBQ Writing Notes

An essay question that requires you to interpret primary source documents

Documents include

Newspapers articles/editorials

Letters/Diaries

Speeches

Legislation

Political Cartoons

Charts and Graphs

What are the Docs for?

Use the docs to discuss events and ideas with which you are familiar.

Support or refute essay question

Stick to topic

No right or wrong answer

Use a strong historical argument

Getting Started

Read the Q thoroughly

Explore all parts of the Q

Highlight important aspects

2 Questions for self

Do you have an opinion?

What must you discuss to write a successful essay

Gather all the information

Decide on data

Outline

Underline key parts of the question

Thoroughly examined and analyzed the questioned

Don't describe documents, analyze them

Jot down OI's

Spend 2 or 3 minutes

Decide what you can and cannot use

Don't crowbar OI's into an argument if they are not relevant

Reading the Documents

Use the three levels of questions, SOAPS, and inferences

Documents are in chronological order

Organize for compare and contrast (not in chronological order)

Check for inconsistencies

Use to provide counter-arguments

Omit

Thesis development

Read Q more than once

Develop an argument you can prove

Make sure your thesis addresses every aspect of the question

Once you've decided thesis

Provide supporting/contradicting information

Ask why that doc was included

Add OI's

Writing Essay

Be concise and to the point

Back up thesis with facts, solid evidence, no fluff

3 or 4 different issues or topic sentences

Make sure you are addressing the question

Reread question after every paragraph

Include as many documents as possible

Final Conclusion

Stay confident

Don't panic

Take a deep breath to relax

You have prepared all year for this test

Everyone is in same boat as you


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