“How to Guide for
Document Based Question
Essays”
Global History 9
Mr. Meetze
What is a Document Based
Question (D.B.Q.) Essay?
• A D.B.Q. is designed to
function as a ‘Mini
Research’ paper where
the student is provided 9
Short Answer research
questions based on
3 Separate Global
History Topics which are
then used to write a
‘Final’ Essay Paper on
the Final Exam
Sample Document
Rules of ALL D.B.Q.’s
• How Many
Paragraphs should
D.B.Q.’s be?
• How many
Documents do you
need to cite in your
D.B.Q essay?
• Can You use the
Historical Context
as your Introduction
Paragraph?
Terms You Need to Understand
• Student Thoroughly
addresses all Tasks
• Essay is More
Analytical than
Descriptive
• Use of Relative
Outside Information
• Richly Supports the
Documents with Facts
& Details
NYS Sample 10th Grade D.B.Q.
First
Thing
First
Thing
Underline What
you need to do
in each body
Paragraph
Read & Highlight ALL S.S. Keys
The ‘2-1-0’ Game
• Next step go through and
answer all Short Answer
Questions.
• Each question will either
receive a 2, 1, or 0.
• In order to Receive a 2
make sure the Answer is
in Complete Sentences,
Does NOT Restate the
Question, and is a
minimum of 2
Sentences.
Read and Highlight the Keys.
Document 2
Directions:
You have the next few
minutes to read and answer
on your own the Short
Answer or Scaffolding
Questions using the
‘2-1-0’ model.
DBQ Scoring
5,4,3,2,1 Rubric
= 100
= 80
= 60
DBQ Scoring
5,4,3,2,1 Rubric
= 40
= 20
Notice 3
Separate
Topics for 3
Body
Paragraphs
D.B.Q
Outline
 First Take out a
Sheet of paper
 Quickly Draw a big
Square, an Upside
Triangle, & a Triangle
 Within the Square
divide the object into 6
sections using 3 lines.
The ‘2 Liter’ DBQ Design?
1st Title of
DBQ
Use Your Sample
Outline
Intro- Min 4
Sentences
3 Body
Paragraph
Topics
Link Back 2 Events Prior
to DBQ Question
Doc #
Outside Info
‘Bottle Cap’
Write the DBQ
Question
Brainstorm at least
4-5 specific facts
not found in the
Documents per
Paragraph
7-10 Sentences
Minimum
Conclusion
Min 4 Sentences
Either Link DBQ Question
to next Event or Relate the
event to life today
Open the
‘Bottle Cap’
Write the DBQ
Question
Notice 3
Separate
Topics for 3
Body
Paragraphs
1st Title of DBQ
Link Back 2 Events Prior
to DBQ Question
3 Body
Paragraph
Topics
Doc #
Outside Info
Use Your Sample
Outline
‘Bottle Cap’
Write the DBQ
Question
Brainstorm
Outside Info,
Minimum 4-5
for each topic
Either Link DBQ Question
to next Event or Relate the
event to life today
Open the
‘Bottle Cap’
Write the DBQ
Question
Sample
DBQ
-Paleolithic Age
-Life as a Nomad
Docs
Neolithic
Revolution
1,2,3
Outside Info
- Live in Bands of
25-35
Industrial
Revolution
Green
Revolution
Revolutions in General
or Revolution effects
today
10-15
minutes
total on the
Outline
Writing the DBQ Reminders
1. Make sure the Intro
and Conclusion does
not consist of ‘This is
What I’m Going to
Do’ and ‘This is
What I just Wrote’
2. Be sure to Cite your
documents by either
saying ‘In Doc 2’ or
(Doc 2) at the end of
the sentence
Writing the DBQ Reminders
1. After you write a
sentence make sure
you can not ask
yourself a Who, What,
Where, When, Why, or
How question. If so
you didn’t write with
enough depth
2. Be sure to use your
outside info along with
your information found
in the document to
achieve ‘Analysis’
Writing the DBQ Reminders
1. Check the grading
rubric and self
grade your essay
5,4,3,2,or 1 scale.
2. Did you address
all aspects of the
task?
3. Did you answer
the question?