Bucketing – Getting Ready to Write
Bucketing
Look over all the documents and organize them into your final buckets. Write the final bucket labels
under each bucket and place the numbers of the documents in the buckets where they belong.
Remember, your bucket will become your body paragraphs.
Major Cause #1
List which document(s)
support this reason
here
Major Cause #2
List which document(s)
support this reason
here
Major Cause #3
List which document(s)
support this reason
here
Thesis Development and Roadmap
On the chickenfoot below, write your thesis and your roadmap. Your thesis is always an opinion and
answers the DBQuestion. The roadmap is created from your bucket labels and lists the topic areas
you will examine in order to prove your thesis.
For Example:
The British/Colonist caused the American Revolution
BY……..
Your thesis goes on this line and should answer the question,
“What are the major causes of the American Revolution?” Do
not make this harder than it is. It can be as simple as, “The 3
major causes of the American Revolution are…”
Put the labels from your buckets on these lines. Each will be
the mini-thesis for one paragraph in your essay.
© 2009 The DBQ Project
From Thesis to Essay Writing
DBQ Essay Outline Guide
Working Title: Don’t lose points, have a title!
Paragraph # 1:
Background Information: Explain the situation. How did there come to be tensions between the
British and the colonists?
Thesis and roadmap (use your chickenfoot): The American Revolution was caused
by________________ because of __________________, __________________,
_________________.
Paragraph #2
Mini thesis Cause #1: The American Revolution was caused by the British/Colonist because of:
___________ _________________________________________________
Evidence: Add 2 to 3 supporting details from the documents, with citation(Doc 1). Back up your
statement with evidence from one or more of the documents.
Argument: Connect your evidence to the thesis: Explain how your evidence supports your thesis.
Paragraph #3
Mini thesis Cause #2: The Second Reason the American Revolution was caused by the
British/Colonist is because of
____________________________________________________________
Evidence: Add 2 to 3 supporting details from the documents, with citation(Doc 1). Back up your
statement with evidence from one or more of the documents.
Argument: Connect your evidence to the thesis: Explain how your evidence supports your thesis.
Paragraph #4
Mini thesis Cause #3: The 3rd Reason the American Revolution was caused by the
British/Colonist is: ____________________________________________________________
Evidence: Add 2 to 3 supporting details from the documents, with citation(Doc 1). Back up your
statement with evidence from one or more of the documents.
Argument: Connect your evidence to the thesis: Explain how your evidence supports your thesis.
Paragraph 5:
© 2009 The DBQ Project
Conclusion: Restatement of your thesis. Include another possible insight or twist. Include ideas
about why this is important in todays world.
© 2009 The DBQ Project