NAME_______________________________________________________________________________
DOCUMENT BASED QUESTION (DBQ) RUBRIC
4
3
5
Thesis
Addresses
task
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Analysis
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Use of
Documents
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Accuracy
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Outside
Information 
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Organization
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well developed
provides a clear road map
analytical
accurate
clearly addresses question
comprehensive
all aspects of question are
addressed—thoroughly
and evenly
strongly supports thesis
throughout
evaluates in depth
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sophisticated
Richly supported with
relevant facts, examples
and details
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uses comparisons,
connections where
appropriate
strongly supports thesis
with appropriate evidence
from documents
All the information from
documents is cited
correctly
uses info from documents
persuasively as evidence;
student understands the
meaning of documents
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careful, insightful analysis 
and synthesis
good thesis; developed
provides a road map with a
few main points
satisfactorily addresses
question
beyond simple restatement of
question
all aspects of question are
addressed, though not evenly
or thoroughly
satisfactorily supports thesis
adequate
more descriptive than
analytical (but attempts to
include some analysis)
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good/complete
thesis is limited
confused; does not provide
a clear road map
1
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Most of the information from
documents is cited correctly
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uses info from documents as
evidence, but student only
understands basic meaning of
documents
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thesis does not address the
question
inadequately addresses
question
simple restatement of
question
most aspects of essay
question are addressed
limited support of thesis
over generalized; lacks
analysis
simplistic
includes some facts and
details
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includes relevant, facts,
examples and details
satisfactorily supports thesis
with appropriate evidence
from documents
no thesis
limited support of thesis
unclear references/citations
of documents
Students uses quotes from
documents instead of
paraphrasing
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satisfactory analysis
general or simplistic use of 
documents because students
has limited understanding
of documents’ meaning
uses some documents (at least 
3 used)
limited use of documents
(uses 2 documents)
essay attempts or fails to
address the task
inadequate support of
thesis
incorrect or inaccurate
no analysis is present
includes no use of accurate
or relevant facts and
details
inadequate support of
thesis
No documents cited
has little or no
understanding of
documents
ineffectual use of
documents or no
documents used
uses at least 4 documents
may include few minor 
historical errors that do
not detract from quality of
essay
strongly supports thesis
substantial/relevant
outside information
All outside info is cited
correctly (OI)
Includes a well developed
intro and conclusion that
appropriately sets up the
themes
well developed
consistently demonstrates
a clear and logical plan of
organization
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may include minor errors that
somewhat detract from
quality of essay
satisfactorily supports thesis
some relevance but
connection is not completely
clear
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Most outside info is cited
correctly (OI)
Includes a satisfactory intro
and conclusion that sets up
basic themes/ideas
satisfactorily developed
demonstrates a clear and
logical plan of
mostly clearly written
clearly written
Total: _______ /35= _______________
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major errors and/or
omissions
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limited support of thesis
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inaccurate or irrelevant
examples
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Citation of outside info is
unclear
Intro and conclusion are
present but do not relate to
topic and/or are confusing
Essay may be missing an
intro or conclusion
poorly organized
lacks focus
grammatical and spelling
errors throughout
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substantial factual errors
and/or omissions
inadequate support of
thesis
no use of outside
information shown
No intro or conclusion
present
no plan evident
considerable grammatical
and spelling errors