WORLD RELIGION DBQ
Essay Writing Tips and How-To
ESSAY TOPIC
• Step One: Read the Essay Question, then
brainstorm how you would approach the
essay with no further information.
• Question/Task: Compare/Contrast any TWO of
the Major World Religions
• Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam
STEP TWO
• Read/Analyze each document carefully,
taking notes as you read and
answering the questions below each
document to assist your analysis.
STEP 3
• Finalize which religions you will
compare/contrast
• Decide which documents will be useful to
you in your essay.
• Formulate a thesis
• Begin writing!
OUTLINE
• I. Intro
• 4-6 sentences with thesis statement at then end.
• Thesis is one sentence which directly answers the
question and informs the reader what your essay will
be about.
• Do NOT say “This essay will be about…” or
anything similar to that
• Your intro should give historical context, background
and basic information which will be explained in
greater detail in the body paragraphs.
• Do NOT use quotes or documents in the Intro – save
the good stuff for the body!
• Do NOT begin with a clever question.
BODY PARAGRAPHS
• 2-3 Body Paragraphs
• 8-12 sentences comparing and contrasting two of the
World Religions.
• Incorporate a minimum of 3 Documents to prove your
point.
• How to use and cite documents correctly:
• 1. Begin by introducing the Source (author, text, book,
speech, year, etc…)
• 2. The use the quote or paraphrase. At the end of the
sentence in parentheses cite the document number
(Document 1).
• 3. Comment about the document you just quoted.
USING DOCUMENTS EXAMPLE
• Example One:
• A common theme between Christianity and Judaism is the belief in God’s law as
handed down to prophets such as Moses. The Jewish Torah and the Christian
Bible include a series of these laws such as the Ten Commandments which
include “Thou shalt have no other God and Thou shalt not covet” (document 1).
This similarity often forgotten in the modern teachings of these religions in both
Christian Church’s and Jewish Synagogues sets an important foundation for
moral guidance.
• Example Two:
• Excerpts from the Bhagavad Gita eloquently illustrate the Hindu and Buddhist
concept of reincarnation. In a conversation between Krishna, a popular Hindu
God and Arjuna, a warrior about to go into battle, the God tells Arjuna, “…the
embodied self. Casting off old bodies, goes on to others and new ones” (doc. 2).
Even though this example is of a Hindu text, both Buddhists and Hindus share
this principle assertion in the soul having lived many lives.
CONCLUSION
• Conclusion
• 4-6 sentences summarizing main
points and restating thesis at the
end. No new information should be
presented here.
DO NOTS
• Do NOT use abbreviations
• Do NOT use contractions (can’t, won’t, etc…)
• Do NOT use slang language
• Do NOT use anything other than 3rd person
• Do NOT use a flowery opening sentence or question.
• Do NOT introduce a document passage by saying “In
Document 2…”
• Instead use the author, title or person. See example below