Name:
Regents Writing Practice
Document Based Essay
Introduction
Body Paragraph #1
Body Paragraph #2
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Body Paragraph #3
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Conclusion
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Restate Task or Historical Context
Identify what essay will specifically be about (ex. Russian
Revolution)
State your opinion
Make a comparison to another historical event
Transition sentence
Use first bullet point as Topic Sentence
State Evidence – Use the Document (ex. Doc. #2 proves….)
Explain your Evidence
Bring in outside information to further support analysis (So
What ……)
Transition sentence
Use second bullet point as Topic Sentence
State Evidence – Use the Document (ex. Doc. #3 proves….)
Explain your Evidence
Bring in outside information to further support analysis (So
What ……)
Transition sentence
Use third bullet point as Topic Sentence OR
This could be your compare/contrast or cause and effect
paragraph
State Evidence – Use the Document (ex. Doc. #7 proves….)
Explain your Evidence
Bring in outside information to further support analysis (So
What ……)
Transition Sentence
Restate Theme or Task
What specifically did you prove, explain, or describe (what
was the essay about?)
Express your judgment or opinion based on evidence
Make a comparison to another historical event
Close sentence
Name:
Thematic Essay Practice
Read the essay prompt below and fill in the chart:
.
Theme: Belief Systems
The world has many different belief systems. Each is distinctive, but all greatly influenced
the lives of their followers and the society in which the belief system was practiced.
Task:
Choose two major belief systems and for each
• Explain key beliefs and/or practices
• Discuss an influence the belief system had on the lives of its followers or the society in
which it was practiced
Task: (What do
they want you to
write about?)
What evidence will
you use to answer
the prompt?
What is your
judgment?
Evidence to
support it?
What other
historical event is
similar to this one?
How and why?
(outside
information)
So what (Because
of this event what
happened?
What predictions
can you make
based on your
knowledge of the
prompt?
Name:
DBQ practice
Read the prompt below and complete the chart:
Theme: Belief Systems
The world has many different belief systems. Each is distinctive, but all greatly influenced
the lives of their followers and the society in which the belief system was practiced.
Task:
Choose two major belief systems and for each
• Explain key beliefs and/or practices
• Discuss an influence the belief system had on the lives of its followers or the society in
which it was practiced
Task: (What do
they want you to
write about?)
Document #
proves:
Document #
proves:
Document #
proves:
Document #
proves:
Document #
proves:
Document #
proves:
What is your
judgment?
Evidence to
support it?
What other
historical event is
similar to this one?
How and why?
(outside
information)
So what (Because
of this event what
happened?
Name:
Thematic Essay Practice
Read the essay prompt below and fill in the chart:
Theme: Government Role in the Economy
Throughout history, the United States government has taken various actions to address
problems with the nation’s economy.
Task:
Choose two actions that addressed a problem with the nation’s economy and for
each
• Discuss the historical circumstance that led to the action
• Discuss the impact of this action on the economy of the United States
Task: (What do
they want you to
write about?)
What evidence will
you use to answer
the prompt?
What is your
judgment?
Evidence to
support it?
What other
historical event is
similar to this one?
How and why?
(outside
information)
So what (Because
of this event what
happened?
What predictions
can you make
based on your
knowledge of the
prompt?
Name:
DBQ practice
Read the prompt below and complete the chart:
Historical Context:
Between 1953 and 1969, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court was Earl
Warren. Supreme Court decisions made during the “Warren Court” era led to significant
changes in various aspects of life in the United States. Several important court cases affected
equal protection under the law, separation of church and state, and the rights of individuals
accused of crimes.
Task:
• Discuss how decisions of the Warren Court affected American society
Task: (What do
they want you to
write about?)
Document #
proves:
Document #
proves:
Document #
proves:
Document #
proves:
Document #
proves:
Document #
proves:
What is your
judgment?
Evidence to
support it?
What other
historical event is
similar to this one?
How and why?
(outside
information)
So what (Because
of this event what
happened?