Document Based Question
How to write a DBQ Essay
I.
II.
Important information
1. DBQ readers look for you to answer the question using
a. Outside Information (history)
b. As many of the documents as possible
2. Essay should be 5-6 paragraphs long
3. Demonstrate knowledge of history
4. Use the documents to support the knowledge
Steps to the DBQ
1. How to Read the Question
a. Identify the historical period being discussed
b. Decide what is being asked and underline it
 Are you being asked to describe, analyze, defend, refute, etc.?
 Circle the key words that are telling you how to answer the question
2. Brainstorm
a. Determine the time period
b. List outside information: relevant issues, historical terms, names, or events
which are significant to that period of history
c. Categorize the list for logical topics that relate to the question
d. Do this before you read the documents
3. Read and Use the Supplied Documents
a. Mark-up the documents: make notes in the margin of the documents that add to,
embellish, or enhance the brainstorm list
b. Think of APPARTS
c. Organize the documents: go back to the brainstorm list and make notes of which
documents can be used for each of the topics that relate to the question
d. When using the documents
 NEVER quote the document
 NEVER refer to the document as “document A, B, C, etc.”
 NEVER analyze the documents
e. Use and refer to the documents to support your answer
f. EXAMPLES of how to reference a document in the essay
 Thomas Paine, in his pamphlet, Common Sense said “….”
 Joseph Jones, a mid-western delegate to the Republic convention in 1912,
agreed with….
 The nineteenth century historian, Frederick Jackson Turner felt that….
 ****NEVER begin with “In document 3…”
4. Introductory Paragraph
a. Establish time and place in the first sentence
b. Before the time period: Include general historical background information that
relates to and led to the time period of the essay
c. Write your thesis statement (underline it)
 Thesis statement is the last sentence of your first paragraph
 Allude to the three or four topics in your thesis
d. Focus on the question at hand—do not begin with a “flowery” sentence
5. Body Paragraphs
a. During the time period
b. Identify your sub-topic or category in the first sentence of each paragraph
c.
d.
e.
f.
Paragraphs should be in the order listed in your thesis statement
Use your own knowledge of the topic
Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph
Write a concluding sentence which relates the paragraph’s topic back to the
thesis
g. Write a transitional sentence introducing the next topic
 This is optional
 Do not spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about a transitional
sentence
6. Concluding Paragraph
a. Start with a concluding phrase
b. After the time period
c. Restate your thesis statement a bit differently
d. Put your essay answer in a larger historical perspective
 End of some trend/movement/ idea, etc.
 Beginning of some trend/movement/idea
e. Do not end on the note that is the reason we are where we are today!