AP U.S. History DBQ Activity Sheet
1. Read the question carefully & underline/circle the key word or phrases. What are you being asked to do?
The 1920s were a period of tension between new and changing attitudes on the one hand and
traditional values and nostalgia on the other. What led to the tension between old and new
AND in what ways was the tension manifested?
2. In the spaces below list any information that comes to mind after reading the question.
Remember that DBQ’s require “outside” information that is not part of the question. About 50% of
the essay should be based on “outside” information versus information from the documents.
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3. Read each Document carefully and write a brief summary in the spaces provided. Be sure to get the main
point as it relates to the document.
A. Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt, 922
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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B. Consumer Spending For Recreation & Consumer Debt, 1920-1929
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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C. If Only Grandpap Could Return With Some of His Discipline, Chicago Daily Tribune, August 23, 1924
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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D. The World’s Most Famous Trial: Tennessee Evolution Case, 1925
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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E. Hiram Wesley Evans, “The Klan’s Fight for Americanism,” March 1926
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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F. Langston Hughes, “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,” The Nation, 1926
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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G. Mary B. Mullett, “The Biggest Thing That Lindberg Has Done,” October 1927
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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H. “Women Smokers,” The New York Times, February 29, 1928
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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I.
Marriage & Divorce, 1890-1930
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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J.
John Dewey, The Public and Its Problems, 1927
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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K. Prohibition, 1910-1929
Summary ___________________________________________________________________________
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Between-the-lines(analysis) _____________________________________________________________
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Outside Information___________________________________________________________________
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LAST Name_________________________
Putting It All Together
I.
Using the information you have gathered, write a Thesis statement, which answers the question.
The 1920s were a period of tension between new and changing attitudes on the one hand and
traditional values and nostalgia on the other. What led to the tension between old and new AND in
what ways was the tension manifested?
Thesis Statement_________________________________________________________________________
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II.
Based on your thesis and information you have gathered, write a claim (main idea sentence) for each body
paragraph. Each claim should support your thesis.
i.
Claim 1 __________________________________________________________________________
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ii.
Claim 2__________________________________________________________________________
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iii.
Claim 3__________________________________________________________________________
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III.
Write ONE body paragraph in which you address one of the Claims above using outside knowledge and
evidence from the documents.
IV.
Rubric
"HIGH" = 19/20 Points
 Contains a well-developed thesis that clearly addresses the question
 Effective analysis of both the documents and outside knowledge
 Effectively uses a substantial number of documents
 Supports thesis with substantial and relevant outside information (outside knowledge goes beyond the documents)
 Is clearly organized and well-written
 May contain minor errors
"MIDDLE" = 16/20 Points
 Contains a thesis which addresses the question
 Some analysis of both the documents and outside knowledge is present
 Uses some documents effectively
 Supports thesis with some outside knowledge
 Shows evidence of acceptable organization and writing; errors do not interfere with the essay's comprehension
 May contain errors that do not seriously detract from the quality of the essay
"LOW" = 13/20 Points
 Contains a limited, confused, and/or poorly developed thesis
 Deals with the question in a general manner; simplistic explanations or answers only one part of the question
 Quotes or briefly cites some documents; "laundry list"
 Contains little outside knowledge or information that is generally inaccurate or irrelevant
 Weakly organized
 May contain major errors