Strategies for
Writing Document
Based Essays…
STEP 1: Prewriting
• Read the historical context
and the task- MAKE SURE
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR!!!
• Complete the graphic
organizers
– Web of outside knowledge is
completed BEFORE you read
the documents
– Chart is completed AFTER you
read and answer questions
about the documents
Do I Understand the Historical Context
and Task?
Historical Context:
During the 17th and 18th Centuries, England joined other
European countries in setting up colonies in the New World.
Between 1607 and 1732, the English established thirteen
colonies along the east coast of North America.
Task:
• Discuss where and why different religious groups settled in
the English colonies.
• Describe the economic opportunities available to settlers
in the English colonies.
Where and
why different
religious
groups
settled in the
colonies
Economic
opportunities
available to
settlers
BODY PARAGRAPH #1
Topic
Sentence
Topic Sentence 1: People of many
different religious groups settled in the
colonies.
BODY PARAGRAPH #2
Topic Sentence 2: There were many
economic opportunities available to
settlers in the colonies.
Outside
Knowledge
Document
#1
Document
#2
Document
#3
Document
#4
Document
#5
Closing
Sentence
Closing Sentence 1: The English colonies Closing Sentence 2: Settlers in the
became home to many different
colonies found many new ways of
religious groups in the 1600s.
earning a living in the New World.
STEP 2: Introduction
• Do not just re-write the
historical context!!!
• Sentences 1-2:
Put the historical context in your
own words
• Sentence 3:
Thesis Statement which
addresses the task (what are
you going to write about in
your essay?)
Do I Understand the Historical Context
and Task?
Historical Context:
In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas
and sparked an era of exploration and trade that would
lead to colonialism. Some view Columbus as a hero,
while others believe he harshly treated the Native
Americans. Today Columbus’ legacy continues to be
debated.
Task:
• Identify and discuss TWO results of Columbus’ discovery
of the Americas. (PARAGRAPH 1)
• Explain how these results prove whether he should or
should not be remembered as a hero. (PARAGRAPH 2)
Historical Context:
In 1492, Christopher Columbus
discovered the Americas and
sparked an era of exploration
and trade that would lead to
colonialism. Some view
Columbus as a hero, while
others believe he harshly
treated the Native Americans.
Today Columbus’ legacy
continues to be debated.
The 1492 discovery of the
Americas by Christopher
Columbus began a time of
exploration and trade. This led to
the colonization of the New
World. Since Columbus opened
up this New World to Europeans,
he is viewed by many as a hero.
However, others believe that
Columbus mistreated Native
Americans, and he should not
Task:
be seen as a hero. Even though
•Identify and discuss two
results of Columbus’ discovery Columbus discovered the
of the Americas.
Americas, the negative effects
•Explain how these results
of the Columbian Exchange and
prove whether he should or
the loss of Native American land
should not be remembered as
prove that he should not be
a hero.
remembered as a hero.
STEP 3: Body Paragraphs
• Use your organizer to help you write the
body paragraphs
• Each body paragraph should have
– Topic sentence
– Supporting details- documents (text based
evidence) AND outside knowledge (historical
content)
– Concluding sentence
• Cite your documents (Doc 1) NOT In
document 1…
Do I Understand the Historical Context
and Task?
Historical Context:
In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas
and sparked an era of exploration and trade that would
lead to colonialism. Some view Columbus as a hero,
while others believe he harshly treated the Native
Americans. Today Columbus’ legacy continues to be
debated.
Task:
• Identify and discuss TWO results of Columbus’ discovery
of the Americas. (PARAGRAPH 1)
• Explain how these results prove whether he should or
should not be remembered as a hero. (PARAGRAPH 2)
Christopher Columbus should be viewed as a hero. His
discoveries paved the way for future explorers to leave their
homes in Europe and find new land for their countries. His
lasting legacy has made a strong impact on the people in the
United States. After Columbus came to the New World, millions
of people from all over the world from many cultures
immigrated here. These people are responsible for a lot of
discoveries in science, mathematics, medicine and philosophy
in the United States (Doc. 3). It also encouraged a worldwide
exchange, known as the Columbian Exchange, that continues
today. Not only did he impact the future but he also made
Spain a very profitable country. He travelled back and forth
from Spain four times, bringing the riches he received from the
land. He brought back gold which made the Spanish have
resources that other European countries didn’t have and made
them very wealthy(Doc. 5). Columbus should be viewed as a
hero because of the influence he had both on Spain and the
future of the world.
STEP 4: Conclusion
• The conclusion should borrow some
material from the introduction, each of
the body paragraphs, and the conclusion
– 1st Sentence: Summarize the historical
context
– 2nd-3rd Sentence: Summarize each of
the body paragraphs
– 4th Sentence: rephrase thesis
statement
• Avoid writing
–
–
–
–
In conclusion
You have read
As you can see
NO OPINIONS
Christopher Columbus was one of the first
European explorers to come to the New
World. Due to his efforts the Columbian
Exchange led to the worldwide spread of
goods and ideas. He also contributed to the
wealth of Spain by finding gold and other
resources. Christopher Columbus is a hero
because he set the foundation for people to
come and build the United States.
Things to Keep in Mind…
• No-no words/phrases: very,
big, got, stuff, thing(s), I, You,
in conclusion, you will read, I
think, in my opinion
• Punctuation such as ! and ?
should not used in a fact
based writing assignment
• This is a fact based writing
assignment- NOT a narrative