AP World History
Writing the DBQ:
Thesis Statement
Document Based Question (DBQ) Essay
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You will have 40 minutes to write the
essay.
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10 minute reading period
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group and analyze the documents.
You will be given between 4 to 10
documents.
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Documents may include maps, pictures, and
charts.
What does a good thesis statement
do?
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Answers the question
Takes a stand
Previews the argument
Thesis
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Write a thesis statement that outlines what
you plan to address in your essay.
The thesis statement is not a restating of the
question.
It is an introduction lays out what you will
write about.
Thesis Statement
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Thesis can be in the introduction or
conclusion
If you begin to write your essay in the
introductory paragraph, you have NOT
written a good thesis statement.
If your thesis statement stated, “some things
are similar and some things are different;”
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that is not a thesis statement
VAGUE is BAD!
Thesis Statement
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Example of a good thesis statement:
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The Green Revolution, which began after World War
II, has had many successes and consequences,
however, the consequences far out weigh any of the
successes and it is continuing to threaten the world’s
welfare because instead of the threat of starvation,
people now face the overpowering threats of harmful
foods, disease, unfailing pests and a lack of sufficient
water. The constant advance of technology and
pressure caused the Green Revolution to fail
miserably.
Thesis Activity

Decide which statement is an appropriate thesis
statement.
PROMPT
Analyze factors that shaped the modern Olympic
movement from 1892 to 2002. Identify and explain
what additional type of document(s) or sources
would help you assess these factors.
WHAP
Writing the Thesis
Statement and DBQ Essay
Day 2
7 Steps to the DBQ
1.
Read the directions
1. Read directions
• Mark rubric
2
1
• Has relevant thesis and supports that thesis with evidence
from the documents.
1
• Uses all documents.
1
• Analyzes the documents by grouping them in as many
ways as possible. Does not simply summarize the
documents individually.
1. Read directions
• Takes into account the sources of the documents
1
and analyzes the author’s point of view.
1
• Explains the need for at least one additional type
of document.
1. Read directions
• In margin, create list of document numbers to
check off after you use each one.
7 Steps to the DBQ
2. Read and Analyze the prompt
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Underline what the prompt is asking you to do.
Read the historical background provided
7 Steps to the DBQ
3. Write a preliminary thesis
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Thesis MUST haves:
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AP – answer the prompt
Time/Place
3 Categories/Groups
7 Steps to the DBQ
4. Read and analyze the documents
a. SOAPStone
b. POV
c. Categorize/group
d. Additional Document
- Why?
7 Steps to the DBQ
5. Re-evaluate thesis and plan essay
- Write introduction paragraph
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1 sentence thesis
Must be in dark blue or black ink
7 Steps to the DBQ
6. Write the essay
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Body paragraphs X 3
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Topic sentence
 Identify the grouping
 May list the documents in this group
EX: Documents 6, 7, and 9 present the idea of how
the Green Revolution led to changes in cultural
lifestyles.
7 Steps to the DBQ
6. Body paragraphs
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Explain the document
 Show
your understanding of what the
document means
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Use the document as evidence of the
prompt
7 Steps to the DBQ
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Doc. 1 Understanding
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In doc. 1, a Han government official talks about
flood prevention and requests the establishment
of conservation offices in each district to help with
flooding.
Doc. 1 Evidence
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This technology was important to Chinese society
because it was extremely beneficial in preventing
crop loss due to devastating floods.
7 Steps to the DBQ
6. Body paragraphs
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POV
 Template
–"
idea:
It makes sense that _________
(person) believes this because
he/she is ______________."
7 Steps to the DBQ
6. Body paragraphs
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Additional Document
 Must
help answer the prompt
 Explain why you need this document
EX: An additional document that would help is a graph
showing how much water farmers have used over the past 100
years. It is important because if what Dr. Shiva has said about
water shortages is true, then the graph will show just how
much water is being used.
7 Steps to the DBQ
7. Conclusion
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Rewrite thesis
Rule of THREE
1.
2.
3.
THREE Groups
THREE POVs
THREE Additional Documents
Point of View
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You must look for and state three (3) points
of view (POV’s).
POV’s are identified the following ways:
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Who
What
When
Where
Why
Document POV’s
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What is the main idea or topic being said in
the document?
Why would this person be saying/creating
this document at this time and place?
How does the document help me answer the
question that is being asked?
Scoring the DBQ
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There are a total of 9 points for the DBQ.
The basic core consists of 7 points.
The expanded core will make up the rest of
the total points.
YOU MUST SCORE ALL BASIC POINTS IN
ORDER TO RECEIVE EXPANDED CORE
POINTS.
Components of the DBQ Essay – Core
Points (MANDATORY)
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Thesis statement that is not just a restating of the
question.
Using all of the documents in your essay.
Grouping and thoughtfully analyzing the documents.
DON’T LIST DOCUMENTS!
Stating the point of view/perspective on minimum of
three (3) of the documents
Using the documents to support your thesis.
Adding an additional document that would help
support your thesis.
Components of the DBQ Essay –
Expanded Core
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Extremely strong thesis statement.
Adding more than one additional document
to your essay.
Completely and thoroughly answering the
question.
Remember, you must score all basic points
in order to receive expanded core.