Document Based Question
AP World History
First three steps:
1. Dissect the Prompt
2. Group the Documents
3. Formulate the Thesis
Grouping
• At Least 3 groups in each DBQ
• Groupings should be based on the different
responses to the prompt
– Be as specific as possible in descriptions of groupings
– Are there any connections between reactions, trends
or events and the historical time period?
– All Documents must be used at least once
– Documents can be used in more than one grouping!
– At least two documents in each group
Thesis Statements
• Good DBQ Thesis
Statements:
– Takes a stand
– Answers the question
– Previews the argument
– Details Time and Place
– Groupings
– Can be more than one
sentence
• What Your Thesis Needs
to Have:
– Time
– Region(s)
– Topic
– Groups
– Previews (brief
descriptions of groups)
What Your DBQ Thesis Should NOT
Include:
• References to specific documents
• Quotes from specific documents
Point-of-View
• Point-of-View statements should analyze how
aspects of the author’s character/background
or time period influence their statements in
the given primary source.
• Must have at least THREE Point of View
Statements
• Tip: Include one for each of your three groups
(body paragraphs)
More tips for POV
• WHY does the author have this opinion
• What informs the author’s opinion or target
audience?
• Is the document trustworthy? Why or why
not?
SAMPLE AP WORLD HISTORY DOCUMENT
• Source: Zong Mi, a leading Buddhist scholar,
favored by the Tang imperial household, essay,
“On the Nature of Man,” early ninth century C.E.
• “Confucius, Laozi, and Buddha were all perfect
sages. They established their teachings according
to the demands of the ages and the needs of
various beings. They differ in their approaches in
that they encourage the perfection of good
deeds, punish wicked ones, and reward good
ones; all three teachings lead to the creation of
an orderly society and for this they must be
observed with respect.”
KEYS TO FINDING POINT OF VIEW IN THIS
DOCUMENT
• Author was Buddhist scholar, “favored” by the
Tang ruler
• A Buddhist scholar “in high position” in a time
when Buddhism was being threatened would
expectedly extol the virtues of Buddhism
• Ties Buddhism to traditional Chinese
philosophies of Confucius and Laozi
A SAMPLE POINT OF VIEW USING THIS
DOCUMENT
• There are a variety of ways for students to
include point of view in their paper; some are
more sophisticated than others
• As a Buddhist scholar in a time when
Buddhism is being threatened in China, it is
expected that Zong Mi would closely tie
Buddhism to Confucianism in order to keep his
“favored” position at the imperial court.
My own thoughts on POV
• Person X thinks Y because of Z
• Who? (Attributions? Important background?
What is influencing them?)
• When? Where?
• What? (What do they think?) Why?
• Why write this? Audience?
• Is this person reliable? Why or why not?
• Use terms like perspective or even point of
view; avoid the word bias
• POV Template: " It makes sense that ______
(person) holds this position because he/she is
______"
Additional Document
Recommendation
• Need to recommend at least one additional
document
• More than one could help you get into an
expanded core if done correctly
• Does NOT have to be a specific author or title
of document
• Can be placed anywhere in your response 
Makes for a good conclusion
Questions for Additional Document
• Whose voice is missing from this discussion?
What could that additional voice tell you
about the topic?
• Should NOT be someone who is too similar to
the given authors or information/POV similar
to the given sources
• Must be realistic
Outline for DBQ
• 1st Paragraph: Thesis
• 2nd Paragraph: First
Group
• 3rd: Second Group
• 4th: Third Group
• 5th: Conclusion
• Additional document can
go anywhere  most
people put it in conclusion
• Should have at least one
POV in each body
paragraph
• Do not mention docs in
Intro or Conclusion
• Do NOT refer to sources
by anything other than
title or author. Cite
sources in Parentheses. Ex
(Doc #5)