Bellringer
 Complete the questions that appear on the
back of the “clay pot symbols”
interpretation worksheet.
Skills Needed?
 History is about interpretation!
 Who you are affects how you
interpret history & cultures!
 It takes work & perseverance
What does this symbol mean?
 Biased? Point of View?
 We all have preferences &
experiences, so sometimes we
need to look at other sources of
information to get the whole
picture
Keys to the
Document Based Question
Essay
What is a
Document Based Question?
Models the work of a historian:
 Responding to a historical problem based on
interpreting primary documents
…essentially a research paper
– Technically demanding
• But requires little/no historical knowledge
– DBQs often ask to connect a seemingly unrelated
idea to the topic of the documents
– DBQs often are based on topics that may be
unfamiliar
– Analyze the Mongol attitudes toward the spread
of Buddhism between 200 CE and 1450.
– Analyze the impact of the global economy on the
Olympic games during the 20th century.
Do the Process
1. Process the Question
– Note the verb & time period
– AP = address the prompt!
2. Build a Framework / Graphic Organizer
– Anticipate what your answer will look like
before you read the docs
3. Work the Documents (apparts)
– Author –
• Who created the source? What is their pov?
– Place & Time –
• Where & when was the source produced?
– Prior Knowledge –
• What do you already know?
– Audience –
• For whom was the source created? Does this affect its reliability?
– Reason –
• Why was this source produced?
– The Main Idea –
• What is the source trying to convey?
– Significance –
• Why is this source important? How does it fit your framework or connect to
the question?
Source: Zhi Dun, Chinese scholar &
confidant of Chinese aristocrats and high officials
during the period when northern China was
invaded by central Asian steppe nomads, 350
C.E.
Whosoever in China, in this era of sensual
pleasures, serves the Buddha and correctly
observes the commandments, who recites the
Buddhist Scriptures, and who furthermore makes
a vow to be reborn without ever abandoning his
sincere intention, will at the end of his life, when
his soul passes away, be miraculously transported
thither. He will behold the Buddha and be
enlightened in his spirit, and then he will enter
Nirvana.
Do the Process
1. Process the Question
– Note the verb & time period
2. Build a Framework / Graphic Organizer
– Anticipate what your answer will look like
before you read the docs
3. Work the Documents (apparts)
4. Answer the Question
Answer the Question?
Write an Essay
THE BASICS
…remember - a research paper
 Thesis statement
 Use all the sources
 Explain how sources support thesis
Thesis
 Restate location & time period boundaries
 Write a strong statement of 1-3 sentences in your
intro that lays out your central argument & 2-3
controlling ideas
– Should directly answer the question asked
Addressing Docs
 Must use every document at least once
 Must demonstrate understanding
– Paraphrase rather than quote
– Use individually
 Cite your sources
– “According to _______ …”
• author’s name or title
– Parenthetical citation: (doc #).
• Do not start sentence with “In document 1…”
Support
 Good historical writing requires analysis
– Explain how a document supports your thesis
– Connect information in doc to thesis
– How does the source help prove your answer?
 Should have analysis EVERY time a doc is used
Implied: Grouping
 Place the documents into at least 2 groups or
categories
– national origin, topic, social class of author, pro/con
 This is largely solved with a strong organization
around a strong thesis
– Each body paragraph is likely a group
– Do not have to specifically state “The ____ group can be
seen in documents #,#,#.”
• Types of groupings can be mixed if it helps answer the question
– Every group must have at least 2 docs, but docs can be
used in more than group
DBQ – Guided Practice
Analyze the responses to the spread
of Buddhism in China.
Do the Process
1. Process the Question
2. Build a Framework / Graphic Organizer
3. Work the Documents (apparts)
– Author –
• Who created the source? What is their pov?
– Place & Time –
• Where & when was the source produced?
– Prior Knowledge –
• What do you already know?
– Audience –
• For whom was the source created? Does this affect its reliability?
– Reason –
• Why was this source produced?
– The Main Idea –
• What is the source trying to convey?
– Significance –
• Why is this source important? How does it fit your framework or connect to
the question?
Do the Process
1. Process the Question
2. Build a Framework / Graphic Organizer
3. Work the Documents (apparts)
4. Answer the Question
Analyze responses to the spread of
Buddhism in China
 Brainstorm…
Answer the Question?
Write an Essay
THE BASICS
…remember - a research paper
 Thesis statement
 Use all the sources
 Explain how sources support thesis
…and…
 Grouping
Implied: Grouping
 Place the documents into at least 2 groups or
categories
– PERSIA
– national origin, topic, social class of author, pro/con
 Must have topic sentences to satisfy requirement!
– Each body paragraph is likely a group
– Do not have to specifically state “The ____ group can be
seen in documents #,#,#.” Use topic sentence to explain
common purpose of paragraph & then follow through by
using docs
– Every group must have at least 2 docs, but docs can be
used in more than group
DBQ – Guided Practice
Analyze Han and Roman attitudes
toward technology.
Do the Process
1. Process the Question
2. Build a Framework / Graphic Organizer
3. Work the Documents (apparts)
– Author –
• Who created the source? What is their pov?
– Place & Time –
• Where & when was the source produced?
– Prior Knowledge –
• What do you already know?
– Audience –
• For whom was the source created? Does this affect its reliability?
– Reason –
• Why was this source produced?
– The Main Idea –
• What is the source trying to convey?
– Significance –
• Why is this source important? How does it fit your framework or connect to
the question?
Do the Process
1. Process the Question
2. Build a Framework / Graphic Organizer
3. Work the Documents (apparts)
4. Answer the Question
Analyze Han and Roman attitudes
toward technology.
 Brainstorm…
Groups
 Types of technology or
 Pro / con technology or
 Government’s role in technology or
 Philosophers, Classes, & Government
officials
Thesis: infrastructure/practical technologies
 While both the Romans and the Han
appreciated the use of technology toward
the improvements of water regulation, the
Romans concentrated more intently on
mathematical and scientific advancements,
looking down upon the laboring tool
inventions that were appreciated by the
Han.
Thesis: infrastructure/practical technologies
 Technologies that involve infrastructure
tended to be viewed positively by Romans
and Chinese alike. On the other hand
practical technologies that benefitted
commoners had more complex views;
Chinese viewed these positively, and
Romans viewed them negatively.
Body Paragraph
 Technologies that involve infrastructure tended to be
viewed positively by Romans and Chinese alike
(Documents 1, 6, 8). There was a request from a Chinese
official to have more employees to maintain the
technologies (Doc. 1). Because there was a desire to
maintain the canal it shows that the Chinese value the
technologies they already possessed, they wanted to keep
them around longer.** Plutarch reports that Roman
political leaders considered all details of roads when it
came to their construction (D. 6). With his meticulous
planning, this shows that it would be an asset to citizens
in Rome, for example, including tightly packed roads and
lesser intervals in roads. Plutarch likely exaggerates the
accomplishments of a Roman official because of his own
background in government.
DBQ – Independent Practice
HW, due Monday = Write a DBQ
essay in response the assigned prompt
& docs from the back of your text.
DBQ – advanced skills
Additional tasks?
 Remember the requirements of the
comparison essay?
– Reason for the sim / dif.
Answers “why?”
 DBQ?
– Analyze the author’s point of view
• Answers “why did the author say that?”
– Explain the need for an additional document
Point of View
 Requirement = analyze 2 documents per DBQ
 Suggestion = Mostert rule of 3
 PoV is an attempt to explain how the content of the
document is likely impacted by the circumstances
behind their creation.
– Consider: Social class, time period, religion, occupation,
gender, type of document
“__________(author) exaggerates ___________(content)
because __________(circumstance).”
Additional Document
 Requirement = justify the inclusion of 1 doc
 Suggestion = Mostert rule of 3
 Add Doc is a recognition of “missing voices” in the
DBQ, suggesting a needed document, and
explaining how the document would help answer
the question.
– Be as specific: type of doc & how it benefits answer
– Suggested document must be modestly possible
“A document by a ___________(type of person) from
___________(place) at ___________(time) would
help determine ___________(grouping) .”
Practice
 Pg. D-10
PointOfView
– “_________(author) exaggerates _________(content)
because __________(circumstance).”
Additional Doc
– “A document by a __________(type of person) from
__________(place) at __________(time) would help
determine __________(grouping) .”
What is the DBQ essay?
Steps to Answering the Question
1. Know how the essay is graded
2. Break down the question
3. Remember the Rule of 3
4. Use solid paragraph structure
Step: #1 Know Rubric
Notice:
 Split rubric= must get all 7 core points
before earning expanded points
– Focus on 7 core points
 Scored based on value-added= points are
not deducted, they are only awarded for
positive contributions
Step: #2 Understand Question
 Read the question accurately & plan
– Underline directive word= describe v. compare v.
analyze v. evaluate v. to what extent
– Establish boundaries for writing= time period & region
– Recall prior knowledge= note any info that you
remember within the boundaries
 Analysis?
– do not simply look at a situation simply at face
value but look for connections between
information
– the recognition of patterns, relationships, or
hidden meaning
Step: #3 Rule of 3
 3 controlling ideas in thesis
 3 groups & body paragraphs
 3 analyses of point of view – 1 per
paragraph
 3 suggestions of additional documents – 1
per paragraph
Step: #4 Paragraph Org
 Topic sentence introducing grouping
 Document paraphrase, analysis
 Document paraphrase, analysis
 Document paraphrase, analysis
• POV with applicable doc
 Additional document
Finished Product – Formal Essay
– There are requirements specific to AP, but keep
in mind this is about becoming a good writer
 Proper Organization & Accuracy
– Introduction, 3 body ¶‘s, Conclusion
– Use topic sentences
– Restates thesis in conclusion
 Proper Style & Conventions
– Don’t use I, me, you, or abbreviations
– Aim for proper spelling and punctuation
because errors can cloud your argument