DBQ Essay Writing Strategies

This video tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to writing a Document-Based Question (DBQ) essay for AP History exams. It covers the importance of understanding the prompt, reading and grouping documents, and structuring the essay to earn maximum points. The tutorial also offers tips on thesis writing, contextualization, and using evidence effectively. Additional resources are mentioned for further learning.

What is the first step in tackling a DBQ essay according to the video?

• Start writing immediately

• Read the prompt carefully

• Gather all necessary documents

• Outline your essay

Why is it important to mark the time period in a DBQ prompt?

• To ensure you write about the correct historical events

• To impress the examiner

• To make your essay longer

• To avoid using too many documents

What should you do after reading each document quickly?

• Write a detailed analysis immediately

• Ignore it if it's difficult

• Summarize its main idea in your own words

• Quote it directly in your essay

How can grouping documents help in writing a DBQ essay?

• It makes the essay look more organized

• It helps in forming a thesis and structuring the essay

• It allows you to skip some documents

• It reduces the number of documents to read

What is a key component of a strong thesis in a DBQ essay?

• It should be vague and general

• It must be written in the first person

• It must take a clear, defensible position

• It should include a personal opinion

What is the purpose of contextualization in a DBQ essay?

• To provide a personal story

• To list all historical events

• To situate the argument in a larger historical context

• To summarize the documents

How many documents must you use to support your argument to earn full points in the evidence section?

• At least two

• At least four

• All seven

• At least three

What is 'evidence beyond the documents'?

• Evidence that is fictional

• Evidence that is not mentioned in the documents

• Evidence that is repeated in multiple documents

• Evidence that is irrelevant to the prompt

What does sourcing a document involve?

• Quoting the document directly

• Explaining the document's historical situation, audience, purpose, or point of view

• Ignoring the document

• Summarizing the document in one sentence

How can you earn the complexity point in a DBQ essay?

• By using all seven documents to support your thesis

• By using only two documents

• By writing a very long essay

• By including personal anecdotes