CONQUERING THE CONQUERING THE DBQDBQ

AP European HistoryAP European History

Recipe for a Good Essay: 9 Recipe for a Good Essay: 9 PointsPoints

The DBQ is scored out of 9 The DBQ is scored out of 9 points.points.

The DBQ is scored using CORE The DBQ is scored using CORE SCORING, which means that 6 SCORING, which means that 6 specific tasks MUST be earned specific tasks MUST be earned in order to earn the last 3.in order to earn the last 3.

You all have the generic core-You all have the generic core-scoring guide for the DBQ – scoring guide for the DBQ – PLEASE USE IT to craft your PLEASE USE IT to craft your essays.essays.

Before you turn your essay in, Before you turn your essay in, check to see that all 6 core check to see that all 6 core points have been addressed.points have been addressed.

I’ll just DIE if I don’t get that recipe…!

NO SCORES BELOW A 6…and NO WIRE

HANGERS!

The Question:The Question:Identifying the TaskIdentifying the Task

UNDERLINE UNDERLINE all required tasks involved in all required tasks involved in fully responding to the question.fully responding to the question.

Failure to address all parts of the question Failure to address all parts of the question will result in an inadequate thesis and an will result in an inadequate thesis and an unsatisfactory response.unsatisfactory response.

Your thesis AND body paragraphs should Your thesis AND body paragraphs should address ALL PARTS of this question.address ALL PARTS of this question.

SampleSample AnalyzeAnalyze the the causes ofcauses of and the and the responses toresponses to the the

peasants’ revolts in the German states, peasants’ revolts in the German states, 1524-1524-15261526..

A strong response will address ALL underlined A strong response will address ALL underlined tasks.tasks.

Core Point 1: The ThesisCore Point 1: The Thesis Developing a THESIS:Developing a THESIS:

After underlining all TASKS required by the question, After underlining all TASKS required by the question, generate a thesis that addresses ALL PARTS of the generate a thesis that addresses ALL PARTS of the questionquestion

Your THESIS should provide analysis AS WELL AS set Your THESIS should provide analysis AS WELL AS set up your groups.up your groups.

Failure to construct an adequate thesis will result in Failure to construct an adequate thesis will result in a maximum grade of 5 out of 9. Woh woh.a maximum grade of 5 out of 9. Woh woh.

Sample Thesis (taken from AP Reading):Sample Thesis (taken from AP Reading): Both religious and economic causes were responsible Both religious and economic causes were responsible

for the German Peasants’ Revolt. Other German for the German Peasants’ Revolt. Other German citizens had positive, and varying degrees of citizens had positive, and varying degrees of negative responses to these widespread rebellions.negative responses to these widespread rebellions.

What makes this an effective thesis?What makes this an effective thesis? Does it fully respond to the question?Does it fully respond to the question? How can we improve it?How can we improve it?

Core Points 2, 3, and 4: Documents - Core Points 2, 3, and 4: Documents - Majority, Meaning, and Supporting Majority, Meaning, and Supporting

the Thesisthe Thesis How many documents should I use?How many documents should I use?

ALL if possible, but AT LEAST A MAJORITY!ALL if possible, but AT LEAST A MAJORITY! If you are really stumped by the meaning of a If you are really stumped by the meaning of a

document, omit that one.document, omit that one. Whatever you do, don’t make other core points Whatever you do, don’t make other core points

dependent on a document you are uncertain of (2dependent on a document you are uncertain of (2ndnd document in a group of 2, 3document in a group of 2, 3rdrd and final example of POV) and final example of POV)

You must refer EXPLICITLY and INDIVIDUALLY to a You must refer EXPLICITLY and INDIVIDUALLY to a document for it to be counted. Referencing a listed document for it to be counted. Referencing a listed group will not count!group will not count!

Failure to use a majority will result in the loss of points Failure to use a majority will result in the loss of points 2, 3, AND 4! 2, 3, AND 4!

There are 12 documents for this example, so use There are 12 documents for this example, so use AT LEAST…AT LEAST…

Core Point 5: Point of ViewCore Point 5: Point of View This is the most difficult thing for Euro students to understand, but This is the most difficult thing for Euro students to understand, but

it’s really not that difficult!it’s really not that difficult! All documents – even historical ones – are written by or created by All documents – even historical ones – are written by or created by

someone who has his/her own perspective, bias, or agenda. POV is someone who has his/her own perspective, bias, or agenda. POV is all about identifying that agenda and the purpose the document all about identifying that agenda and the purpose the document serves.serves.

Think to yourself: WHY would THIS PERSON believe this? WHAT is Think to yourself: WHY would THIS PERSON believe this? WHAT is this document’s PURPOSE? HOW does this person’s this document’s PURPOSE? HOW does this person’s title/position/nationality/sex/socioeconomic status influence them to title/position/nationality/sex/socioeconomic status influence them to have this opinion?have this opinion?

Although it may seem formulaic, think about structuring POV in one Although it may seem formulaic, think about structuring POV in one of the following ways:of the following ways: As a/n _____________________, ______________’s POV is biased because As a/n _____________________, ______________’s POV is biased because

he/she/they sought to ___________________________.he/she/they sought to ___________________________. Because this document is a/n _________________________, it’s specific purpose Because this document is a/n _________________________, it’s specific purpose

is to _____________________________, making it more/less reliable.is to _____________________________, making it more/less reliable. This document is a/n __________________________, intended to be This document is a/n __________________________, intended to be

read/heard/seen by ______________________________, causing it to be more/less read/heard/seen by ______________________________, causing it to be more/less reliable…reliable…

For this question, examples of POV are abundant!For this question, examples of POV are abundant! As a protestant preacher and theologian, Muntzer sought to incite an As a protestant preacher and theologian, Muntzer sought to incite an

uprising and religious reform in the midst of chaosuprising and religious reform in the midst of chaos Because Luther had been protected by the German princes, he spoke Because Luther had been protected by the German princes, he spoke

against the peasants who had rebelled against these princes in order to against the peasants who had rebelled against these princes in order to continue to have the princes’ protection.continue to have the princes’ protection.

Core Point 6: Establishing Core Point 6: Establishing GroupsGroups Body Paragraphs – Creating Groups and ThemesBody Paragraphs – Creating Groups and Themes

Simple way to organize body paragraphs is by the groups you have Simple way to organize body paragraphs is by the groups you have established (e.g. opinions of French, Germans, and English OR views of established (e.g. opinions of French, Germans, and English OR views of clergy, government officials, women)clergy, government officials, women)

Your groups should also be decided based on some analysis (e.g. Your groups should also be decided based on some analysis (e.g. Clergy generally expressed a sympathetic attitude toward the poor…” Clergy generally expressed a sympathetic attitude toward the poor…” and “Government officials tended to view poor beggars as a nuisance”and “Government officials tended to view poor beggars as a nuisance”

A GROUP MUST HAVE A GROUP MUST HAVE AT LEAST TWOAT LEAST TWO DOCUMENTS, but ALWAYS DOCUMENTS, but ALWAYS INCLUDE THREE to be safe, unless it is your fourth or fifth group.INCLUDE THREE to be safe, unless it is your fourth or fifth group.

Documents can be used in multiple groups.Documents can be used in multiple groups. If you want an 8-9, count on having AT LEAST 4 groups.If you want an 8-9, count on having AT LEAST 4 groups.

Look to the Look to the required tasks of the questionrequired tasks of the question to help guide how to help guide how you form groups.you form groups.

Your thesis should SET UP your groups. e.g. if we take the Your thesis should SET UP your groups. e.g. if we take the previous thesis, “Both religious and economic causes were previous thesis, “Both religious and economic causes were responsible for the German Peasants’ Revolt. Other German responsible for the German Peasants’ Revolt. Other German citizens had positive, and varying degrees of negative citizens had positive, and varying degrees of negative responses to these widespread rebellions,” this group has responses to these widespread rebellions,” this group has wisely created 4 groups:wisely created 4 groups: Religious Causes (docs. 1, 3, 6)Religious Causes (docs. 1, 3, 6) Economic Causes (docs. 2, 8, 5)Economic Causes (docs. 2, 8, 5) Positive Responses (docs. 5, 6, 10)Positive Responses (docs. 5, 6, 10) Negative Responses (docs. 8, 11, 4, 9, 7, 12, AND 10)Negative Responses (docs. 8, 11, 4, 9, 7, 12, AND 10)

The Expanded Core: The Expanded Core: Beyond a 6Beyond a 6

Points 7-9 are assigned in a more Points 7-9 are assigned in a more subjective mannersubjective manner

The more “extras” you have, the The more “extras” you have, the closer you will move into 9-ville!closer you will move into 9-ville!

Extras include the following:Extras include the following: High-level comprehensive thesisHigh-level comprehensive thesis Using all documentsUsing all documents Outside informationOutside information Multiple groups/examples of POVMultiple groups/examples of POV

Some Extra Pointers…Some Extra Pointers… How should I refer to documents?How should I refer to documents?

DO NOT waste time with long quotes from the documentsDO NOT waste time with long quotes from the documents You may quote SHORT phrases, but referring to the ideas in You may quote SHORT phrases, but referring to the ideas in

the document is more than sufficientthe document is more than sufficient It is helpful to make reference to the document explicitly in It is helpful to make reference to the document explicitly in

one of the following waysone of the following ways Parentheses at end of sentence in which you refer to it e.g. (Doc. Parentheses at end of sentence in which you refer to it e.g. (Doc.

1)1) By explicitly stating, “In Document 1, Martin Luther condemns By explicitly stating, “In Document 1, Martin Luther condemns

the peasants…”the peasants…” Writing “Doc. 1” in the margin next to the sentence that refers Writing “Doc. 1” in the margin next to the sentence that refers

to itto it Underline it if you want – the more obvious you make it, the Underline it if you want – the more obvious you make it, the

easier it is for the reader to find it!easier it is for the reader to find it! Conclusion?Conclusion?

Tie together all your groupsTie together all your groups Restate your thesisRestate your thesis Don’t go crazy with this!Don’t go crazy with this!