How to write a DBQ EssayHow to write a DBQ Essay

DBQDBQ Document Based Document Based

QuestionQuestion

Thesis Statements Thesis Statements

Although it can be argued that the Although it can be argued that the political motivations eventually made political motivations eventually made the split between Henry/Luther and the split between Henry/Luther and the Church irreconcilable, both the Church irreconcilable, both initially left for personal reasons, initially left for personal reasons, such as legal disputes for Luther and such as legal disputes for Luther and the lack of a male heir for Henry.the lack of a male heir for Henry.

Henry VIII left the Church for Henry VIII left the Church for personal reasons, while Luther left personal reasons, while Luther left for political ones.for political ones.

Despite the fact that Henry left Despite the fact that Henry left because of greedy self-interest, he because of greedy self-interest, he and Luther both had political reasons and Luther both had political reasons for leaving the Church.for leaving the Church.

Foundation of a good thesis statement?Foundation of a good thesis statement? A good thesis statement…A good thesis statement…

……answers the questionanswers the question ……is supported by evidenceis supported by evidence ……is precise is precise ……previews broad points of your argumentpreviews broad points of your argument ……is arguable (in other words, it isn’t simply a is arguable (in other words, it isn’t simply a

statement of fact)statement of fact)

Progression of Thesis Progression of Thesis Statement #1Statement #1

The North and South fought the Civil The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some which were the same and some different.different.

While both sides fought the Civil War While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of tariffs, the North over the issue of tariffs, the North fought for moral reasons while the fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own South fought to preserve its own institutions. institutions.

While both Northerners and While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on preserving Northerners focused on preserving the Union while Southerners the Union while Southerners defended their own rights to property defended their own rights to property and self-government.and self-government.

Progression of Thesis Progression of Thesis Statement #2Statement #2

Martin Luther didn’t like Catholic Martin Luther didn’t like Catholic Church practices including simony, Church practices including simony, nepotism, and the selling of nepotism, and the selling of indulgences. indulgences.

Despite political pressure that Despite political pressure that contributed to later conflict, the core contributed to later conflict, the core cause of the Reformation included cause of the Reformation included heavily criticized practices of the heavily criticized practices of the Catholic Church including simony, Catholic Church including simony, nepotism, and the selling of nepotism, and the selling of indulgences. indulgences.

Introductory ParagraphIntroductory Paragraph 4-6 Sentences4-6 Sentences EstablishEstablish

Time & PlaceTime & Place Thesis StatementThesis Statement

ClearClear Bold your thesis statementBold your thesis statement

Underline in handwritten essaysUnderline in handwritten essays

Allude to Allude to Subtopics Subtopics

Focus on the questionFocus on the question

The Middle ParagraphsThe Middle Paragraphs 8-12 sentences per paragraph8-12 sentences per paragraph Identify subtopic in the first sentence Identify subtopic in the first sentence

Hand written essaysHand written essays Leave a space between each topical Leave a space between each topical

paragraphparagraph Include documents that are relevant to support Include documents that are relevant to support

your ideas in the paragraphyour ideas in the paragraph Use the documents givenUse the documents given

70%70% Indicate Indicate

Point of View (POV)Point of View (POV) Write (POV) in handwritten essaysWrite (POV) in handwritten essays

BiasBias Use supportive outside informationUse supportive outside information Why were these documents selected?Why were these documents selected?

FactsFacts NamesNames

Erasmus Erasmus DatesDates

October 31, October 31, TermsTerms EventsEvents PlacesPlaces MovementsMovements

Humanism Humanism

Questions to Ask Yourself Questions to Ask Yourself About the DocumentsAbout the Documents

AttributionAttribution Who is this person?Who is this person?

Why might they be significant?Why might they be significant? What is the point of view of the author?What is the point of view of the author? How reliable and accurate is the source?How reliable and accurate is the source? What is the tone or intent of the author?What is the tone or intent of the author? What other information does this What other information does this

document call to mind? document call to mind? Use all available cluesUse all available clues

Demonstrating POV/BiasDemonstrating POV/Bias

AttributionAttribution Cite the author by Cite the author by

NameName TitleTitle PositionPosition

Why is this person and document Why is this person and document selected?selected?

How does it help me answer the How does it help me answer the question?question?

Examples:Examples: John Tyler, an English writer said, “…John Tyler, an English writer said, “… A Dominican Monk in Florence A Dominican Monk in Florence

described…described…

Authorial Point of ViewAuthorial Point of View Show awareness that aspects of the author Show awareness that aspects of the author

could influence their views.could influence their views. GenderGender OccupationOccupation Social classSocial class NationalityNationality Political positionPolitical position

How does this apply to the question?How does this apply to the question? Why has the author written what they have?Why has the author written what they have?

Example:Example: Balthasar Rusow, a Lutheran pastor, was Balthasar Rusow, a Lutheran pastor, was

naturally upset by the celebration of a naturally upset by the celebration of a Saint’s Day, since Lutherans don’t Saint’s Day, since Lutherans don’t venerate saints.venerate saints.

Reliability and accuracy of Reliability and accuracy of each source referencedeach source referenced You examine a source for its reliability You examine a source for its reliability

and accuracy by questioning if the and accuracy by questioning if the author of the document would be in a author of the document would be in a position to be accurate.position to be accurate.

How might this help you answer your How might this help you answer your question?question?

Example:Example: Niccolo Machiavelli’s book on the Niccolo Machiavelli’s book on the

political tactics of a Renaissance prince political tactics of a Renaissance prince was probably accurate as he observed was probably accurate as he observed the behavior of the prince, Cesare the behavior of the prince, Cesare Borgia, for many years.Borgia, for many years.

Tone or Intent of the AuthorTone or Intent of the Author You examine the text of a document to You examine the text of a document to

determine its tone (satire, irony, indirect determine its tone (satire, irony, indirect commentary, etc.) or the intent of the commentary, etc.) or the intent of the author. Especially useful for visual author. Especially useful for visual documents, like art work or political documents, like art work or political cartoons.cartoons.

Example:Example: In his great sculpture of “David,” In his great sculpture of “David,”

Michelangelo wanted to convey the Michelangelo wanted to convey the confidence, and even arrogance, of confidence, and even arrogance, of Renaissance Florence at the peak of its Renaissance Florence at the peak of its cultural influence in 16 Century Europe.cultural influence in 16 Century Europe.

Grouping Documents by author:Grouping Documents by author: You show an awareness that certain You show an awareness that certain

types of authors, simply by their types of authors, simply by their authorship, will express similar views authorship, will express similar views when you group documents by type of when you group documents by type of author.author.

Example:Example: As Northern Renaissance humanists, As Northern Renaissance humanists,

Erasmus, Sir Thomas More, and Erasmus, Sir Thomas More, and Cervantes all poked fun at the foibles Cervantes all poked fun at the foibles and scandals of late medieval society as and scandals of late medieval society as well as of their own.well as of their own.

How to Reference a How to Reference a Document in Your EssayDocument in Your Essay

Baldassare Castiglione, in Baldassare Castiglione, in The Handbook The Handbook of the Courtierof the Courtier, said: “………………….”, said: “………………….”

Erasmus of Rotterdam, a northern Erasmus of Rotterdam, a northern Christian humanist, agreed with…Christian humanist, agreed with…

The 19The 19thth century historian, Jacob century historian, Jacob Burkhardt, felt that …………………. (Doc. Burkhardt, felt that …………………. (Doc. 9)9)

NEVERNEVER begin with: In Document 3, ….. begin with: In Document 3, …..

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

ConclusionConclusion 3-4 Sentences3-4 Sentences Start with a concluding phraseStart with a concluding phrase Restate your thesis in a different wayRestate your thesis in a different way Put your essay answer in a larger historical Put your essay answer in a larger historical

perspective.perspective. End of some trend/movement/idea, etc.End of some trend/movement/idea, etc. Beginning Beginning of some trend/movement/idea, etc.of some trend/movement/idea, etc. End of one & beginning of another.End of one & beginning of another. Do NOT end on the note that this is the reason we are where we Do NOT end on the note that this is the reason we are where we

are today!are today!