How to Write a DBQ for History

Start by reading the prompt to identify the historical thinking skill required, such as causation, comparison, or continuity and change. Spend the first 15 minutes reading the documents. Do not just summarize them. Instead, annotate each document with its main idea and how it relates to others. Group the documents into two or three categories that will eventually become your body paragraphs. These groups should represent different perspectives or themes, such as political, economic, or social impacts.

Construct a thesis that does more than restate the prompt. Use a 'complex split' structure: acknowledge a counter-argument or nuance before stating your primary claim. This establishes a line of reasoning that guides the rest of your essay. Ensure your thesis is located in either the introduction or the conclusion, though placing it in the introduction is standard practice for clarity. A strong thesis should act as a roadmap for your grouped documents.

Write 3-5 sentences at the start of your introduction that describe the broader historical era. Think of this as the 'opening crawl' of a movie. Explain what was happening in the decades leading up to the prompt's timeframe. This context must be more than a phrase; it must explain how the background relates to your specific argument. For a prompt about the Civil War, you might discuss the growing sectionalism and territorial expansion of the 1840s.

Integrate documents into your body paragraphs to support your claims. Avoid long direct quotes. Instead, paraphrase the document's content and immediately explain how it proves your point. Use a parenthetical citation like (Doc 1) at the end of the sentence. To earn analysis points, perform HIPP analysis on at least three documents by explaining the author's point of view, the intended audience, the purpose, or the historical situation.

Identify at least one specific piece of outside evidence not mentioned in the documents. This must be a concrete person, event, law, or movement. Describe the evidence and explain how it supports your argument. This should be integrated naturally into a body paragraph. For example, if your documents discuss 1920s culture but never mention the Scopes Trial, adding that specific detail demonstrates your depth of historical knowledge.