Social Studies, DBQ Writing Process

Department of Social Studies

TBA, District Director of Humanities

516 434-4038

Social Studies

DBQ

Writing Process

Document–Based Question

Student Planning Page

The Document-Based Question (DBQ) is a combination of up to eight short answer Scaffolding Questions and an essay that is based on the scaffolding (building) of those documents. Each DBQ will give you specific information including:

The theme of the essay (subject)
The historical context (background)
Your task (job)

Your ability to understand the DBQ process will help you effectively organize your essay.

The Document-Based Question may require you to:

Answer factual questions.
Compare and contrast information.
Draw inferences (assumptions) and conclusions (decisions).
Analyze different types of documents including maps, graphs, charts, photos, political cartoons, short readings, and primary sources.
Be scored based on a grading rubric.

The essay should be constructed by taking the information provided and creating a thesis statement based on the task. Additionally, the thesis statement must be proved in the body paragraphs by combining relevant outside information, citing and explaining (analysis) the information in the supporting DBQ documents. The DBQ essay requires the following elements that have been included in a checklist on the back of this form.

DBQ Checklist

Steps

Introduction

Included

Yes NO

Step 1

Creatively provide the

historical background

(you may incorporate some of the historical background provided in the DBQ)

Step 2

Turn the task into a strong thesis statement

(give your position on the topic that must be defended using facts in your essay)

Note: The following are effective thesis statement ideas:

*add a quote, *ask a question or *make a statement

Step 3 – Decide which documents will be most helpful for writing this body paragraph. I will use documents ___________________________

Steps The body paragraphs should follow the following RAFT protocol	Body Paragraphs (2-3) (Introduce the supporting evidence for your thesis statement)
R-restate the main idea/point to prove	Restate the portion of your thesis statement that addresses the task of this paragraph
A-answer the question	Analyze & explain how the documents prove your thesis statement
F-for example	Support your thesis statement with examples of related & relevant outside information
T-tie up this topic and transition to the next topic (body paragraph)	Sum up this subtopic and create a bridge to the next subtopic (body paragraph)

Conclusion

Step 5	Restate your thesis position using different words than in your introduction
Step 6	Include two or three of your strongest arguments that support your thesis position

Man working at desk, looking up at clock on the wall

Man carrying a big butterfly net, chasing at clock with wings

Time Management & Time Allotment Strategies

Allotting an appropriate amount of time to each task on the DBQ and maintaining that schedule will maximize the score you will receive on the DBQ assessment. Note- the NYS Social Studies assessment allots 90 minutes for the Document-Based Question. Approximately half of the given time should be allotted to answering the scaffolding questions the other half should be for the essay.

Time Management Reflection Chart

Question

Component

My Initial Thoughts

The # of minutes I feel that I will need to complete the task

My Final Thoughts

The # of minutes I feel that I will need to complete the task