Steps to Writing a DBQ Essay - Brighton Central School ...



Steps to Writing a DBQ Essay

(Social Studies, grades 7-10)

1. READ THE QUESTION (TASK) CAREFULLY

← What does the task ask you to do?

← How many parts are there to the question?

← Underline the key words, dates, names, issues

2. BRAINSTORM

← Write down Outside Information (Prior Knowledge)

( Historical facts, definitions, descriptions, people, time periods related to the question

← Do this BEFORE looking at the documents and scaffolding questions

← Graphic Organizer

( Map out your response

( Your thesis statement (task) drives the organization of the essay

( Paragraphs: How many are needed?

What order do they appear in?

Write a topic sentence for each body paragraph.

3. READ AND ANALYZE THE DOCUMENTS

← When you answer the scaffolding questions also consider

← Who is the author?

← When was the document written or created?

← Is there any evidence of a bias or opinion?

← What prior knowledge do you have that relates to this document?

← Which aspect of the task does this document address?

← How does this information fit into my thesis statement and the essay as a whole?

4. FORMULATE A THESIS STATEMENT AND COMPLETE A GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

← After brainstorming and reading the documents you should have a clear idea of the direction you will take in writing your essay.

5. WRITE AN ORGANIZED ESSAY FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES FOR INTRDUCTION/ BODY PARAGRAPHS/ AND CONCULUSION.

( See back of page.

(INTRODUCTION:

This should provide the reader with a clear direction of where the essay is headed and what will be proven in the essay.

Be specific: List examples that you will cover in the essay.

Thesis must address ALL ASPECTS of the question.

Include Background Information. Definition of key terms/ideas

( BODY PARAGRAPHS:

The body paragraphs will illustrate your argument that was introduced in your thesis statement. Here you will describe facts and then analyze how the facts apply to the thesis. Each new idea should be a new body paragraph. This promotes clarity and clearly shows the reader you have addressed all aspects of the task.

Start with a topic sentence that clearly shows what will be the focus of the paragraph.

Body paragraphs should have a combination of DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS.

DESCRIBE: Use facts and examples to answer: who, what, where, when…

ANALYZE: Why or how does this information apply to my thesis.

Try to fully explain each example and how it relates to the thesis.

The more detail that is used the better.

Proper Citation of a Document: When you refer to a document you MUST:

1. Identify the document by the author or title of the document OR a description of the document (NOT BY THE NUMBER OF THE DOCUMENT)

2. Give a brief description of what the document is about.

3. Incorporate relevant outside information (prior knowledge) that relates to the document.

4. State (analyze) why or how does the information in the document relates to the thesis.

( CONCLUSION

The conclusion should restate the major arguments and include examples from your paper. No new major ideas should be introduced in the conclusion.

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Structure of Introduction: 1. Background Information Set the Scene

2. Thesis

Structure of Body Paragraphs: 1. Topic Sentence

2. Outside Information (* see front of sheet)

3. Document Information (* see citation of documents below)

4. Transition Statement

Structure of Conclusion: 1. Restate the Thesis

2. Restate the Background Information

3. Summarize Body Paragraphs 4. Closure Sentence

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