How to successfully write a DBQ essay What is a DBQ?
A DBQ is a document based question. You must read excerpts of various historical documents and write a thesis based on a question that focuses on the documents provided. The key to answering a DBQ is to write an essay that not only answers the question that is being asked but also recognizes the Point of View of the documents you are using. What is Point of View? Never take a historical document at face value. You must look at who wrote the document. Remember, history is based on perspective. After reading a primary document, ask yourself the follow questions: Who wrote this? What time period did they live? Where did they live? What is their social class? What is their gender? What are their political beliefs? What are their possible ulterior motives? This is Point of View! When answering a DBQ you must not only refer to the content of the document but you must analyze who wrote it! Organization As you can see in the DBQ Rubric, you must have proper organization in your essay. After re
