History-Geography DBQs

Some important points to bear in mind about Data Based Questions:

  • A DBQ demands as essay response not a commentary. A DBQ is an essay that answers a question using documents to support the answer to the question, along with other evidence. This answer must also include an analysis of the values and  limitations of the document.
  • Thing to remember about the DBQ essays: The documents are there in service to the answer and the values and limitations of  these documents must be discussed in the essay. Basic responses will use phrases like ‘the source is useful because..’ or ‘however there are limitations because…’ whereas stronger responses will integrate this analysis throughout the essay.
  • Geography DBQ responses can point out which voices are not named or heard in a document and should use the issue of scale on maps as a limitation, provided this is explained.

Contextualizing  

It is not necessary to mention the documents in the introduction (although it is possible). The first time you use a document, contextualize it by giving the type of document, the year, and the main  idea.

Explain the context briefly. Address in your essay how the documents connect both to their context and the period in which they were produced.

Supporting  

Use the documents throughout your essay to support your points as much as you can! However, there is no need to quote extensively from them. You do not have to use the documents in every paragraph. Careful! Don’t use the very French “we can see”.

As we can see in Document One, … → As shown in Document One…

We can observe in Document Two that… → Document Two depicts …

The Federalists argued for an energetic executive (Document 2).

Analyzing  

When you use the documents for support, link your observations to outside knowledge, and analyze their values and limitations.

The values are what can be observed in the document that add to understanding.

Always link what you see in the document to your evidence. Use the document to prove your argument.

The limitations are what is absent from the source and the bias inherent within it. Absence of information in a source can be very telling and help you to advance your argument and analyze a situation. Bias must also be identified but you must explain how it is a limitation. Link your limitations to outside knowledge and evidence as well. Use them as a springboard to other points that connect to your thesis.

 Compare and contrast the documents in a way which is relevant to your argument. Is there a theme evident in both docs? Do the documents show conflicting points of view? Are they complementary? Bring it up! What does it show or help to understand about the period?

If you aren’t 100% sure about your assertion and don’t want to seem overconfident, then use a modal construction such as “could be” or “may be”.

What is meant by bias in a document?

Bias is when the creator’s perspective is so strongly for or against something that the information in the source is unbalanced or prejudiced. All sources contain some degree of bias, but it is not always possible to detect it.

Bias can either be extremely positive or extremely negative.

  • If extremely positive, it is described as “pro-”, or “in favour of”, etc.
  • If extremely negative, it is described as “anti-”, or “strongly against”, etc.
  • If you cannot detect a bias, it is described as a “balanced” source.

 

Look for times in a source where any of the following happen:

  • When describing people or events, the language is too positive and does not admit anything negative
  • When describing people or events, the language is too negative and does not admit anything positive
  • The source fails to mention very important information of which you are aware
  • The source provides clearly incorrect information

If you noticed any of the above in your source, it indicates that the creator has a specific bias about the person or event and wants communicate in a way that positions the audience to see things from the same perspective.

 

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