Help with DBQs?

Sooo, I'm in APUSH and these DBQs are killing me. Can anyone share some tips or resources on how best to approach them? A stressed junior sends their thanks from the library!

Sure thing, DBQs can indeed be tough, especially when you're first getting the hang of them! Here's a general game plan to break it down.

1. Understand the Prompt: Start by making sure you fully understand the prompt. Underline key terms and phrases, and make sure you understand what type of response is being asked from you.

2. Skim the Documents: Next, quickly skim all the documents to get an idea of their overarching themes and purposes. You're not deep-reading them yet, you just want to get a handle on what you're dealing with.

3. Analyze the Documents: Now, take the time to analyze each document individually. What's the main idea? Who is the author and what is their point of view? How might the author's POV or the context influence the document's content? How does the document respond to the prompt? As you do this, be sure to write notes — this may seem time-consuming, but it can be a true life-saver later on.

4. Group the Documents: Group the documents based on how they relate to the prompt and to each other. Typically, like-minded documents can be batched into 2 or 3 groups that support different parts of your argument.

5. Develop Your Thesis: Your thesis statement should make a claim in response to the prompt and outline how you will use the documents to support your claim. Make sure to include a quick line for each group of documents.

6. Outline Your Essay: Outline your response, making sure each group of documents leads to one paragraph. Include ourside evidence and your own analysis for each of your points. Don't forget to address the counter-arguments or limitations of your argument too.

7. Write Your Essay: Finally, write your essay with an introduction paragraph, several body paragraphs (based on your groups), and a conclusion. Remember to always tie your analysis back to your thesis.

8. Check Your Work: If you have extra time, revise your essay to ensure you’ve directly addressed the prompt, referenced each document, and clearly explained your argument.

This is a simplified outline and getting good at DBQs definitely takes practice. As for resources, your APUSH teacher is definitely a valuable one! Make use of their office hours to ask specific questions or discuss a DBQ you find particularly challenging. And if possible, practice, practice, practice. The more DBQs you go through, the better you'll become at dealing with them under time pressure. The APUSH College Board website also offers sample DBQs which can be very helpful for practice. Good luck!