What's a good DBQ Essay Example?

Hey, taking APUSH next year and I know I'll have to nail the DBQ essay! Do you know of any great examples I could use to help me understand what an exceptional DBQ essay looks like?

Absolutely, getting a feel for what a good DBQ (Document Based Question) essay looks like can give you a significant advantage when it comes to your APUSH exam. Here are the key components of a high-scoring DBQ essay, focused on a prompt that addresses a topic that commonly appears on the exam: "Analyze the impacts of the Progressive Era on American society".

1. Thesis Statement: Your thesis statement should directly respond to the prompt and set up an argument that you will develop in the body paragraphs. Incorporate categories that you will discuss, providing a roadmap for your essay. For example:

"The Progressive Era, from the 1890s to the 1920s, impacted American society through significant reforms in labor regulations, expansion of women's rights, and pushback to political corruption."

2. Analysis of Documents: Each paragraph should include analysis of specific documents to support your argument. It's important to describe what each document says and how it relates to your argument. Follow each description with an analysis about why the document matters. Here's an example paragraph based on a hypothetical document:

"Document C notes that various labor reform acts were passed during this period, which limited working hours to ensure healthier working conditions. This document shows how the Progressive Era led to tangible government action to improve labor rights, one of the primary spheres that changed drastically during this era."

3. Contextualization and Outside Evidence: A high-scoring DBQ essay also effectively contextualizes the topic and brings in outside evidence. Say none of the documents directly mention women's rights. In that case, contextualization might look like:

"In the early 1900s, women were mostly confined to domestic roles. However, during the Progressive Era, suffragettes orchestrated a vast national movement demanding voting rights for women, which eventually led to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 granting women the right to vote."

4. Conclusion: Your conclusion should restate your thesis and summarize your argument. For example:

"In conclusion, the Progressive Era was defined by the federal government's intervention in labor rights, advances in women's rights, and a crusade against political corruption."

Remember, this is just an abbreviated example. A real DBQ essay would include more thorough analyses of more documents, additional outside evidence, and potentially a counterargument. It's important to practice writing DBQ essays within the given time limit to get a feel for the pacing as well.

For a more detailed breakdown of what a strong DBQ should look like, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-dbq/. Or, if you want to know more about the content covered by the APUSH exam specifically, I'd check out this post: https://blog.collegevine.com/ultimate-guide-to-the-u-s-history-ap-exam

Good luck!