DBQ

•Reminders

DBQ Sample Prompt:

Using the documents, analyze Han and Roman attitudes toward technology. Identify one additional

type of document and explain briefly how it would help your analysis.

Sample thesis: Han and Roman attitudes toward technology ranged from being positively viewed

as a means to meet the needs of growing populations and territories to being viewed as unnecessary

because of massive amounts of human labor which may have minimized the need for technological

improvements. The documents also expressed the importance of government involvement to plan,

pay for and implement technological innovations.

Essay format:

Body Paragraph 1

Topic/grouping sentence: “Positive attitudes toward technology were evidenced in

documents 3, 5, and 8.

Evidence Sentences addressing the evidence in docs. 3, 5, and 8, and any reasons (analysis)

for those views expressed in the docs.

POV Statement for one of the docs: Source, POV, Reason for POV

Additional Document Statement: Type of document or “voice” desired; nature of

information desired, and how it would contribute to your analysis of the topic.

Body Paragraph 2

Topic/grouping sentence: “Negative attitudes toward technology were evidenced in

documents 2, 4, and 7.

Evidence Sentences addressing the evidence in docs. 2, 4, and 7, and any reasons (analysis)

for those views expressed in the docs.

POV Statement for one of the docs: Source, POV, Reason for POV

Additional Document Statement: Type of document or “voice” desired; nature of

information desired, and how it would contribute to your analysis of the topic.

Body Paragraph 3

Topic/grouping sentence: “The importance of government involvement in implementing

new technology was evidenced in documents 1, and 6.

Evidence Sentences addressing the evidence in docs. 1 and 6 and any reasons (analysis) for

those views expressed in the docs.

POV Statement for one of the docs: Source, POV, Reason for POV

Additional Document Statement: Type of document or “voice” desired; nature of

information desired, and how it would contribute to your analysis of the topic.

Document Annotation

•Must annotate with specific theme/multiple themes/POVs

•Not just positive or negative

•Annotations should DIRECTLY reflect prompt

Thesis•Know what the prompt is asking.

•Must DIRECTLY reflect prompt!

•Use words from prompt; if prompt asks for “responses” write “The responses were…”;

•if the prompt asks for “consequences” write “the consequences were…”

•Add analysis; reason for(cause) or impact of categories.

•Read thesis to make sure it matches prompt.

Topic/Grouping Statement•Begin each of your three paragraphs with this statement.

•Identify the theme and the documents related to that theme.

•Look at the DBQ sample handout for guidance.

Evidence•Bring in/sum up specific information from each document to support it being in that group and its connection to the thesis.

•Don’t quote the information.

•Just explain how it relates to the thesis.

DBQ Thesis Writing ActivityPrompt: Analyze the various reactions to the spread of the Black Death in Western Europe during the 14th century.

3 Groups (with analysis):Hopelessness(not knowing cause or how to stop)Assigned blame(in order to make sense of tragedy)Embraced penance(in an attempt to avoid God’s punishment)

Steps: 1. restate prompt context; 2. identify each group “reaction” with analysis

Sample Analytical Thesis: The reactions to the spread of the Black Death in Western Europe during the 14th century included hopelessness, because people did not know the cause of, or how to stop the plague , assigning blame, in order to make sense of the tragedy, and finally, many embraced penance in an attempt to avoid God’s punishment.

Point of View statement - POV

•3 Components to a POV statement; can be one sentence

•Author/source

•The POV

•Reason for POV

Another skill you must demonstrate is an assessment of the point of view (POV) represented in the documents; in other words, why is this specific author making this particular statement? Here you should consider the following: in what way(s) does the class, nationality, gender, official position, ideology, or other characteristic of the author influence his or her thinking on the topic at hand?

“In doc. 7, Jonathan Sampson, a native American, voices a dislike towards Anglo Americans because his family was murdered during the Black Kettle uprising”

”In doc. 5, Miguel Montez, a resident of the American southwest, had a reaction of anger and resentment, because his ancestor’s land was taken by American soldiers during the Mexican American War. ”

Sample 1

Sample 2

“Count Wilhelm von Hennenberg, in a letter to Duke Albert of Prussia, noted that nobles were surprised when peasants turned from attacking priests and monks to the property of the nobility. (doc. 11)”

Why unacceptable? This is merely attribution with no attempt at further analysis

beyond the stated information from the document itself; the statement does not

explain why Hennenberg held these views.

“Because this is a statement written by two preachers, it accurately reflects the attitudes of the people during this time period. (doc. 5)”

Why unacceptable? Again, this is really just attribution, since the

statement makes no effort to explain how or why these two preachers

would be authoritative voices of the people.

Examples of ACCEPTABLE point-of-view analysis:Relating authorial point of view to author’s place in society:“Leonard von Eck, as a chancellor, would likely hold this view since as a government official he is probably very concerned with preserving order and the stability of the political structure. (doc. 1)”

“Since Martin Luther had been deemed a heretic and was dependent upon local princes for protection, it is not surprising that he would be so vehement in condemning events that many linked to him and that were causing such civil unrest. (doc. 7)”

Evaluating the reliability of the source:“Lichtenstein may not be a completely reliable source, however, since he was pleading his own case and clearly had something to gain. (doc. 10)”

“Since Caspar Nutzel is a local government official writing to a superior, his acknowledgement of “excessive” actions by authorities seems credible since it may have been somewhat risky to offer criticism of authority during this time period. (doc. 9)”

Recognizing that different kinds of documents serve different purposes:“It is important to note that Lorenz Fries is commenting in a secret report probably not meant for publication; therefore, he is likely able to be more frank and honest than he might have been in a public document. (doc. 8)”

Additional Document Statement•3 components:

•Source from whom/what

•What type of info. desired

•Why would that info. be helpful in your analysis of the question?