Name:___________________________________________ Date:_________________________
Introduction to DBQ Writing
What is a DBQ?



The term “DBQ” stands for Document-Based Question.
It is designed to test your ability to analyze primary and secondary historical documents, and being able to use
this analysis to answer a specific question.
Primary sources may include first person accounts (e.g. oral histories, diaries, memoirs, correspondence),
documents (e.g. correspondence, treaties, laws, speeches), images (e.g. maps, photographs, paintings), or
historically gathered data.
The following is a general layout of a Document-Based Question Essay. (This will culminate in a 5 paragraph typed essay).
Introduction:______________________________________________________________________________________
Thesis (Remember to clearly answer the question here with your 3 reasons).
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic of Body Paragraph #1:
_________________________
Topic of Body Paragraph #2:
__________________________
Topic of Body Paragraph #3:
__________________________
Document #___
Document #___
Document #___
Bias: ___________________
Bias:_____________________
Main Idea:
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Main Idea:
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Main Idea:
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Relation to Thesis Statement
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Relation to Thesis Statement
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Document #___
Main Idea:
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Document #___
Main Idea:
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Relation to Thesis Statement
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
____________________________
Relation to Thesis Statement
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Document #___ (Extra, if needed)
Document # ___ (Extra, if needed)
Relation to Thesis Statement
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Document #___
Main Idea:
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Relation to Thesis Statement
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Document # ___
Conclusion (Restate Thesis):
________________________________________________________________________________________
Leave the reader with something to ponder: ___________________________________________________________
Connect back to thesis
Example DBQ Essay (Mini-Version)
Directions: Please read the following essay below in order to see a positive example about how your essay should
look.
Example Documents
Document #1: Thomas Phillips, a
slave-ship captain, wrote an account
of his activities in A Journal of a
Voyage (1746)
“I have been informed that some
commanders have cut off the legs or
arms of the most willful slaves, to
terrify the rest, for they believe that,
if they lose a member, they cannot
return home again: I was advised by
some of my officers to do the same,
but I could not be persuaded to
entertain the least thought of it,
much less to put in practice such
barbarity and cruelty to poor
creatures who, excepting their want
of Christianity and true religion (their
misfortune more than fault), are as
much the works of God's hands, and
no doubt as dear to him as
ourselves.”1
Document 2:
Dr. Thomas Trotter, a physician
working on the slave-ship, Brookes,
was interviewed by a House of
Commons committee in 1790. This is
how he replied when he was asked if
the "slaves had room to turn
themselves."
“No. The slaves that are out of irons
are locked "spoonways"" and locked
to one another. It is the duty of the
first mate to see them stowed in this
manner every morning; those which
do not get quickly into their places
are compelled by the cat and, such
was the situation when stowed in
this manner, and when the ship had
much motion at sea, they were often
miserably bruised against the deck or
against each other. I have seen their
breasts heaving and observed them
draw their breath, with all those
laborious and anxious efforts for life
which we observe in expiring animals
subjected by experiment to bad air of
various kinds.”1
Example DBQ Essay Question:
Evaluate the emotional, social, and political effects of
the slave trade on the African people.
Example DBQ Essay (Mini-Version):
The Atlantic Slave trade, also known as the Middle
Passage, took place between the 1500s through the 1800s. At this
point in history, European slave traders bought and sold African
slaves to the colonists in North and South America.
[INTRODUCTION with HISTORICAL BACKGROUND] The African
people suffered negative consequences of the slave trade on their
emotional, social, and political lives due to the horrific journey,
the tearing apart of families, and the destruction of the
community [THESIS STATEMENT].
To begin, the slave trade was extremely negative on the
emotional lives of the Africans forced to go on the Middle
Passage. [TOPIC SENTENCE] For example, according to Thomas
Phillips, a slave ship captain, crew members on his ship would
“cut off the legs or arms of the most willful slaves, to terrify the
rest” (Document 1). [EVIDENCE #1] This shows that the slaves
suffered much emotional trauma because they had to witness the
torture of their friends and neighbors on the horrific journey.
[DETAIL #1] Since Phillips was a slave ship captain, he would
know what occurred on his craft, so he is a reliable source in this
case. [BIAS] Additionally, according to Dr. Thomas Trotter, the
slaves were occasionally “compelled by the cat” which means that
an animal was used to frighten the Africans into submission.
[EVIDENCE #2] Once again, this clearly relates to the idea that the
African slave trade was negative to the emotional lives of Africans
because scare tactics were used against them while they were
crossing the Atlantic Ocean. [DETAIL #2] Both of these examples
show how destructive the African slave trade was to the Africans’
emotional states. [CONCLUDING SENTENCE]
BODY PARAGRAPH #2 (Follow the format of body paragraph #1).
BODY PARAGRAPH #3 (Follow the format of body paragraph #1).
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH:
Overall, the Triangular Trade severely impacted the
emotional, social, and political lives of the Africans taken as slaves
in numerous negative ways. [RESTATE THESIS] Had the Middle
Passage never occurred, perhaps there would not be as much
racial strife in the world as there is today. [LEAVE the READER
with SOMETHING to PONDER]
General Steps to Writing the DBQ
1. Reread your notes and handouts having to do with the topic of the DBQ. This will help you
remember important facts, dates, and events.
2. Read the DBQ question carefully.
3. Read each document carefully. For each document, understand a) the main point of the
document, and b) the perspective of the document (look for bias).
4. Organize the documents into 3 different groups using the three column chart provided for you.
Note again what the question asks. Group the documents by their similarities.
5. Based on your interpretation of the documents, what is the strongest argument you can make in
order to answer the question? This will be your organizing thesis statement.
6. Construct an outline using the 5 paragraph essay organizer provided for you. Each body
paragraph needs to use two (different) documents, for a total of six documents. The evidence
from the documents must be specifically cited and explained in your paper. For example, write
“According to St. Paul,... etc…” (Document 3).
DO’s and DO NOT’s…
1. DO: Make sure you explain the significance of every quotation or paraphrase you incorporate
into your body paragraphs.
2. DO NOT use ridiculously long quotations. In fact, use quotations sparingly. (I know what the
documents say: I want to see if you have interpreted them correctly).
3. DO: Use the majority of documents to make your argument. (The required is two different
documents per body paragraph, for a total of six).
4. DO: use formal language (no first or second person or contractions…Please refer to the “Format
for Essay Writing Guidelines” from Unit I for more information).
5. DO: follow the example mini-DBQ essay that I have given to you.