How to Approach the DBQ
The DBQ is one of the most important sections of the AP history exams. It is also the part of the exam that students are usually least familiar with before they begin an AP course. Circa’s experts break down what is expected in the DBQ and how you can write a great essay.
What is the DBQ?
The DBQ is the first of two essays that students are asked to write in the second part of the AP exam. You will have 60 minutes to do the entire DBQ essay. The test expects for students to spend 15 minutes reading and brainstorming and then 45 minutes writing the essay.
For each DBQ, you will be presented with a question. After the prompt, you will then have 7 sources, which could be texts, images, or charts.
It is your task to write an answer to the question, using the sources provided as evidence that backs up your argument.
You can see examples of former DBQs here for AP US History, AP World History, and AP European History.
What is the Point of the DBQ?
The DBQ is designed to give students the chance to show that they can think and write about history. Essentially, the test wants to see what historical skills students possess.
Most of history is based around writing, so this timed exercise in a small way gives students the chance to show the grader that they can do history writing themselves. This essay type is not a perfect way to show that you could write your own history essay for a high school or college class, but it is a pretty good approximation, given the time constraints on the exam.
Essentially, the DBQ asks students to complete a research project that has already been started for them. Most history projects start with a question (as you might have seen in our other research posts!). That question is provided for you in the prompt, so you don’t have to come up with your own research question. Next, historians usually look for sources that help them answer the question. Again, this part has been done for you. The test has provided you with 7 sources that they believe would be helpful in answering the question they ask.
The remaining part of the history paper, however, is up to you: you need to read the documents, analyze what they are saying, and use them to answer the question posed.
Process
Let’s break down the steps you would go through, then, to write a successful DBQ:
Analyze the Sources
The first task you have in the DBQ is to look at the sources, analyze what information they are conveying, and assess how you might use these documents to answer the question. To do this analysis, you need to go through the methods of source analysis. You might check for author, context, meaning, and purpose.
As you go through the sources, start thinking already about how they relate to each other—which sources are raising similar ideas? And which sources are in conflict with each other? You might also start thinking of ways to categorize the documents, perhaps by perspective, location, or date.
Make an Argument
The next step is to take the information from the sources and combine it to make an argument. The easiest way to do this step is to use the sources to answer the question in the prompt. The answer to the question in the prompt then becomes the argument. For instance, say the prompt asks: ‘assess to what extent the US Revolutionary War was based on Enlightenment thought.’ Based on the sources, you might answer a lot, a little, or something in between. Your answer to the question, then, becomes your argument: ‘To a large extent, the US Revolutionary War was based on Enlightenment thought.’ After your thesis, you can then list the two or three claims you will make that support your point.
Step 3: Write the Essay
The final step in the process is to then write out the essay. You should give some historical context in the introduction. You should then clearly state your argument and its 2 or 3 supporting points. Each supporting point will then be its own body paragraph, where you expand your ideas and give evidence from the sources and from your own outside knowledge.
The Rubric
As you practice writing DBQs this year, one of the most important aspects to keep in mind is the rubric. The rubric will decide how many points you are awarded. Whereas your history teacher might be lenient with grading if you write a good essay but forget a small component, the AP graders will apply the same rules to all students to ensure there is a uniform and fair grading system. Therefore, you should practice writing essays that check off all of the requirements from the rubric.
Here is a rubric for the DBQ for all three history exams.
In particular, the exam’s graders will be looking at:
the strength of your argument
your ability to put your argument in a wider historical context
your ability to analyze and extrapolate information from sources
your ability to marshal evidence in support of your argument
Final Thoughts
The DBQ is usually a completely new type of writing for most students. Don’t be put off if it seems unfamiliar. No one has really seen anything like it before. It is perfectly doable to learn how to write a DBQ.
That said, the DBQ is something that most students learn only through dedicated practice. It is hard to write a great DBQ on your first attempt. Therefore, the best way to study is to practice writing DBQ essays yourself. You can compare your answers to those provided on the College Board website or ask your teacher for help grading them.
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