The document provides guidelines for writing a DBQ essay, including annotating documents, grouping documents by theme, writing a contextualization, thesis, and analyzing documents using HIPP (Historical Context, Intended Audience, Purpose, Point of View). It emphasizes directly addressing the prompt question in each part of the essay.

1. DBQ Essay
Guidelines

2. Document Annotation
•Don’t just summarize docs.
•Annotations should DIRECTLY reflect prompt
•In other words, ask yourself the prompt question with each
document.
•May be multiple themes/possible groups in one document.
•Not just “positive or negative”; may work sometimes but will
still need different categories “groups” of positive and
negative.
•Try to underline/circle supportive info./evidence in the docs.
during the annotation process.
•Also: address possible Point of View as you annotate docs.

3. Group the Documents
• Use an organizer to “group”, in 3 or more
ways, the documents according to common
themes based on the prompt/question.
Prompt
Theme
Theme
Theme
Theme
Document
Document
Document
Document
Document
Document
DocumentDocument
Document
Document
Theme/Group Theme/Group Theme/Group
Documents Documents Documents

4. Contextualization
• Beginning of essay
• Questions to consider:
• What was happening at the time the event
happened that might have had an influence?
• What was happening at the specific place where an
event occurred? In the country as a whole? In the
larger region? In the world?
• How does a specific event relate to larger
processes? How do larger process shape a specific
event?

5. 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.

6. DBQ Thesis Writing Activity
Prompt: 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.

7. Document Analysis
HIPP
Historical Context: When & where was the source produced
AND what contemporaneous events might have affected
viewpoint and/or message?
Intended Audience: Who might the intended audience be
AND how might that audience affected the content of the
source?
Purpose: Why did the author create the source or why was
the document created at this time?
Point of View: What is the author’s POV AND why do they
have that POV

8. Document Analysis
Historical Context
Source: Christopher Columbus, describing his first encounter with the native Arawak men and
women.
“They…brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they
exchanged for the glass beads and hawks’ bells. They willingly traded everything they
owned…They were well built, with good bodies and handsome features…They do not bear arms,
and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves
out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane…They would make fine serv-
ants…With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.”
Columbus’ writing could have been influenced by the
broader historical context of the time. As European nations
raced to acquire lands and access to new goods around the
world in an attempt to build their wealth over that of their
European neighbors, Columbus wanted to make it clear
that he had met that criteria for the Spanish by finding
willing trade partners and a source of colonial wealth.

9. Document Analysis
Intended Audience
Source: Bartolome de las Casas, a young priest who participated in the conquest of Cuba and
transcribed Columbus’ journal
Thus husbands and wives were together only once every eight or ten months and when they
met they were so exhausted and de-pressed on both sides . . . they ceased to procreate. As for
the newly born, they died early because their mothers, overworked and fam-ished, had no milk
to nurse them, and for this reason, while I was in Cuba, 7000 children died in three months.
One of De las Casas’ intended audiences was most likely the
Spanish officials including the crown. He would want them
to understand just how terribly the natives were being
treated , in the hopes that the Spanish authorities would
force officials in the Americas to change their practices
concerning the natives.

10. Document Analysis
Purpose
They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the
edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of
cane…They would make fine serv-ants…With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make
them do whatever we want.”
Source: Christopher Columbus, describing his first encounter with the native Arawak men and
women.
Columbus’ purpose for including his thoughts on the poorly
armed natives and the ease with which they could be
controlled, is most likely to reinforce for his Spanish
sponsors that this trip was successful in its goal of finding
lands and people to exploit. The purpose also likely
includes the hopes of ensuring future voyages for Columbus
as well.

11. Document Analysis
Point of View
Source: Bartolome de las Casas, a young priest who participated in the conquest of Cuba and
transcribed Columbus’ journal
…(the Spaniards) grew more conceited every day and after awhile re-fused to walk any
distance…(They) rode the backs of Indians is they were in a hurry or were carried on hammocks
by Indians running in relays…(They) thought nothing of knifing Indians by tens and twenties and
of cutting slices off them to test the sharpness of their blades…
De las Casas’ point of view would very likely be influenced
by his being a Catholic priest. He was shocked and angered
by the horrific and inhumane treatment of the natives
because as a priest he most likely embraces the ideas of
equality among people, and that one should treat others
how they wish to be treated. He probably felt like he was
there to bring new people into the faith, but he was
witnessing the deaths of that very group.

12. Point of View statement - POV
•3 Components to a POV statement; can be
one sentence
•Author/source
•The POV
•Reason for POV
Document Analysis
Point of View

13. 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?

14. “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

15. “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.

16. 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)”

17. Additional Document Statement
•3 components:
•Source from whom/what
•What type of info. desired
•Why would that information be helpful in
your analysis of the question?
“A report from a Roman military commander comparing the
service of Germanic soldiers and Roman soldiers could assist
in the identification and evaluation of the specific impacts of
increasing numbers of Germanic mercenaries, in the overall
decline of the Roman military.”

18. Critical Intro
“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 is this not an appropriate analytical Point of View
Statement?

19. Critical Intro
Give three examples of “Additional documents” you
could request that might help you analyze the
impacts of global migration between 600 and 1450.
Then get 5 colored pencils.

20. DBQ Essay
Self Edit Review
Created a color-coded key for the following DBQ essay components.
Thesis
Grouping statements
Doc. citations
POV statements
Additional doc. statements