DBQ

Here's One Tip to Put Your Mind at Ease on the DBQ

Your Essay Can Contain Errors

In an AP World Modern History DBQ, you’ll be able to make tiny errors and still be able to earn full credit for your response.

Before you get too excited, there are big (and we mean big!) limits to this rule. For instance, you can’t misrepresent a document by saying an author makes one claim when they clearly aren’t. You also can’t write something that is obviously wrong, like that America continues under British rule because the revolution was unsuccessful!

But you can make minor errors that don’t detract from your argument as long as you are demonstrating a knowledge of the time period and the ability to incorporate evidence to make an argument. So for example, you can make the mistake of saying during the French Revolution the storming of the Bastille happened on February 14, 1789 (instead of July 14th, when it actually happened), and still earn full credit as long as you aren’t making an argument that depends on the accuracy of those dates.

D.B.Q. Rubric & Outline