A Document-Based Question (DBQ) essay requires you to analyze historical documents and use them to construct a well-supported argument. Use the following simple structure to organize your DBQ effectively.
✅ Context (Background Information)
Start with 3-5 sentences that provide historical background relevant to the prompt.
Connect the big picture to the specific topic.
✅ Thesis Statement
Answer the prompt directly with a clear argument.
Use the format:
Claim with extent + by/because + Line of Reasoning 1 + Line of Reasoning 2.
You can have more than two lines of reasoning if needed.
📌 Example Thesis (for Mongols and trade DBQ):
"The Mongols fostered trade to a great extent by providing security along trade routes and by establishing policies that encouraged commercial exchange."
Each body paragraph follows the TEA format:
Body Paragraph 1: First Line of Reasoning
✅ T – Topic Sentence
State your first argument clearly.
✅ E – Evidence (Use 2-3 documents)
Introduce a document and explain how it supports your argument.
Cite the document (e.g., Document 1).
✅ A – Analysis
Explain how the evidence supports your argument.
Source one or two documents per paragraph using HIPP (Historical Situation, Intended Audience, Purpose, or Point of View).
Explain how the document’s bias, reliability, or context affects its meaning.
📌 Example Sourcing (POV):
"The author of Document 2 was a merchant who benefited from Mongol policies, so his perspective likely reflects a favorable view of Mongol trade rather than its potential drawbacks."
Body Paragraph 2: Second Line of Reasoning
Repeat TEA structure with a new argument and different documents.
Use an additional source for HIPP analysis if possible.
✅ Consider a different perspective
Acknowledge an alternative viewpoint or a limitation of your argument.
Use a document or outside evidence to address this counterpoint.
📌 Example:
"While the Mongols promoted trade, their invasions also caused destruction, as seen in Document 4, which describes the devastation of Baghdad in 1258."
✅ Restate the thesis in different words.
✅ Summarize key arguments.
✅ (If possible) Connect to a broader historical theme or consequence.
📌 Example:
"The Mongols' role in fostering trade not only strengthened the Silk Roads but also facilitated the later spread of global commerce, laying the groundwork for the early modern trade networks of the 15th century."
✅ Use at least 6 of the 7 documents in your essay.
✅ Source at least 3 documents using HIPP analysis.
✅ Include one piece of outside evidence beyond the documents.
✅ Write a strong thesis that answers the prompt clearly.