APUSH DBQ Tips?

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<p>I'm ind. studying APUSH, my magnet school for science/engineering doesn't believe in APs other than both calcs, both physicses, and chem.</p>

<p>they do a good job teaching us history tho, both thematically and factually, its actually a bit of a shame thats it not designated AP/in prep for the AP exam.</p>

<p>i'm confident in all of the information on APUSH, i just have zero experience with the DBQ or the FRQ.</p>

<p>Any tips on the DBQ and are APUSH FRQ's similar to gov FRQ"s in terms of answering format?</p>

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<p>use 1 more than half of the documents.
so if there are 6 documents, use at least 4. :]</p>

<p>but blend them in.</p>

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<p>Don't make your essay about the documents. Just use them as concrete details and then use your own commentary to talk about whatever.</p>

<p>And don't quote them when citing them. Summarize what they say.</p>

<p>The FRQ is basically the DBQ without the documents. Focus on answering the prompt, and use outside information that you know.</p>

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<p>I took it last year and got a 5. I believe you need to know outside information so if you've been doing the readings you should be fine. I skimmed over The Giant APUSH Review Outline (You can find it online. Just google it) the morning of the test (Or the day before), and I remembered some of the details that were VERY helpful because they came up on the DBQ and I mentioned them.</p>

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<p>Basically a crude version of the research paper. Form a conclusion from you documents and put it all together.</p>

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<p>For a top score, try to use every document. At least every one that you understand. Your essay must be balanced 50% docs and 50% outside info.
Use intro paragraph for background info. Choose 3 factors for body paragraphs. State new piece of analysis in conclusion.
ALWAYS CITE DOCS!</p>

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<p>so is it bad to quote things?</p>

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<p>Before you look at the documents, write down 10 facts that you know about the subject matter, in shorthand of course, on the side. Outside information is very important to getting a good grade--once you read the documents your outside information becomes skewed by what is presented there. If you have some points on there before hand, you will know key details you can add. </p>

<p>It worked for me =)</p>

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<p>how about integrating the documents with the outside info.</p>

<p>ex. Document A idk is about Clays American System and his argument for its support.</p>

<p>outside info: explaining the American system?</p>

<p>i think thats the best way to come up with background info.</p>

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<p>^ Instead of just stating that (which works, btw), you can also say something like:</p>

<p>Document A describes Clay's support for the American System because of... and describe why. Stay true to what the document says though, and then you can say what you think with the commentary.</p>

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<p>Bring in what you know. The documents are there to help not dictate the essay. With that said though, use the required amount (would be stupid to lose credit for not). </p>

<p>I got lucky last year because I studied on chapter the night before and it was the chapter the DBQ was based off of. </p>

<p>Be one with the test ;)</p>

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<p>read the real students sample dbq's from the CB site</p>

<p>its funny how when u read the top scoring essays, the way they write is so similar to amsco almost like they had an amsco in front of them - people who know that book well get easy 5's looks like</p>

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<p>Group the documents together and make sure you identify the bias in the documents. Thats what will put your essay into the 8-9 range</p>

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<p>should identify the documents. as document A, document B.</p>

<p>or actually say the name of the work by blank author?</p>

<p>also is it recommended to not use certain sources for clarity/what's a good length to have for a dbq</p>

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<p>no, don't identify docs! do it like this: Lincoln vetoed the Wade-David bill (Doc A).</p>

<p>also, my ap us teacher said you dont need bias.</p>

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<p>so its pretty much an impromptu research paper, where the documents they give me are sources, and i can use other info?</p>

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<p>oh and where can i find sample dbq's (student written), i can't seem to find out on CB, they just give outlines of what you need for a top score.</p>

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<p>Briefly form an argument based on what you already know, then read the documents and see what you can use to support it. That's what I did anyway and it worked for me.</p>

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<p>To resurrect this thread–</p>

<p>How long should DBQs be, usually?</p>