How to Write a DBQ, LEQ, & SAQ

General Tips

• Planning, reading, and annotating documents  (15 minutes) and writing essay (40 minutes) 

• Do NOT answer the question in bullet points.
• Read the question carefully.
• Use the language of the prompt to directly answer the questions.
• Look for key action words and circle them (describe, analyze, explain, identify, etc). 
• Look for plurals (ex: reason vs. reasons), if something is plural you must do two!
• USe specific proper nouns that are given in each part of the question. This will support what you are trying to say and will give you credibility. 

ACE The question

• Answer the question using a claim or topic sentence 
• Cite specific factual evidence
• Explain how the evidence proves the claim

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DBQ: Requirements

• A DBQ is a document based question where you take information from given documents and write an essay

• There is no set format for DBQ writing, however there are certain things you have to touch up on which are 

1. Thesis/Claim 
2. Contextualization 
3. Evidence
4. Analysis and Reasoning 

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DBQ: Outline

1. Contextualization
2. Body #1
3. Body #2
4. Body #3 
5. Conclusion (if you have time)

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1. Contextualization

• Contextualization includes historical information relevant to the prompt

• Think before, during, and after what you are going to be writing about.
• Should be 3-4 sentences.

•        Last sentence is your thesis statement.

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1.A Thesis Statement

• Your thesis statement is trying to prove a point.
• DO NOT RESTATE THE PROMPT.
• Should be 1-2 sentences.
• Be specific! 
• A strong thesis answers the “How” or “Why” question about your topic through a specific language.
• Should include date (can be centuries) and location.
• Ex: “ [Event] changed [example #1], [example #2], and [example #3] realities in [given place] during [date].” 

2. Body paragraphs 

• Your body paragraphs go into detail for what you are trying to prove.
• Focus on these main categories (think PERSIANS) based on your promt (remember, you will not need to cover all of these in your body paragraphs, but these are good ways to get analysis points. Political Social, and Economic are the ones that will show up the most).

1. Politcal
2. Economic
3. Religious
4. Social
5. Intellectual
6. Artistic
7. Near (Geographical location)
8. Significant Figures 

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What should be included

• Document citations (you can just say “Doc #” next to where you add your information pertaining to the document).
• Description of document (even if it is a picture of a painting, you still have to describe it).
• Why does the document pertain to your thesis statement?

• For at least half of the documents you need to state at least one of the following and explain why it is relevant

• Credibility; is the document reliable?
• Point of view of the author
• Purpose of the document
• Intended audience (who would support/refute)
• *Remember, the whole point of doing this is to strengthen your argument. Choose something that is relevant to what you are talking about so you can earn points!

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Conclusion

• Refresh everything that you have stated BRIEFLY.
• Try to end powerful, you want to show you have a complex understanding on what you are talking about.

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Scoring on AP Exam 

Thesis/Claim

(0-1pt)

1pt.

Responds to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim that establishes a line of reasoning.

The thesis must make a claim that responds to the prompt rather than restating or rephrasing the prompt. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place, either in the introduction or the conclusion.

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Contextualization

(0-1pt)

1pt

Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.

The response must relate the topic of the prompt to broader historical events, developments, or processes that occur before, during, or continue after the time frame of the question. This point is not awarded for merely a phrase or reference.

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Evidence 

(0-3pts)

Evidence from Documents

1pt

Uses content of 

At least three documents to address the topic of the prompt

OR

2pts

Supports an argument in response to the prompt using at least six documents

Evidence from Beyond the Documents 

1pt

Uses at least one additional piece of the specific historical evidence (beyond that found in the documents) relevant to an argument about the prompt.

To earn one point, the response must accurately describe — rather than simply quote — the content from at least three of the documents. 

To earn two points, the response must accurately describe — rather than simply quote — the content from at least six documents. In addition, the response must use the content of the documents to support an argument in response to the prompt

To earn one point, the response must accurately describe — rather than simply quote — the content from at least three of the documents. To earn two points, the response must accurately describe — rather than simply quote — the content from at least six documents. In addition, the response must use the content of the documents to support an argument in response to the prompt

Analysis and Reasoning 

(0-2pts)

1 pt.

 For at least three documents, explains how or why the document’s point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience is relevant to an argument. 

1 pt. 

Demonstrates a complex understanding of the historical development that is the focus of the prompt, using evidence to corroborate, qualify, or modify an argument that addresses the question.

To earn this point, the response must explain how or why (rather than simply identifying) the document’s point of view, purpose, historical situation, or audience is relevant to an argument about the prompt for each of the three documents sourced. 

A response may demonstrate a complex understanding in a variety of ways, such as: • Explaining nuance of an issue by analyzing multiple variables • Explaining both similarity and difference, or explaining both continuity and change, or explaining multiple causes, or explaining both cause and effect • Explaining relevant and insightful connections within and across periods • Confirming the validity of an argument by corroborating multiple perspectives across themes • Qualifying or modifying an argument by considering diverse or alternative views or evidence This understanding must be part of the argument. 

(from AP history DBQ rubric (7 points) - MRCASEYHISTORY. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://mrcaseyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/ap-dbq-rubric-and-reasoning-skills.pdf) 

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LEQ: Requirements

• An LEQ is long essay question that is usually compare/contrast or cause/effect.

• Thesis based prompt. 
• Should take around 40-50 minutes.
• 15% of total grade. 
• You do NOT NEED to have a five paragraph essay, you need as many to make your point.

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LEQ: Outline

1. Contextualization
2. Body paragraph #1
3. Body paragraph #2
4. Conclusion (if you have extra time). 

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1. Contextualization

• Contextualization includes historical information relevant to the prompt

• Think before, during, and after what you are going to be writing about.
• Should be 3-4 sentences.

•        Last Sentence is your thesis statement.

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1.A Thesis Statement

• Your thesis statement is what you are trying to prove.
• DO NOT RESTATE THE PROMPT.
• Should be 1-2 sentences.
• Be specific! 
• A strong thesis answers the “How” or “Why” question about your topic through a specific language. 
• Should include date (can be centuries) and location.
• Should have at least three points 

• ex:  if you are comparing and contrasting the French and American Revolutions,  you can have two differences and one similarity, or one similarly and two differences. 
• “While both [topic 1] and [topic 2] are similar in [similarity #1], they are different in terms of [difference #1] and [difference #2].”

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2. Body paragraphs 

• Your body paragraphs go into detail for what you are trying to prove
• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence.

• Ex: X caused significant [selected PERSIANS] change during [given period].

• Focus on these main categories (think PERSIANS) based on your prompt (remember, you will not need to cover all of these in your body paragraphs, but these are good ways to get analysis points. Political, Social, and Economic are the ones that will show up the most).

1. Political
2. Economic
3. Religious
4. Social
5. Intellectual
6. Artistic
7. Near (Geographical location)
8. Significant Figures 

What should be included

• Specific examples and analysis to prove your thesis.
• Background information (bringing in an outside source of information) (ex: if you are talking about American and French Revolutions, you can talk about the Haitian Revolution). 
• BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE.

• However if you do not know something, do not make something up.

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Scoring on AP Exam

Category

Scoring Criteria

Decision Rules

Thesis/Claim

(0-1pt)

1pt.

Responds to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim that establishes a line of reasoning.

The thesis must make a claim that responds to the prompt rather than restating or rephrasing the prompt. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place, either in the introduction or the conclusion.

Contextualization

(0-1pt)

1pt

Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.

The response must relate the topic of the prompt to broader historical events, developments, or processes that occur before, during, or continue after the time frame of the question. This point is not awarded for merely a phrase or reference.

Evidence 

(0-2pts)

1 pt.

Provides specific examples of evidence relevant to the topic of the prompt.

OR

2 pts.

Supports an argument in response to the prompt using specific and relevant examples of evidence.

To earn one point, the response must identify specific historical examples of evidence relevant to the topic of the prompt.

To earn two points the response must use specific historical evidence to support an argument in response to the prompt.

Analysis and Reasoning

(0-2pts) 

1 pt.

Uses historical reasoning (e.g. comparison, causation, CCOT) to frame or structure an argument that addresses the prompt.

OR

2 pts.

Demonstrates a complex understanding of the historical development that is the focus of the prompt, using evidence to corroborate, qualify, or modify an argument that addresses the question.

To earn the first point, the response must demonstrate the use of historical reasoning to frame or structure an argument, although the reasoning might be uneven or imbalanced.

To earn the second point, the response must demonstrate a complex understanding. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, such as:

• Explaining nuance of an issue by analyzing multiple variables

• Explaining both similarity and difference, or explaining both continuity and change, or explaining multiple causes, or explaining both causes and effects

• Explaining relevant and insightful connections within and across periods

• Confirming the validity of an argument by corroborating multiple perspectives across themes

• Qualifying or modifying an argument by considering diverse or alternative views or evidence This understanding must be part of the argument, not merely a phrase or reference.

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(From AP history long essay question (LEQ) rubric (6 points). (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2023, from http://www.sultztonianinstitute.com/uploads/7/8/5/5/7855396/leq-rubric.pdf) 

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SAQ: Requirements

• An SAQ (Short answer question) allows students to show their knowledge to answer questions from key concepts through a few sentences.

• Does not require a thesis statement.
• Does require complete sentences.

Format

• Usually broken into parts A,B, and C, but sometimes one section might ask two questions (for example, part A might ask two questions and B will ask one) but there will always be three questions asked. 
• There is limited space to answer, so be careful not to overwrite!
• At least half of the questions will include a reference of some sort (ex: photos, charts, graphs) that could be primary or secondary.
• 40 minutes in total to answer all SAQs.

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SAQ: Scoring

• Each part of the SAQ is worth 1 point, therefore there are 9 possible points to earn.
• Worth 20% of overall grade (most students who get a 5 get at least 7/9 points on the SAQ).
• Considered “rough drafts” (grammatical errors will not count against you).
• Points are earned through historical accuracy, quality of explanations, and depth of description that answer the question. 
• Remember points are only earned on AP exams. If you do not know something the worst thing you could do is not answer. ANSWER EVERYTHING!

SAQ Outline Example

1. The Neolithic Revolution has been seen by many historians as the biggest cause of the early advent of civilizations.

• a)  Identify and explain ONE argument that supports the assertion above.
• b)  Identify and explain ONE argument that refutes the assertion above.
• c)  Explain which is more useful, (a) or (b), in evaluating the assertion above.

Scoring Guide for the above question

●  One point for ​identifying​ and explaining​ one argument that supports the Neolithic Revolution being the biggest cause of the early advent of civilizations. .

• ●  One point for ​identifying​ and explaining​ one argument that refutes (disproves) the idea that the Neolithic Revolution was the biggest cause of the early advent of civilizations.
• ●  One point for ​explaining ​which argument, (a) or (b), is more useful in evaluating the assertion that the Neolithic Revolution was the biggest cause of the early advent of civilizations.

(Birdville ISD / Overview. (n.d.). from https://www.birdvilleschools.net/)