Writing the DBQ: sourcing, contextualization, evidence, and argument

By the end you’ll be able to

• Interpret a DBQ prompt to identify the historical skill being tested, the time frame, and the task required to produce a defensible thesis.
• Contextualize a DBQ by explaining broader historical developments, processes, or events that situate the prompt without drifting outside the argument.
• Use the content of documents as evidence to support an argument rather than merely summarizing or quoting them.