Major school assignment, due tomorrow...

[GwydeanRunix]

That title may have been slightly misleading. I have a major essay due tomorrow for my AP U.S. History class. This essay happens to be a DBQ. Until this year, I had no idea what a DBQ was, and quite frankly, I'm still a little confused about it. I don't want to go at it like a normal essay, as I'm pretty sure that's the wrong way to approach it. Can someone give me some advice on how to write a DBQ essay?

For discussion value, just in case: Have you ever had a moment like this? Major assignment due tomorrow, you're just getting started on it late in the night, etc.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

HA, I just turned one in a couple of days ago. APUSH as well.

Here's my advice:
-Don't quote the article, just summarize.
-Try to group the articles
-Make sure you use outside information
-In your thesis, take a clear stand (you either agree, or disagree)

Good luck. I'm surprised you haven't done a DBQ before. Didn't you take AP World History last year?

 

[Zirat]

That title may have been slightly misleading. I have a major essay due tomorrow for my AP U.S. History class. This essay happens to be a DBQ. Until this year, I had no idea what a DBQ was, and quite frankly, I'm still a little confused about it. I don't want to go at it like a normal essay, as I'm pretty sure that's the wrong way to approach it. Can someone give me some advice on how to write a DBQ essay?

For discussion value, just in case: Have you ever had a moment like this? Major assignment due tomorrow, you're just getting started on it late in the night, etc.

Yes, I have been in this kind of situation before, much more than I would care to admit.

Also, I do know what DBQ's are so here's some advice: That question packet it came with? Each one is marked Document 1, 2, 3, etc. right? pretty much when you reference them in a paragraph you then mention where you got it from. It helps to have atleast three paragraphs, into and conclusion not included, in order to get a good score. Also, outsided information is vital to a good score in these so just be sure to add some in there for good measure. But overall DONT PANIC, it is pretty much a trussed up essay so nothing groundbreaking you (hopefuly) havent tackled before.

I based that off the ones my school hands out, so sorry if it isnt the same. Goodnight, and goodluck.

 

[GwydeanRunix]

Well, I'm only a Junior in high school. I took honors World History in my Freshman year. This is actually my first year taking an AP class. Thanks for the advice, by the way.

 

[Drexlor]

Yes, I know that feeling too well. I am doing a lab write-up for Chemistry at this very moment. And it is 11p.m. It's not my fault that I just fell asleep for 3 hours.

 

[dmase]

Yeah i work better under pressure in the middle of the night. Its just how i do it, it fits me better. I end up cramming the night before a test even doing stuff i hadn't done for weeks before i wake up early the next morning, after less then five hours of sleep, then study some more. What do i get on the test? an A or B. I just do better when i freak out about stuff before i do it or something.

Though there was a time when i was doing everything on time and i made sure not to go back into my procrastinating ways by more or less structuring every aspect of my life and leaving very little of my time for tv and stuff.

 

[Judgement101]

Let me tell you a story: I had a research paper that I had 1 day left to write 6 pages. It was worth 75% of my final grade. I failed terribly, but managed to pass the entire year with a 89%. HOW THE HELL DOES THAT WORK?! Anyway, my (horrible) advice of the day is: Why do today what you could put off until the apocolypse.

 

[MikailCaboose]

HA, I just turned one in a couple of days ago. APUSH as well.

Here's my advice:
-Don't quote the article, just summarize.
-Try to group the articles
-Make sure you use outside information
-In your thesis, take a clear stand (you either agree, or disagree)

Good luck. I'm surprised you haven't done a DBQ before. Didn't you take AP World History last year?

Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure that my teachers hounded us on NOT putting in outside information on DBQ's.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure that my teachers hounded us on NOT putting in outside information on DBQ's.

For WHAP, that is true.

However, my US History teacher told us that we'd probably get a 2 or a 3 highest if we don't give outside information on the APUSH DBQ. Most of the people who had my teacher in the past got 4's or 5's so I think her advice is legit.

 

[SimuLord]

For discussion value, just in case: Have you ever had a moment like this? Major assignment due tomorrow, you're just getting started on it late in the night, etc.

Just this morning. Started a 1500-word essay, complete with "at least four" research sources at 8:24 AM. Hit "print" at 9:08. Class was at 11.

Said I, when someone in class asked me "how much time did you spend on your assignment?":

"Shoddy half-assed work in under an hour or your money back. Whole thing took me 44 minutes. I figure it's at least B+ work, so why work harder than I have to?"

Girl in class: "You suck."

 

[Stoplesteimer]

Wait, you get to write it up outside of class? That is not going to help for the test in the spring.

My main tip: use small quotes, like five to ten words long, to emphasize your point without wasting your or the reader's time.

 

[Griphphin]

For discussion value, just in case: Have you ever had a moment like this? Major assignment due tomorrow, you're just getting started on it late in the night, etc.

90% or so of the big essays or assignments get done the night before, normally into the late night before as well. I'm a terrible, terrible procrastinator :[

 

[MikailCaboose]

Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure that my teachers hounded us on NOT putting in outside information on DBQ's.

For WHAP, that is true.

However, my US History teacher told us that we'd probably get a 2 or a 3 highest if we don't give outside information on the APUSH DBQ. Most of the people who had my teacher in the past got 4's or 5's so I think her advice is legit.

Ah. Well, speak of the devil. My IB History of the Americas teacher left us with a DBQ today, and that was one of the things mentioned. So, why is it different for the different classes? *sigh* Oh well.