APUSH DBQ Scoring

What is your name?

What is your class period?

Thesis Looking at the thesis/claim scoring, what does a strong thesis need to do?

• Be historically defensible
• Establish a line of reasoning (some explanation for why you're correct)
• Answer the question
• Be present
• Be the perfect answer

Answer explanation

Your thesis does not have to be the most correct answer so long as it's defensible.

Of these student theses, select which will receive points?

• The United States developed a national identity to a large extent.

• The United States developed a national identity by expanding voting and individual rights, industrializing, and separating from other world powers.

• The identity of the United States changed greatly 1800-55.

• The extent to which the United States developed an identity between 1800 and 1855 was the United States had created some equal power to both sexes, there were now some freed slaves, and they had laws to protect them from European powers.

Answer explanation

To receive points, you have to establish some line of reasoning. This can take the form of any idea or direction that explains how your answer could be correct.

Points for evidence come from what?

• Using outside evidence not found in the documents to support your argument.

• The use of at least three documents to address the prompt.

• Quoting 3 documents without explaining them

• Using 4 documents in an argument

• Evidence from the wrong time period

Answer explanation

You can direct quote a document only if you explain it after. Most of your points come from using evidence to justify your claim.

Which of the following is true about context statements?

• They're a list of random events that happened before.

• They provide useful background related to your argument that helps the reader understand what you're talking about.

• They assume your reader already knows everything you're going to say.

• They're very optional and not worth the time.

Answer explanation

Context statements are worth a full point and help the reader understand what you're talking about. It's an easy point after your thesis. Set the scene for the reader. If you're writing about labor movements, explain the working conditions people are dealing with.

Sourcing points come from using the content of a document

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Sourcing points come from using information about the document

Which of the following can you use to source a document

• Historical Situation (its context)

• The document's audience

• Its purpose

• Its point-of-view or perspective

• A direct quote of its content.

Answer explanation

Use HAPP (Historical situation, Audience, Purpose, Point of View) to source documents

Sourcing points are earned when two documents are sourced even if they don't support your argument.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Sourced documents need to be used in your argument (the point you're making)

Complexity points come from doing which of the following?

• Demonstrating that you understand the topic exceptionally well

• Using at least 7 documents

• Completing sourcing for 4 documents

• Making connections across time periods

• Complimenting the reader and asking them about their day

Answer explanation

There are a lot of ways to get points for complexity. Some ways are very concrete, others are very subjective.