One driving force for us is social studies is to genuinely incorporate Document Based Questions (DBQ’s) into our lesson flow. With the new evaluation system now in place when we use DBQs it will punctuate and drive learning as well as being a great tool for us to provide evidence of the great things you are doing with your learners. Resources can be found at https://wvsocialstudies.com/dbq/
DBQ Resource page
- ‘Been Here So Long’ – A lesson for generating a student-created Document Based Question.
- Museumwise
- HistoryTeacher.net
- Nassau DBQ site
- Student as Historian
- NY Test Prep DBQ
- Mr. Olhalsky’s Website
- Dos and dont’s of DBQ
- Fresno site
- Awesome DBQ Resources http://nrhs.nred.org/www/nred_nrhs/site/hosting/Resources4SocialStudies/HistSites/VgDBQresources/ dbqwebresource.htm
- A Date Which Will Live in Infamy – A primary source document lesson for High School students.
- AP Advanced Placement Program – Study Skills: Improving Your Writing Skills – Suggestions for writing a good response to a
- Document-Based question (DBQ) or free-response essay question.
- DBQ/Teaching with Documents – A site with links to sample DBQs, resources and guides to writing and answering DBQs.
- Document Based Questions – A selection of sample essays and essay questions, using the new testing formats, to help meet the new
- NYS standards for Social Studies, maintained by Scott McAuley.
- Document Based Questions DBQs Dos and Don’ts – Strategies for succsessfully answering a DBQ, and links to 3 past A.P. DBQs:
- Women’s Rights 1890-1925; Jeffersonians and Strict Constructionism and Colonial Attitudes Prior to the American Revolution..
- Smithsonian – A primary source document source, sponsored by the Smithsonian.
- The Revolution of 1989 In Germany – A DBQ for use in Advanced Placement European History, with links to the documents, analysis of the documents, and a rubric for assessing the student’s response.
WVDE Social Studies Development:
The Social Studies portion of WESTEST 2 includes 45 items per grade level. Each test is comprised of 45 multiple-choice items, including one Document Based Question (DBQ). The DBQ consists of 4 to 8 documents with 6 to 8 accompanying multiple-choice items designed to scaffold knowledge and skill levels. Each of the tests includes at least 2 graphic organizers to assist student thinking. Approximately 900 items were written and reviewed for the final form selection of WESTEST 2. Items were written using the specific Social Studies Item Writing Checklist.
http://wvde.state.wv.us/oaa/westest2_westest2_socstu.html
Document-Based Questions – DBQ
Introduction – What are DBQ’s?
Course I
Historical Records: what, why, where and how.
A brief course on using historical records in the classroom.
Course II
Overview:
- Understand how document-based questions assess standards and performance indicators in the Learning Standards for Social Studies.
- Gain knowledge of strategies for preparing students to write strong responses to DBQs.
- Investigate processes and procedures for creating effective DBQ assessments.
- Understand processes and procedures for rating DBQ essays.
Social Studies Resources 