Document-Based Questions Framework 9-11

Purpose

This framework is designed to be used by Social Studies teachers at grades 6-11. It is intended to serve as a skill-building program for Document-Based Questions. There are samples of grade-level appropriate DBQs available for each grade.

Assessments Terminology

: consist of a series of questions related to a single document. They are designed to measure application-level cognitive skills as well as content knowledge. Questions should build from the simple to the complex. They should use a range of primary and secondary stimuli and authentic "real world" examples including time lines, maps, graphs, cartoons, charts and short readings. Constructed response questions are graded against a scoring rubric.

Document-Based Questions: assess the ability of each student to work with historical sources in multiple forms. They are designed to measure a variety of skills including interpreting primary and secondary sources, evaluating sources, considering multiple points of view, using historic evidence, and developing and supporting a thesis (i.e. main idea/controlling idea). Document-based questions consist of two parts.

Part A – Scaffolding Questions: This section requires students to answer 1-2 questions per document. These questions generally involve interpreting the main idea or point of view expressed in the document. Students are expected to respond to the questions using complete sentences.

Part B – Essay: This section requires students to write an essay, using the documents, to respond to a specific question. This question will require students to utilize the sources, plus their understanding of history. Students will be expected to move beyond simply quoting the documents. They will need to use the documents as evidence in support of a thesis. Both parts of the DBQ will be graded against scoring rubrics.


Document-Based Questions at Grades 9, 10, and 11

Purpose: Students in grades 9, 10 and 11 should continue to build on the skills that were introduced in middle school. In preparation for the state assessments, students will complete several DBQs essays at each grade level.

Maximum Number of Documents to be used: 8 (at least two of which should be visuals)

Part – Scaffolding Questions: Each document should have 1-2 scaffolding questions that involve interpreting the main idea or point of view expressed in the document. This section will be worth 15 points and will be graded using a scoring rubric.

Part B – Essay: This essay should be in response to the task stated. Students should be expected to move beyond simply quoting the documents. The student response should involve using documents as evidence in support of a thesis. The essay should include:

  • Planning/Organizing (i.e. categorize, block, mind map/webbing, outline, pre-writing) – including specific references to the documents to be used in the essay
  • Introduction and conclusion
  • Body paragraphs that cite specific evidence from the documents (short quotes or paraphrases), point of view of the author, and incorporate outside knowledge
  • Citation of documents in required

The essay will be worth 15 points and will be graded using a scoring rubric.


home  |  K-5  |  6-8  |  9-12

archived project by Peter Pappas 
Former Social Studies Coordinator Pittsford Central Schools

 Peter Pappas 

Twitter: edteck
Blog: www.peterpappas.com 

Copyright © 1999-2014, Peter Pappas

All content licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.