European

History

AP European History
Ms. McDaniel
Summer Assignment

(Email: Kristin.mcdaniel@hesperiausd.org)
1. DBQ: Document Based Question (See attached for
question/documents)
Write (not type) the DBQ. (Pages following the map are strictly optional
and may help you in writing your DBQ)
-Scoring guide/rubric at the end
In a well written essay, respond to the question/statement provided using the
documents to help you form your response. Be sure to include the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

An explicitly stated thesis (that does NOT restate the question)

Uses a majority of the documents (1/2 of them + 1)
Demonstrate an understanding of a majority of the documents
Support the thesis with your own interpretation of a majority of the documents
Analyze Bias or POV (Point of View) in at least 3 documents
Analyze documents by organizing them into at least 3 groups

Extra Points (for an A/B grade):

7. Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive thesis

8. Uses all or almost all of the documents
9. Addresses all parts of the question thoroughly
10. Uses documents persuasively as evidence
11. Shows understanding of nuances in the documents
12. Analyzes Bias or POV in at least 4 documents cited
13. Analyzes the documents in additional ways-additional groupings or other
14. Brings in relevant outside historical information

2. European Map (before optional DBQ pages)

Use the attached list of European nation-states, islands, territories, and
bodies of water to label them on the attached Modern Europe map.
Print out and bring the first day of class all filled out.
3. Supplies for AP European History
(Must be obtained prior to the first day of school)
1. NEW, three-hole punched spiral notebook
a. Number all right side pages with odd numbers, starting at
pg. 1
b. On the cover write
i. AP Euro
ii. Your name (first and last)
iii. Period
2. Blue or Black pens
Suggested Supplies (not mandatory)
-Pencil
-Colored Pencils

-Index cards (for making flash cards)

-Highlighters

Europe Map:
European Nation-States, Islands, Territories, and Bodies of Water
Directions: Label the following on the attached Europe map. Lines are provided for you.

Nation-States
Albania
Andorra

Austria

Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
Serbia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Vatican City

Islands & Territories

Balearic Islands (Spain)

Corsica (France)
Crete (Greece)
Elba (Italy)
Faroe Islands (Denmark)
Gibraltar (United Kingdom)
Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia)
Sardinia (Italy)
Sicily (Italy)

Bodies of Water
Adriatic Sea
Aegean Sea
Atlantic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Baltic Sea
Bay of Biscay
English Channel
Irish Sea
Mediterranean Sea
North Sea
Strait of Gibraltar

*NOTE: The following pages are optional, but may help you in planning and writing
your DBQ.

DBQ Essay Outline: Part I

A thesis statement:

tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under
discussion.
s a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest
of the paper.
directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or
subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or
Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
makes a claim that others might dispute.
is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your
argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes
evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there's time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some
feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis
evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the
following:

Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working
thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question.
Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply
states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it's possible that you are
simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
Is my thesis statement specific enough?(Thesis statements that are too vague often do not
have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like "good" or "successful," see if
you could be more specific: why is something "good"; what specifically makes something
"successful"?)
Does my thesis pass the "So what?" test? If a reader's first response is, "So what?" then
you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and
the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It's o.k. to
change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing
your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
Does my thesis pass the "how and why?" test? If a reader's first response is "how?" or
"why?" your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what
you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Introduction/Introductory Paragraph:
The thesis includes general information, and uses key words from the essay question and
is specific.
Topic: __________________________________________________________________
Answer the following for your topic:
1. Who:
__________________________________________________________________
2. What:
__________________________________________________________________
3. Where:
__________________________________________________________________
4. When:
__________________________________________________________________
5. How:
__________________________________________________________________
6. Why:
__________________________________________________________________

Thesis Statement: (must answer the essay question)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

DBQ Essay Outline: Part II

Task
What are you trying to answer about the question being asked? What do you want to
say? How do you want to say it? What can you include?

Historical Background: What is the historical background relating to the question or topic being asked
about? What do you know about it? What can you bring to the table that you already know?

Step One: Read the Question and Historical Context

What is the question asking you to do? List key words, phrases, time periods, etc. to help you
understand the question.

Key Words

Key Phrases

Time Periods

Issues

Names

Misc. Important Info.

Step Two: Brainstorm

What do you already know about the topic? (Relevant names, dates, events, etc.)

Step Three: Read and analyze the documents

Remember: Title, author, date created, point of view, bias, main point, and relation to question.

Document #1

Document #2

Document #3

Document #4

Document #5

Document #6

Document #7

Document #8

Document #9

Document #10

Document #11

Document #12

DBQ Essay Outline: Part III

Body Paragraph #1
Remember: focuses on one topic, includes document and outside info., and supports thesis.

Topic Sentence: (mini-thesis for the paragraph)

_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Body: List information and quotes from the documents and related outside information
here:
(All information must relate to the Topic Sentence and help to prove the Essay Thesis Statement)
Document #_____

Related outside information:

Document #_____

Document #_____

Document #_____

Concluding Sentence: (sentence that concludes the paragraph)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph #2
Remember: focuses on one topic, includes document and outside info., and supports thesis.

Topic Sentence: (mini-thesis for the paragraph)

_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Body: List information and quotes from the documents and related outside information
here:
(All information must relate to the Topic Sentence and help to prove the Essay Thesis Statement)
Document #_____

Related outside information:

Document #_____

Document #_____

Document #_____

Concluding Sentence: (sentence that concludes the paragraph)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph #3
Remember: focuses on one topic, includes document and outside info., and supports thesis.

Topic Sentence: (mini-thesis for the paragraph)

_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Body: List information and quotes from the documents and related outside information
here:
(All information must relate to the Topic Sentence and help to prove the Essay Thesis Statement)
Document #_____

Related outside information:

Document #_____

Document #_____

Document #_____

Concluding Sentence: (sentence that concludes the paragraph)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

DBQ Essay Outline: Part IV

Conclusion:
Restates thesis and summarizes the main points of your essay.
Re-State Thesis Statement:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Brief Summary of your essays Main Points:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

*OPTIONAL- to help you with writing the DBQ

DBQ Guidelines
Your essay should be well organized with an introductory paragraph that includes a thesis
statement that states your position. Develop your position in the body paragraphs and
then write a conclusion paragraph. In your essay, include specific historical details from
the documents provided. In addition, you MUST include additional information from
you knowledge of World History.
Steps to Answering a DBQ
1. Read the question carefully. What does the question ask you to do?
-Underline key words, phrases, eras, names, issues, or categories used in the
question
2. Brainstorm and write down some relevant facts (Bubble Map)
-For example: names, dates, and events that you know about the topic and time
period
3. Read and analyze the documents:
a. Read the title of the document
b. Find the author of the document and when it was written
c. Read the document
d. Underline important words and phrases
e. Place a ? next to any words or phrases you do not understand
f. Re-write or Re-think the document in your own words (What is the POINT of
the document? Write some notes to yourself summarizing the document and jot
down outside information that may be relevant to the document.
g. How does this document relate to the topic being discussed? How does
information from the document help you answer the essay task?
4. Group the documents in as many ways as you can
-Point of View (POV), types of documents, authors, etc.
5. Reread the question
-Carefully consider your document summaries and their relationship to the
question asked.
6. Plan/Organize your response so that you prove your thesis with supporting evidence
and information.
-Categorize, block, outline, mind map, etc.
-Identify the main subjects to be discussed in the body and select the documents
that relate to each major subject.
-Write down important information from the document and from your knowledge
of the issue.
7. Write an organized essay responding to the question.
-Make sure that you use as many of the documents as possible in your essay
-Use phrases like, according to the document #__, or based on document __,
or as seen in document #__.
-When you cite a document, write the number (#) of the document AND underline
it (ex. Document #4)

Introductory Paragraph
Take a stand on the question. Respond to all parts of the question.
Provide background, explanation, and definition of terms used in the question.
Introduce the topics you will discuss in the body of your essay.
Capture the readers interest and prepare the reader for the rest of the essay.
Develop your thesis.
Body Paragraphs
Use a separate paragraph for each topic, issue, or argument.
Begin each body paragraph with a Topic Sentence that acts as a mini-thesis for
each paragraph.
Include specific examples to support generalizations or to make distinctions.
Cite specific evidence from the documents but avoid long quotations.
Integrate information from the documents and from your knowledge in
responding to the questions.
E sure that everything you write relates back to your thesis statement.
Conclusion Paragraph
Restate your position and the main ideas that you presented in your essay.
Try to make your conclusion thoughtful and memorable.
Other things to remember:
-NEVER reference yourself in your essay (I, me, we, myself, etc.)
-Write the body paragraphs first and the thesis last.
-Work quickly, but try not to rush. On the AP Test, you only have 45 min. to write!

Name:__________________________

DBQ SCORING RUBRIC

Check for
point earned

Basic Core Scoring An essay earns

one point for each of the following(for
grade of C if score is 6)
Provides an appropriate, explicitly stated thesis
that directly addresses all parts of the question
and does NOT simply restate the question.
Discusses a majority of the documents
individually and specifically.
Demonstrates understanding of the basic
meaning of a majority of the documents (may
misinterpret no more than one).
Supports the thesis with appropriate
interpretations of a majority of the documents.
Analyzes the documents by explicitly grouping
them in at least three appropriate ways.
Analyzes sources of the documents, the authors
point of view, or bias in three documents.

Expanded Scoring The Basic score of

6 must be earned to receive points (up
to 3) for the following (for grade of
A/B)
Has a clear, comprehensive and analytical
thesis.
Uses all or almost all of the documents.
Uses the documents persuasively as evidence.
Shows understanding of nuances of the
documents.
Analyzes point of view or bias in at least four
documents cited in the essay.
Analyzes the documents in additional ways
(more groupings, etc).
Recognizes and develops change over time.
Brings in relevant outside information.
Add the checks above
and enter the total in
the box below

SCORE:

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