What Is the DBQ?

DBQ = Document-Based Question

You will:

• Read historical documents

• Pull evidence from those documents

• Write an argumentative essay

📌 Central Question:

To what extent did the Protestant Reformation weaken political and religious unity in Europe?

Today = evidence
Next class = writing

DBQ TIMELINE & EXPECTATIONS

Today

• Learn the DBQ task

• Use the background to build context

• Read documents for evidence

Next Class

• Write the argumentative essay

Expectations:

• Evidence from documents

• Clear claim

• Cause & effect reasoning

How to Use the Background (Contextualization)

The background section helps you:

• Explain what was happening before the Reformation

• Set up why conflict occurred

• Avoid starting essays with opinions

📌 Good contextualization:

• Names key conditions

• Explains cause & effect

• Connects directly to the prompt

👉 We will model this together.

Let’s Do This Together

While reading annotate important contextual information about the Protestant Reformation

• Who was involved

• When it occured

• Where it happened

• Why it happened

• What happened

• How it happened
  

​This timeline is NOT a document. It is CONTEXT. It helps you explain why the Reformation mattered and how it changed Europe over time.

Read for Evidence

Now read the documents silently.

As you read:

• Highlight evidence that shows unity weakened

• Underline evidence that shows unity strengthened

• Star cause & effect relationships

❌ Do NOT answer questions yet
✔ Focus on finding evidence

Read Again — Analyze

Re-read the documents.

Now answer the revised analysis questions:

• Use evidence from the text

• Explain how the evidence supports your thinking

• Avoid summary — focus on impact

This work feeds directly into your essay.

Exit Ticket — Evidence & Claim

Complete the Exit Ticket in Google Classroom.

You will answer 3 questions:

1️⃣ Identify one piece of evidence that shows the Reformation weakened unity
2️⃣ Identify one piece of evidence that shows it strengthened unity
3️⃣ Write one sentence stating which side currently has stronger evidence and why

📌 This shows your readiness to write.