How to WRITE DBQs Faster! (3 Tips)

Heimler's History
6 Apr 202204:06
EducationalLearning
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TLDRIn the video, Steve Heimler addresses common concerns about the AP exam's Document-Based Question (DBQ) and offers strategies to improve efficiency and speed. He suggests using a DBQ planning sheet to organize thoughts within the 15-minute reading period, understanding the connection between documents to categorize them effectively, and familiarizing oneself with the scoring rubric to avoid overwriting. Heimler emphasizes the importance of knowing exactly how much to write to earn points, and recommends studying past DBQs and their scoring guidelines to understand the optimal length for each section of the essay. By following these tips, students can enhance their writing speed and quality, ultimately aiming for a higher score on the AP exam.

Takeaways
  • 📝 Use a DBQ planning sheet to efficiently plan your essay during the suggested 15-minute reading period.
  • ⏳ Understand the document selection process to categorize and connect documents, which can save time and reduce confusion.
  • 📚 Familiarize yourself with the scoring rubric to know exactly how much you need to write to earn points.
  • 🔍 Look at past DBQs and their scoring rubrics on the College Board's website to understand what is required to score well.
  • 📉 Avoid writing too much by learning from high-scoring student samples and adjusting your writing to match the required length.
  • 📈 Focus on writing concise and relevant content for each section of the DBQ to maximize your score without wasting time.
  • 🧠 Practice with the planning sheet to internalize the planning steps, which will help you start writing quickly after the reading period.
  • 📉 Recognize that documents in the DBQ are not random; they are chosen to be related and grouped into categories.
  • 📝 Write a coherent essay using the documents as evidence for an argument, which is crucial for a high score.
  • ⏱️ Time management is key; having a plan for the 15-minute reading period will help you write faster and more effectively.
  • 🎓 The DBQ is worth 25% of your overall score, so it's essential to perform well in this section to achieve a high overall grade.
Q & A

  • What is the DBQ section of the AP exam?

    -The DBQ (Document-Based Question) is a section of the AP exam where students have 60 minutes to read, interpret seven documents, and write a coherent essay using those documents as evidence for an argument. It accounts for 25% of the overall score.

  • What is the first tip provided by Steve Heimler to improve DBQ essay writing speed?

    -The first tip is to use Steve Heimler's DBQ planning sheet to plan the essay, which guides through a step-by-step process for essay planning, making the reading period more efficient.

  • Why is understanding how the documents are chosen important for the DBQ?

    -Understanding how the documents are chosen helps students to see the connections between them, as they are related and grouped into categories by the exam creators. This prevents wasting time trying to decipher unrelated documents.

  • What is the second tip for improving DBQ essay writing speed?

    -The second tip is to understand the categories that the exam writers had in mind when selecting the documents, which helps in identifying the connections and political realities that can be used to answer the question.

  • What is the 'granddaddy of all tips' according to Steve Heimler for writing faster DBQ essays?

    -The 'granddaddy of all tips' is knowing exactly how much you need to write to earn points and nothing more. This involves getting familiar with the scoring rubric and understanding how many sentences are required to score each point.

  • How can students familiarize themselves with the scoring rubric?

    -Students can familiarize themselves with the scoring rubric by studying it closely and internalizing it, so they don't need to refer back to it during the exam.

  • What resource does Steve Heimler recommend for understanding how much to write for each point in the DBQ essay?

    -Steve Heimler recommends going to the College Board's website and looking at past DBQs that have scored well, including the sample responses and the scoring rubric with examples.

  • What is the significance of looking at past student samples on the College Board's website?

    -Looking at past student samples helps students to understand how much writing is required to earn points for each section of the DBQ essay, allowing them to write more efficiently and save time.

  • Why is it a mistake to write too much in the DBQ essay?

    -Writing too much slows students down and can lead to spending more time on the essay than necessary. It is more efficient to write the minimum required to earn points.

  • What is the recommended approach to writing the contextualization part of the DBQ essay?

    -While the College Board suggests one sentence for contextualization, it is recommended to write about three sentences to ensure the point is made clearly, as nailing it in one sentence can be difficult.

  • What additional resource does Steve Heimler offer for further help with the DBQ?

    -Steve Heimler offers an APUSH cram course that takes students point by point through all the writing required on the exam.

  • What is the main takeaway from the video script for improving DBQ essay writing speed?

    -The main takeaway is the importance of planning, understanding the document selection process, knowing the scoring rubric, and writing efficiently by not exceeding the required amount for each point.

Outlines
00:00
🕒 Time Management for DBQ

The paragraph discusses the common concern of AP exam takers regarding the time constraint in the Document-Based Question (DBQ) section. The speaker, Steve Heimler, offers solutions to write faster during the DBQ. He emphasizes the importance of a DBQ planning sheet to efficiently use the 15 minutes allocated for reading and interpreting seven documents before essay writing. Heimler also suggests understanding the document selection process by stepping into the exam creators' shoes, which can help in categorizing and connecting the documents to the prompt. Lastly, he advises getting familiar with the scoring rubric and learning from past DBQs on the College Board's website to know exactly how much to write to score points.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡DBQ
DBQ stands for Document-Based Question, which is a type of essay question used in AP history exams. It requires students to read and interpret provided historical documents and then write an essay using those documents as evidence to support an argument. In the video, the DBQ is a source of significant stress for students as it accounts for 25% of their overall score, and the presenter provides strategies to improve efficiency and speed in tackling the DBQ.
💡Efficiency
Efficiency in this context refers to the ability to use time effectively, particularly during the 15-minute reading period for the DBQ documents. The video emphasizes the importance of being efficient to ensure that students can start writing their essays promptly once the reading period ends, thereby improving their speed and overall performance on the DBQ.
💡Planning Sheet
A planning sheet is a tool suggested by the presenter, Steve Heimler, to help students structure their essay before writing. It guides students through a step-by-step process to plan their response to the DBQ. Although students cannot bring the planning sheet into the testing facility, practicing with it can help internalize the planning steps, which in turn can increase writing speed and coherence.
💡Document Categories
Document categories refer to the thematic or contextual groupings of the documents provided in the DBQ. The presenter advises students to look for these categories, as the exam creators chose documents that are related to each other. Understanding these categories can help students make connections between documents and use them more effectively as evidence in their essays.
💡Scoring Rubric
The scoring rubric is a set of criteria used by graders to evaluate the quality of student essays. The presenter emphasizes the importance of becoming familiar with the rubric to know exactly what is required to earn points. This knowledge helps students write more efficiently by focusing on what is necessary to score rather than writing excessive content.
💡Contextualization
Contextualization is the process of placing a historical event or document within its broader historical context to provide a deeper understanding. In the video, the presenter mentions that students often write more than necessary for contextualization, which can slow them down. He suggests that students should aim for a concise explanation that meets the rubric's requirements.
💡Sample Responses
Sample responses are examples of student essays that have been scored by the College Board. The presenter recommends that students review these samples to understand how much writing is required to earn points for each section of the DBQ. By analyzing high-scoring essays, students can learn to write more efficiently and effectively.
💡Time Management
Time management is a critical skill for students taking the AP exam, particularly for the DBQ section, which is timed. The video provides tips on how to manage the 60-minute time frame effectively, from reading documents to writing the essay. Good time management can help students avoid rushing and ensure they have enough time to complete their essays.
💡Coherent Essay
A coherent essay is one that is well-organized, logical, and easy to follow. The presenter stresses the importance of writing a coherent essay for the DBQ, as it is a significant portion of the overall score. By using a planning sheet and understanding the documents, students can construct a more coherent argument in their essays.
💡AP Exam
The AP Exam, or Advanced Placement Exam, is a standardized test administered by the College Board. It is designed to assess high school students' mastery of college-level subjects. In the video, the AP Exam is the context in which the DBQ is given, and the presenter is offering advice on how to improve performance on this specific part of the exam.
💡Internalize
To internalize something means to commit it to memory or make it a part of one's cognitive process. In the context of the video, the presenter advises students to internalize the scoring rubric so that they do not need to refer back to it during the exam. This allows students to write more quickly and efficiently by knowing the expectations and requirements without needing to check the rubric.
💡APSA Cram Course
The APSA Cram Course is a resource mentioned by the presenter, Steve Heimler, which is designed to provide comprehensive preparation for the AP United States History exam. The course covers all the writing components required on the exam, including the DBQ, and is intended to help students improve their writing speed and quality by understanding the exam requirements in depth.
Highlights

The DBQ (Document-Based Question) is a source of stress for students due to the time constraint of 60 minutes to interpret documents and write an essay.

Tip #1: Use a DBQ planning sheet to efficiently plan your essay during the 15-minute reading period.

Familiarizing yourself with the planning sheet before the exam can help streamline the essay writing process.

Tip #2: Understand the document selection process to avoid confusion and wasted time.

Exam creators choose documents that are related and can be categorized, which students should identify.

Tip #3: Knowing exactly how much to write to earn points can significantly speed up your essay writing.

Become familiar with the scoring rubric to understand what is required for each point.

There is no fixed sentence count for earning points, but writing concisely is key to saving time.

Review past DBQs and their scoring rubrics on the College Board's website to understand what is required for each point.

Analyzing high-scoring student samples can provide insights into the optimal length and content for each part of the essay.

Writing more than necessary can slow students down; understanding the required amount can save time.

The speaker, Steve Heimler, offers further assistance through videos on various aspects of the DBQ.

For more comprehensive help, Steve Heimler recommends his APUSH cram course.

Efficiency in the 15-minute reading period is crucial for a well-structured essay.

The importance of internalizing the planning steps to start writing promptly after the reading period.

The common mistake of students trying to understand the documents' meanings individually, which is unproductive.

The documents are not random; they are selected to be interconnected and categorizable.

The significance of contextualization in the essay and the misconception about the amount of writing required for it.

The speaker's recommendation to write about three sentences for contextualization, despite the rubric suggesting one is enough.

The value of looking at past student responses to understand the correlation between written content and earned points.

Transcripts

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AP DBQExam TipsEssay PlanningDocument AnalysisTime ManagementEducational StrategiesScore MaximizationRubric UnderstandingSample EssaysEfficiency TechniquesAcademic Success