Reflection:“Best
of Social Studies”
Standard: 1. Students compare the present with the past, evaluating the
consequences of past events and decisions and determining the lessons
that were learned.
Assignment: Document Based Question (DBQ)
Question prompt: Evaluate the validity of the following statement: The
1850s were a of attempted compromise when compromise was no longer possible
Objective: To answer a well organized (DBQ) coherently.
Being able to write a well organized DBQ was one of the main goals in my A.P. United States History class, in addition to getting myself ready for the A.P. exam on May. Throughout the school year 2006-2007, we were given several prompt essays to prepare ourselves to write two essays and a DBQ on May 2007. The DBQ I have selected from my history class, which includes the Compromise of 1850 as a document to analyze, demonstrates how I was preparing myself to answer the DBQ in only forty minutes. By writing this DBQ I had to compare historical events to evaluate the consequences of the compromises proposed in the 1850s. Therefore, this assignment met standard 1.0 of the "History Critical Thinking Standards."
At first it was difficult to read and analyze the documents,
because I had to read six or seven, sometimes more depending on the documents
provided, to then answer the DBQ concisely. When I had the opportunity
to write the first DBQ, I did not finish writing it. This was the most
difficult part of the process of learning how to answer Document Based
Questions. This encouraged me even more to keep on trying to write DBQs.
Undoubtedly a clear example of how I have improved in writing DBQs is
my response to the prompt: “Evaluate the validity of the following
statement: The 1850s were a time of attempted compromise when compromise
was no longer possible." Answering this DBQ is an example of how
I have grown, throughout the year, as a more eloquent writer of social
studies. For example, I wrote,"Since Kansas and Nebraska had not
an established civil authority settlers entering its area found no morse
mischief but discord and raids among slaves Native Americans, and the
government. In the 1850s many attempts for compromise failed, leaving
the only option of war between the North and the South." This was
the thesis I constructed to analyze the 1850s Compromise DBQ. Writing
this thesis for the DBQ made me feel that I had achieved a lot by being
able to write a DBQ in about forty minutes. After I finished writing the
DBQ I had a feeling of success. Also, having accomplished a DBQ made me
feel confident. In addition, this assignment means a lot to me, because
I think that it is evidence that I am more prepared for college.
Do you want to check out the DBQ I wrote? Just click here!
Congressmen proposing the Compromise of 1850
3750 18th St.
S. F. CA 94114Phone: 415-241-6240
Fax: 415-626-1641
sch725@muse.sfusd.edu
Mr. Kevin Truitt, Principal
Pedro Perez
email:pedroperezas007@hotmail.com