The DBQ Essay

1. The DBQ Essay

2. DBQ Question • Using the documents, analyze Han and Roman attitudes toward technology. Identify one additional type of document and explain briefly how it would help your analysis. • For each document, you need to ask yourself what attitude toward technology is being conveyed.

3. Document 1

4. Document 2

5. Document 3

6. The mortar is a bowl, typically made of hard wood, ceramic or stone. The pestle is a heavy club-shaped object, the end of which is used for crushing and grinding.

7. Document 4

8. Document 5

9. Document 6

10. Document 7

11. Document 8

12. Purpose of DBQ • Designed to test your ability to work with and understand historical documents. You must write an essay that: • Has a relevant thesis and supports that thesis with evidence from the documents • Uses all of the documents • Analyzes the documents by grouping them in as many appropriate ways as possible. Does not simply summarize the documents individually • Takes into account the sources of the documents and analyzes the author’s point of view • Identifies and explains the need for at least one additional type of document

13. DBQ Question • Using the documents, analyze Han and Roman attitudes toward technology. Identify one additional type of document and explain briefly how it would help your analysis. • For each document, you need to ask yourself what attitude toward technology is being conveyed.

14. After Document Analysis… • Formulate a thesis statement • Make your groupings • Normally 3 groupings, but for this essay can do 2 • Groupings decide organization of body paragraphs • Decide on a missing voice - who would provide better insight on Han and Roman attitudes about technology

15. THESIS STATEMENT

16. Point Values on Rubric • For 1 point, you need an acceptable thesis

17. What do you think of the following thesis statements? • Although the Han and Roman attitudes toward technology are different is some way, they are also alike. • Unacceptable thesis – merely restates the question and is too vague

18. What do you think of the following thesis statements? • In the Han and Roman empires, technology had the potential to elevate the standard of life, improve availability of water, make life easier with new tools, and make the cities more pleasing to live in. • Unacceptable thesis – summarizes the potential usefulness of technology, but does not address Han and Roman attitudes toward technology

19. As the creation of technology expanded, both the Han and Roman governments expressed their attitudes based on their encounters with technology. • Unacceptable thesis – does not explain what the attitudes were.

20. What do you think of the following thesis statements? • Government officials, common people, and philosophers all contributed to Han and Roman attitudes toward technology. Each empire held different views. • Unacceptable thesis – does not explain what the attitudes were.

21. Now you try…

22. Now you try… • The Han and Romans both felt technology was important. It created water systems which provided fresh water at a time when water was scarce and minimized human labor which increased efficiency. However they had different attitudes toward technology. The Hans respected technology and those who created it and they paid attention to the needs of the commoners. The Romans felt working with your hands was vulgar and minimized the importance of technology and those who used it.

23. What do you think of the following thesis statements? • Throughout China, there was a majority appreciation of technological advancement with a few against it, while in the Roman empire, the view was split between support and pessimism. • Acceptable thesis – Not especially strong, but meets criteria

24. What do you think of the following thesis statements? • The Han dynasty was proud of the efficiency and quality of their tools, as well as their ability to use technology to prevent natural disasters. On the other hand, the Romans marveled at their civilizations technological advancements, yet scorned those who made a living working with tools and crafts. • Acceptable thesis – excellent thesis with qualitative analysis

25. What do you think of the following thesis statements? • The Han dynasty emphasized efficiency in their tools, as well as using technology to prevent natural disasters. The Romans, however, marveled at their civilization’s advancements, yet refused to glorify those who work with tools and crafts. • Acceptable thesis – This better characterizes each empire’s attitude toward technology, along with comparing the two empires’ attitudes (which is not required)

26. What do you think of the following thesis statements? • Han China’s attitude toward manufacturing and labor was more open and positive than the Romans who had a more systematic and class divided society, therefore causing general attitudes toward labor and technology to be low. • Acceptable Thesis – This thesis summarizes, compare the differences in attitude, and even analyzes reasons behind those differences. (Eligible for expanded core)

27. GROUPINGS

28. Point Values on Rubric • For 1 point, analyzes documents by grouping them in at least two ways • Note that a single document cannot be a “group” but a single document can belong to more than one group

29. Common Document Groupings • Social class of author • Philosophers vs. officials • Pro-technology vs. con-technology • Role of government in relation to technology

30. TOPIC SENTENCES

31. Thesis • The Hans respected technology and those who created it and they paid attention to the needs of the commoners. The Romans felt working with your hands was vulgar and minimized the importance of technology and those who used it.

32. Topic Sentence • The Han Dynasty demonstrated an appreciation for technology and utilized it to make society run more efficiently. In addition, they felt it was the government’s role to ensure that adequate technology was provided for the common people.

33. Document 1

34. Example of understanding the document • During the early 2nd century B.C.E., a Han government official organized his labor force to use technology to prevent floods. (Doc. 1)

35. Example of applying the document to thesis • During the early 2nd century B.C.E., a Han government official organized his labor force to use technology to prevent floods. (Doc. 1) He shows concern for the common people and conveys the idea that technology is an essential part of the empire and requires government intervention.

36. What do you think of the following thesis statements? • The Han dynasty was proud of the efficiency and quality of their tools, as well as their ability to use technology to prevent natural disasters. On the other hand, the Romans marveled at their civilizations technological advancements, yet scorned those who made a living working with tools and crafts. • Acceptable thesis – excellent thesis with qualitative analysis

37. USE OF DOCUMENTS

38. Point Values on Rubric • For 1 point, you need to address all the documents and demonstrates understanding of all or all but one • Listing the documents separately or listing the documents as part of a group does not sufficiently demonstrate an understanding of basic meaning

39. Addressing Documents • Rather than trying to state a document’s meaning, you should use your understanding of the document to make an argument or conclusion. • One’s correct understanding of a document’s meaning will be clear when using that document to make an argument.

40. Point Values on Rubric • For 2 points, you need to support thesis with appropriate evidence from all or all but one document (7 or 8 documents) • For 1 of these 2 points, you need to support thesis with appropriate evidence from 6 documents

41. Point Values on Rubric • Don’t start sentences or paragraphs with “Document #___ says” • Doing this is setting yourself up for a summary or paraphrasing of a document

42. Example of understanding the document • Huan Guan, a Han government official during the first century B.C.E., was concerned about the problems that lack of technology and poor government policy was having on the people. (Doc. 2)

43. Example of supporting a thesis with a document • Huan Guan embodies the Confucian Han view that technology is good, as long as the government uses technology to benefit the people. Crude or brittle tools are of no help, and reflect poorly on the government.

44. Example of showing POV • This is interesting because although you would expect a Han government official to praise the current government and its decisions, Huan Guan is instead opposed to the current government and shows concern for the peasants.

45. POINT OF VIEW

46. Point of View • Think about the author • Background – class, gender, ethnicity, occupation • Why would this person have the POV expressed? • Think about the place and time period? • What is going on in that place during that time that would influence the author’s POV?

47. Point Values on Rubric • For 1 point, analyzes point of view in at least 4 documents • To analyze POV: • Explains why a particular person has particular opinion • You can do this by considering or explaining tone, background of author, intended audience, etc.

48. MISSING VOICE

49. Point Value on Rubric • For 1 point, identifies and explains the need for one type of additional document • Must explain how this missing document would help contribute to an analysis of Han and/or Roman attitudes toward technology

50. Additional Document/ Missing Voice Paragraph • Once your body paragraphs with analysis of groupings are complete, add paragraph for the missing voice (what additional document would have been beneficial to include?) • A point of view that is not represented that would aid in the discussion of Han and Roman attitudes toward technology would be from that of…