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If you’re taking AP World History or AP United States History and feel unsure about how to approach the DBQ thesis, you’ve come to the right place!

In this post, you’ll learn about a DBQ thesis formula that you can use to:

1. A) consistently earn the thesis point and
2. B) set up your essay to earn the difficult complexity point (less than 2% of students earn this!)

Additionally, you’ll find AP World History DBQ thesis examples and APUSH DBQ thesis examples to understand how the thesis formula is applied to real prompts.

Let’s get started!

Why is the DBQ Thesis Statement So Important?

If you’re reading this article, then you probably already know that the DBQ thesis statement is extremely important. After all, you’re taking time out of your day to learn how to write one.

However, if you’re not sure why the DBQ thesis statement is so important, I’ll explain. In my Ultimate Guide to Get a 5 on APUSH post, I mentioned that the thesis statement accounts for 1 of 7 possible points on the DBQ essay.

Also, the thesis sets up the structure for the rest of your essay. So no pressure, really. 

Luckily, there are some simple tips for writing DBQ theses and a thesis formula that works every single time. In the next sections, you’ll learn about what these are.

General Tips on How to Write a DBQ Thesis

Tip #1: Your thesis must be arguable, not factual

If your thesis statement is a fact, like “Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president”, then it’s not a thesis statement. Your thesis statement must be something that can be disputed.

For example, making a statement like, “Abraham Lincoln was the greatest president in American history” would be an acceptable thesis.

Tip #2: Your thesis should be 1-2 sentences

If your thesis is longer than 1-2 sentences, it’s probably way too wordy and overly complex.

Tip #3: Your thesis should be in the introduction or conclusion

According to the AP DBQ rubric, your thesis must be in the introductory or concluding paragraph. Preferably, it should be in both.

Tip #4: Your thesis can be supported by the given historical documents

You must make sure that your argument can be supported by the documents provided in the DBQ. After all, you’ll need to reference at least 6 documents (preferably all 7) in your essay and explain how they support your thesis.

Tip #5: Group the documents to help you write the thesis

To write a DBQ thesis statement that can be supported by the given documents, you should group the documents by overarching theme.

For example, if documents 1, 3, and 4 are all about social developments, you can group them together. If documents 2, 5, 6, and 7 are all about political developments, then you can group them together.

In the DBQ thesis formula section, I’ll explain how you can easily use these groups to write a strong thesis statement.

Tip #6: Your thesis should be specific

By specific, I mean that making vague statements is not going to cut it. Instead, you must reference specific historical developments and throw some historical vocabulary into your thesis. 

Otherwise, you’ll sound like you could have written the thesis just by reading the documents and without having any prior historical knowledge. 

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General DBQ Thesis Formulas

Okay, I know I said that there would be one DBQ thesis formula, but I’ll actually provide two.

The first one is a simple formula that probably wouldn’t help you earn the complexity point. The second one is a slightly more complex formula that could help you earn the complexity point.

DBQ Thesis Formula #1: XY Thesis Statement Formula

Here is the first formula:

Right now, this probably sounds like a bunch of gobbledygook. But it’s actually quite simple! Here’s the breakdown of what the letters mean:

• A is your assertion—it should directly respond to what the prompt is asking.
• X and Y are the categories into which you’ve grouped your documents.

XY Thesis Statement Example

Here’s how this thesis formula can be applied to a dummy prompt:

Prompt: What is the best ride at Universal Studios in Orlando?

Thesis Statement: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is the best ride at Universal Studios in Orlando because it incorporates thrilling features, like a sudden drop and reverse travel, and elements of the Harry Potter world through its soundtrack and set design.

Breakdown of XY Thesis Statement Example

A: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is the best ride at Universal Studios in Orlando

X: thrilling features

Y: elements of the Harry Potter world

Extra Note: Notice how specific I am in my thesis? I reference specific components of the ride to show that I’ve actually been on it and can make a judgment.

DBQ Thesis Formula #2: XYZ Thesis Statement Formula

Here is the second formula:

This formula is the same as the first formula, except with the addition of the letter Z. Here’s what all the letters stand for:

• A is your assertion.
• X and Y are the document categories.
• Z is your counterargument.

When you introduce a counterargument into your thesis, you set yourself up to write a nuanced essay. Therefore, if you execute the counterargument well, you can earn the complexity point!

XYZ Thesis Statement Example

Here’s how this thesis formula can be applied to the same dummy prompt:

Prompt: What is the best ride at Universal Studios in Orlando?

Thesis Statement: Although Jurassic World VelociCoaster is also an exciting ride, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is the best ride at Universal Studios in Orlando because it incorporates thrilling features, like a sudden drop and reverse travel, and elements of the Harry Potter world through its soundtrack and set design.

Breakdown of XYZ Thesis Statement Example

In this thesis statement example, the counterargument (Z) that I introduce is located in this segment: “Although Jurassic World VelociCoaster is also an exciting ride”.

In the rest of my essay, I would then explain how Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure is better than the VelociCoaster.

(Please note that this is not my actual opinion. To anyone that may be offended, I have never been on the VelociCoaster before. Therefore, I cannot make an accurate judgment of whether it is better or worse than Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure.)

In the first paragraph, I would explain how both rides have thrilling features, but demonstrate how the ones on Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure are more unique and exciting.

In the second paragraph, I would explain how Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure does a better job of showcasing elements of the Harry Potter franchise than the Velocicoaster does of showcasing elements of the Jurassic World franchise.

AP World History DBQ Thesis Examples

Note: In the remaining thesis examples, I will only be using the XYZ thesis formula because it is more complex and nuanced. Also, due to copyright reasons, I have restated each College Board DBQ prompt. If you would like to see the actual prompts, I have provided direct links.

2021 AP World History DBQ Prompt

This prompt asks about how much economic factors influenced the start of the Mexican Revolution.

Thesis Statement: Although the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920 was partly fueled by the political motive to overthrow Porfirio Díaz’s dictatorship, it was primarily motivated by economic factors, like the labor exploitation of indigenous workers and the minority elite class’s monopoly of land ownership.

Breakdown of AP World History Thesis Example

Z: Although the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920 was partly fueled by the political motive to overthrow Porfirio Díaz’s dictatorship

A: [The Mexican Revolution] was primarily motivated by economic factors

X: labor exploitation of indigenous workers

Y: minority elite class’s monopoly of land ownership

2018 AP World History DBQ Prompt

This prompt asks about how railroad construction in Afro-Eurasia affected European colonization in the period 1860-1918.

Thesis Statement: Although the construction of railroads in Afro-Eurasia between 1860 and 1918 facilitated European colonial administration, native resistance due to the desire to protect cultural traditions and to prevent foreign political dominance largely inhibited European expansion.

Breakdown of AP World History Thesis Example

Z: Although the construction of railroads in Afro-Eurasia between 1860 and 1918 facilitated European colonial administration

A: European expansion was largely inhibited, despite railroad construction

X: native resistance due to the desire to protect cultural traditions

Y: native resistance due to the desire to prevent foreign political dominance

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APUSH DBQ Thesis Examples

2019 APUSH DBQ Prompt

This prompt asks about the amount of political impact created by the Progressive movement between 1890 and 1920.

Thesis Statement: Although the Progressive movement fell short in eradicating racial segregation, it was otherwise able to create significant political change in the U.S. from 1890 to 1920 by rooting out the corruption of the Gilded Age and creating beneficial social reform.

Breakdown of APUSH Thesis Example

Z: Although the Progressive movement fell short in eradicating racial segregation

A: [The Progressive movement] was able to create significant political change in the U.S. from 1890 to 1920

X: rooted out the corruption of the Gilded Age

Y: created beneficial social reform

2018 APUSH DBQ Prompt

This prompt asks about the extent to which different causes contributed to the U.S.’s growing international influence between 1865 and 1910.

Thesis Statement: Although it can be said that American imperialism in the period from 1865 to 1910 stemmed from a moral obligation to assist less-developed foreign nations, the true motives lay in a desire to exploit economic and natural resources.

Breakdown of APUSH Thesis Example

Z: Although it can be said that American imperialism in the period from 1865 to 1910 stemmed from a moral obligation to assist less-developed foreign nations

A: the true motives of American imperialism lay in…

X: a desire to exploit economic resources

Y: a desire to exploit natural resources

Quick Review of How to Write a DBQ Thesis 

You can follow the XY thesis statement formula or the XYZ thesis statement formula. However, if you want to set your essay up to earn the complexity point, it’s best to go for the second formula. (Including a counterargument is not the only way to earn the complexity point, but it is one of the most straightforward methods.)

Also, make sure to group your documents and make X and Y the categories you grouped your documents into. Finally, make sure your thesis statement is arguable, answers the prompt directly, is specific, and is located in the introduction and/or conclusion.

I hope this article helped you learn how to write an effective DBQ thesis statement! If you have any questions or requests for more AP History guides, let me know in the comments below!