Continuity and Change over Time and Comparative Essays

(they’re a lot like a DBQ, except without the

documents! You must provide the evidence.)

Most questions give you a choice from a set

Your brain is already geared toward supporting your statements with evidence. Think of anything you know about the topic, and then think of those bits of information as “mini-docs”.

Next, create a framework in which to place your evidence…then it’s a lot like writing a DBQ!

REMEMBER THE BASIC RULES OF A GOOD THESIS:

Give ‘em what they want Show ‘em where you got it Help ‘em get there…Review the info for “Cracking the AP

Essay Questions” from Ch. 3 in Princeton Review.

What the directions say: (mean) Directions: You are to answer the following question.

You should spend 5 minutes organizing or outlining your essay. Write an essay that:

Has a relevant thesis and supports that thesis with appropriate evidence.

Support your thesis with historical evidence Addresses all parts of the question.

Answer all parts of the question Uses historical context to show change over time

and/or continuities Contrast with starting point and what remained

the same.

What it was…What it is…NOT

You need to delineate the causes and/or events that led up to the change/s.

In a successful C.C.O.T essay, you need to talk about how things were prior to the change, and then make it clear WHY things changed.

C.C.O.T. essays: What if I don’t know the subject???? Tend to give you choices of countries or

regions They also tend to be global…like

technology, trade, demographic change, or culture…so be ready to discuss these topics.

Review the basic content and changes and you should be well prepared for this essay

BASIC CORE FOR C.C.O.T. Acceptable thesis (did it address the global issues and the

correct time periods?) 1 Did you address ALL parts of the question (mostly)

2/1 Have you substantiated the thesis with appropriate

historical evidence? (partially) 2/1

Have you shown change over time using historical context? 1

Have you analyzed the process of change over time and/or continuity? 1

SUBTOTAL 7

WHAT TO DO POINTS

Write a thesis that addresses the global issues and covers the correct time periods 1

Addresses ALL parts of the question2

Support your thesis with appropriate historical evidence 2

Show the C.O.T. using relevant history. Include the characteristics of historical periods to explain the context of change. 1

Analyze the process of change and continuity. Describe what changed and how it changed, not just what the results of change were. 1

Expanded core requirements:

Comprehensive, analytical, and explicit thesis?

Comprehensive coverage of ALL issues: (time, continuity and change, cause/effect,

and a global scope) Ample historical evidence to prove your

thesis? Have you provided connections to

ideas, events, and other issues in an imaginative way?

Up to 2 additional points Concentrate on doing a great job in at least

3 of these areas

Process the Question:

Don’t miss ANY part of the question! Circle each key phrase as you

process the question…then…build a framework.

The framework not only provides you with an outline, but insures that you don’t miss any part of the question.

The Framework: CREATE A COLUMN FOR EACH COUNTRY

OR CATEGORY

BASELINE (ROLE IN WORLD PRIOR TO CHANGE)

IMPACT (HOW, WHY, WHAT WAY?) CHANGE (HOW DID THE ROLE CHANGE

BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE?) CONTINUITY (WHAT REMAINED THE SAME?)

NOW…BUILD YOUR ESSAY In your chart, fill in the information for

each segment, but also the bits of evidence (from your brain) to support each answer.

Then…WRITE IT: Thesis…give ‘em what they want (ATQ using key

phrases from the question) Next…show ‘em where you got it by supporting each

of your points with INTRODUCTORY evidence. Help ‘em get there by TRANSITIONING from the

thesis to the body with a cool phrase like: To better understand the change in…

A good model… After the intro… Each paragraph should address one

change or continuity with specific evidence

Don’t make the AP reader search for the what the changes and continuities are…

40 minutes (5-8 planning) 35 writing…a good C.C.O.T. or Comparative Essay can be written in 20 minutes.

I’d rather compare than change!

You can complete the essays in any order you like…but you should for sure do the DBQ first (use the 10 minute reading time to process the documents)

But…if you like the Comparative Essay better than the C.C.O.T., you can write that one first

AP readers say that the comparative essay is perhaps the easiest, but it is often the one that students score the lowest…so leave yourself time to do your best!

Comparative essays: Typically involve how two societies

respond to a major theme or event, like: How they respond to each other, other

societies, or events How they changed, or didn’t, in response

to some event How different societies developed How they responded to new technologies

or new ideas

The Directions…and what they mean: Write a thesis that makes your major points of

comparison (Support your thesis with historical evidence)

Answer all parts of the question Make at least two direct, relevant comparisons

of the given societies. (Include both similarities and differences. You lose a core point if you don’t)

Comparative Essay: Thesis: Is it acceptable…do you compare

the issues or themes specified Have you addressed all parts of the

question? (ATQ?) Have you substantiated the thesis with

the appropriate historical evidence? Have you shown at least one or two

relevant, direct comparisons between or among the societies?

Have you shown at least one reason for a similarity or difference identified in a direct comparison?

Process the question: Use the same strategy as you did for the

C.C.O.T. Circle the key phrases Take 5 minutes to plan your essay before

you begin writing. Build a Framework

Create 2 columns…one for each society What are you being asked? What is the theme

or event that is impacting the societies? Similarities Differences

Write it:

Write your thesis Give ‘em what they want Show ‘em where your got it Help ‘em get there

Include BOTH the focus of your essay and WHY you believe your claim is true.