How to Write the Continuity
and Change Over Time Essay
(CCOT)
Objectives
Terminal Learning Objective (TLO): I expect
you to be able to write an acceptable
continuity and change essay.
Enabling Learning Objective (ELO) #1: The
first step is to be able to differentiate
APWH themes.
CONTINUITY AND CHANGE
OVER TIME
• The CCOT essay tests your ability
to trace a broad trend or
development over a long period of
time
PIRATES
 P – POLITICAL – who is in charge? Geography
included
 I – Intellectual – how did they express themselves etc.
 R – RELIGION – what do they believe?
 A – Artistic accomplisments
 T – Technological advancement
 E- Economic – Resources, trade, etc.
 S- Social
Political
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Structure
War
Treaties
Courts/Laws
Leaders
Popular participation
Loyalty to leader
Intellectual/Arts
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Art and Music
Writing/Literature
Philosophy
Math/Science
Education
Inventions
Religion
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Importance on societal interaction
Holy Books
Beliefs/Teachings
Conversion – role of missionaries
Sin/Salvation
Deities
Artistic
 Music
 Paintings, Sculpture
• Architecture
Technological
 Inventions, Innovations
• Industry
Economic
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State control on trade/industry
Agriculture/Industry importance
Labor systems
Levels of Technology
Levels of International Trade
Gender and Slaves
Money System
Social
• Family order – patriarchal, matriarchal
• Gender Relations – role of women,
children
• Social Classes – slavery
• Entertainment
• Life Styles
CONTINUITY AND CHANGE OVER
TIME
Topics may include:
– cultural interchange
– global trade
– the movement and
migration of peoples
– the role of minorities
in a given society
– the status of women
– environmental issues
– biological
developments
– changes in technology
– artistic and cultural
attitudes
– scientific innovations
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THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER
BEFORE WRITING
What were things like at the beginning
of the assigned period?
What changed?
How and why did it change?
What were things like at the end of the
assigned period?
What differences did those changes
make?
What remained the same?
Objectives
TLO: I expect you to be able to write an
acceptable continuity and change essay.
ELO #2: The second step is to identify
relevant continuities/change and
understand the processes of
continuity/change.
The Complexity of Change and
Continuity
Imagine a simple timeline that represents
your own life. If you were to note the 8-10
most important events/changes on your
timeline, along with continuities, what
might that look like?
|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
Analyze the changes and continuities in your
life between 1999 (or the year born) and the
present
• Please see PDF Document of sample
timeline of Mrs. Singleton’s life. It is posted
in the handout section for your class.
Types of Change
Type of Change
Clear, definite “date” of beginning
and end
Clear, definite beginning “date,”
but no ending date.
Clear beginning date, but
significant developmental changes
since that beginning. This “event”
still exists, but is significantly
different now compared to when it
first started.
Vague, slow, gradual process with
no clear beginning or ending date
Example
Move to Germany
Dad return from Vietnam
Near fatal accident
Walking, talking, school
Love of Dance and
Performing Arts
Objectives
TLO: I expect you to be able to write an
acceptable continuity and change essay.
ELO #3: The third step is to understand
Periodization
Periodization
• Historical thinking involves the ability to
describe, analyze, evaluate, and construct
models of historical periodization that
historians use to categorize events into
discrete blocks and to identify turning
points.
Periodization
• Our prompt – Analyze the changes and
continuities in your life between 1999 and
the present
Periodization
• Periodization helps to organize different
groups in different places during a specific
time period.
• Changes do not happen in a vacuum.
Something, somewhere, had an influence
on the change.
Objectives
TLO: I expect you to be able to write an
acceptable continuity and change essay.
ELO #4: The fourth step is to understand the
ability to construct a valid thesis for the
APWH essays. In this case, it is the
CCOT
Thesis Writing
• Analyze the changes and continuities in
your life between 1999 and the present
– Address what the question is asking.
Thesis Writing
Analyze the changes and continuities in
your life between 1999 and the present
• Minimal: (this will get you minimal pts.)
Between 1997 and 2014 my life has been
impacted by many changes but many
aspects have been the same.
Thesis Writing
Analyze the changes and continuities in
your life between 1999 and the present
• Recommended:
– Between 1999 and 2014 my life has
changed because of the USMC, marriage,
and the birth of my children but has stayed
the same in regards to my faith and my
love of baseball.
Thesis Writing
• So, the basic template is:
Between __(beginning date)____ and __(ending
date)______, ___(area you chose to write about___)
changed in the area of ____(category(ies) from the
prompt)___ but stayed the same in the area of __(the
other category(ies) from the prompt).
Objectives
TLO: I expect you to be able to construct an
acceptable continuity and change essay.
ELO #5: The final step before actually
writing is to understand how to analyze
the reasons for the change/continuity.
Analysis
• Good writing would require you to analyze
the reasons for the continuities and
changes
– What caused each continuity or change?
– Why were some changes sudden, while
others were gradual?
– Comparison to the larger (Global) Context
(how does it fit with what was/is going on
other places in the world?)
Characteristics at
the Beginning of
the Time Period
Childhood
Carefree
Parental guidance
No responsibility
Religious values and
influences established
Work ethic
Dance lessons
Love of singing
Relationships aquired
Education
Travel
Physically fit
Reasons Why
Changes &
Continuities
Occured
Examples of Significant Changes,
Turning Points, or Developments
Note type of change (sudden, gradual, developmental)
1. Flight Attendant career (sudden)
2. Education (formal and informal) gradual
3. Love for mentoring (gradual)
Significant Continuities
1. Religious affiliation (gradual)
2. Love of performing arts (gradual)
Characteristics at
the end of Time
Period
Wife and Friend
Travel
Teacher
Coach
Responsible for others
Motherhood
Time management
Discipline
Generative stage
Growing old gracefully
Health issues
3. Parents as a strong foundation
1. Realized the fleeting nature of life during Desert Storm
2. Decision to teach and mentor youth as result of that realization
3. Faith helped me through many of the hard times
Characteristics at
the Beginning of
the Time Period
Examples of Significant Changes,
Turning Points, or Developments
Note type of change (sudden, gradual, developmental)
1. Death of my first born
2. Death of my favorite sibling
3. Heart attack
Significant Continuities
1. Parental support
2. Strong religious foundation
3. Love of Dance and Performing Arts
Reasons Why
Changes &
Continuities
Occured
1.
2.
3.
Characteristics at
the end of Time
Period
CCOT
Analyze the changes and continuity in
the role of women in society between
1940 and today.
1.
What is the question asking you to do? (Restate the
verb in your own words.)
2.
What is the object of the verb?
–
–
–
what?
when?
where?
Pink as Rosie
CONTINUITY AND CHANGE OVER TIME
General Tips
Students should take 40 minutes to complete the
CCOT essay
Students should spend 5 of the 40 minutes reading
the question, reflecting on the question, and
organizing thoughts concerning the essay
The CCOT will request that students analyze the
evolution (progression/development) of a trend or
phenomenon over a long period of time
Students will be asked to focus on a particular nation
or geographical region and may be given a choice
regarding which nation or region must be included in
the essay
students must concentrate
on showing what changed
and how it changed as well as
what remained the same.