AP EXAM ESSAYS
2005
2006
DBQ
CoT
CC
Issues confronting Muslim
leaders in S. Asia and N. Africa
when defining nationalism (20th
century)
Social and economic
transformation of Atlantic
world as result of W. Europe,
Africa, Americas from 1450 –
1750 CE
cultural and political changes in
1 (China, Rome, India) during
last centuries of classical era
Compare the political and
economic effects of Mongol rule
on 2 (China, Middle East, Russia)
Social and economic effects of
global flow of silver from mid16th century to early 18th
century (Spain, Japan, China)
Analyze Han and Roman
attitudes toward technology
2007
Analyze factors that shaped
the modern Olympic movement
from 1892 to 2002
2008
2009
2010
2011
Analyze African actions and
reactions in response to the
European Scramble for Africa.
Formation of national identities
in 1 (Middle East, SE Asia, SubSaharan) from 1914 – present.
Evidence from specific
countries
Analyze the changes and
continuities in commerce in the
Indian Ocean region from
650 C.E. to 1750 C.E.
Analyze continuities and
changes in patterns of
interactions along the Silk
Roads from 200 B.C.E. to 1450
C.E.
Compare the goals and outcomes
of revolutionary process in 2
(Mexico - 1910, China - 1911,
Russia - 1917)
Compare the processes of
empire building (social, political,
economic) in Spanish Empire
with 1 (Ottoman Empire or
Russian Empire) from 1450 to
1800
Compare the emergence of
nation states in nineteenthcentury Latin America with the
emergence of nation states in
ONE of the following regions in
the twentieth century.
Sub-Saharan Africa
The Middle East
For the period from 1500 to
1830, compare North American
racial ideologies with Latin
American/Caribbean ideologies
and their effects on society.
Analyze similarities and
differences in the
mechanization of the cotton
industry in Japan and India in
the period from the 1880s to
the 1930s.
Describe and explain
continuities and changes in
religious beliefs and practices
in ONE of the following regions
from 1450 to the present.
 Sub-Saharan Africa
 Latin
America/Caribbean
Analyze similarities and
differences in methods of
political control in TWO of the
following empires in the
Classical period.
 Han China (206 B.C.E.–220
C.E.)
 Mauryan/Gupta India (320
B.C.E.–550 C.E.)
 Imperial Rome (31 B.C.E.–476
C.E.)
Analyze the causes and
consequences of the Green
Revolution in the period from
1945 to the present.
Analyze changes and
continuities in long-distance
migrations in the period from
1700 to 1900. Be sure to
include specific examples from
at least TWO different world
religions.
Analyze similarities and
differences in the rise of TWO
of the following empires.
 A West African Sudanic
empire (Mali/Ghana/Songhay)
 Aztec Empire
 Mongol Empire
CoT Tips
Thesis


Restate the time period in question…so you know “when” you’re talking about
Make sure that your continuity/change is accurate for the date range
o Ex: If the question is asking about 1500 – 2000 CE, and your continuity didn’t start until 1750, you’re
going to have problems.
Address All Parts of the Question



When you talk about change or continuity, talk about THEMES or TRENDS…then go in to specific examples
that support your theme or trend.
Make certain that you discuss BOTH changes & continuities for each topic of the essay
Each paragraph should only address one specific change or continuity
o If you put multiple changes/continuities into one paragraph, it’s almost impossible to provide enough
evidence or thoroughly analyze all of them.
Historical Evidence


If possible, make mention of any noteworthy people/events/dates that reinforce your argument
Recognize that statements of opinion aren’t evidence (ex: I think that the Chinese were the most powerful
civilization in the world). Sadly, your opinion doesn’t count as fact (which actually isn’t sad because then I’d
have to acknowledge Justin Bieber as a legitimate artist).
Relevant World Historical Context

Connect your change/continuity to something happening in other parts of the world at the same time….OR… to
larger themes that caused the change/continuity
o Topic: Atlantic Slave Trade – The Spanish colonies weren’t the only ones to receive African slaves. The
Ottoman Empire and even the Mughals engaged in the slave trade, although to an admittedly lesser
extent…OR…Slavery was a rapidly-expanding part of European and Muslim economies during this time
period. Slaves were in high demand for social and agricultural uses, and the African kingdoms had to
significantly increase the supply of captured slaves in order to meet this demand.
o
Topic: Western Governments – Western Europe slowly broke away from a feudal system and began to
become more centralized. Feudalism was still alive and well in places like Russia and Japan, however, yet
they too would eventually centralize as well.
Analyzing the Process of CoT


Explain WHY a change or continuity existed.
“Explain the middle” and avoid the “one-thing-led-to-another” explanation
o “In 1600 CE, women had very few rights in Latin America. By 2000 CE however, women had not only
won the right to vote but also were more capable of earning a living for themselves.”
 What happened in the “middle” that caused this change? (Decolonization, revolutionary
movements, and the world wars)
*If you get stuck, go through PERSIA (Political, Economic, Religious, Social,
Innovations/Technology,and Arts”
Exam Review - COT Essay
Thesis Statements: What’s the Problem?
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Change & Continuity: What’s the Problem?
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Change & Continuity: Why is this a good example?
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Global Context:
Why Does this count as global context?
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2. Analyze continuities and changes in
patterns of interactions along the Silk Roads
from 200 BCE to 1450 CE
Thesis:
Why is this an acceptable thesis?
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What’s Wrong With this thesis?
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Change/Continuity: Why is this a good example?
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Change/Continuity: Why is this a good example?