AP World History Writing Workshop
Julia M. Hyman
BISD K-12 Social Studies Consultant
Comparative Essay
• The final free-response essay--comparative
question that focuses on developments in two or
more societies, and their interactions with
each other or with major themes or events
(e.g. culture, trade, religion, technology,
migrations).
•You'll have 40 minutes to write the essay. It's
recommended that you spend five minutes
planning and/or outlining your answer before
you begin writing.
Scoring Guidelines
Basic CORE: Competency
Possible Points: 0 - 6
Has an acceptable thesis
1 point
Address all parts of the question
2 points
Substantiates thesis with appropriate
historical evidence
2 points
Makes at least two relevant, direct
comparisons among or between
societies
1 point
Expanded CORE: Excellence
Basic CORE of six points must be
obtained before the expanded CORE
can be earned.
Possible Points : 0 - 3
Acceptable Thesis
 State directly
 Locate at either the beginning or end
of essay—do not split
 Must include both similarities and
differences
 Focus on Subordinating Conjunctions!!
Format of the Thesis Sentence for a
Comparative Essay
 ___________, coordinating conjunction ___________.

(Coordinate: Of Equal Value use coordinating conjunction with a full sentence on either side.
Use words such as and, or, but, neither/nor, either/or, not only/but also)
If you need to show a relationship or
demonstrate causality, go with one of the
following formats:
 _____________; subordinating conjunction, ________.

(Value one over the other use a subordinating conjunction. See Chart.)
 Subordinating conjunction ____________, _________.

(Value one over the other use a subordinating conjunction. See Chart.)
Subordinating Conjunctions
Concession (Provide
help on the thesis)
Compare
Contrast
Although
like
although
Though
same
however
Even though
both
differ
While it may be true
the same as
unlike
In spite of
similar
even though
Granted that
in the same way
yet
Whereas
most important
but
While
similarly
instead
as
on the contrary
too
whereas
as well as
while
compared to
unless
and
contrary to
or
the reverse
Consider this Question:
 Compare and contrast the political and economic
effects of Mongol rule on TWO of the following
regions:



China
Middle East
Russia
Address All Parts of the Question:
Break Down the Prompt:
 Compare and contrast the political and economic
effects of Mongol rule on TWO of the following
regions:



China
Middle East
Russia
 Address all four parts = 2 full points
 Address only two – three parts = 1 point
 Address only one part = 0 points
Brainstorm What You Know: 5 Minutes
Political Evidence
Economic Evidence
China
•Kept modified civil service system
•Upper level bureaucracy reserved for Mongols
•Yaun Dynasty: Kublai Khan direct rule
•General benevolence when no resistance
•Religious toleration to consolidate rule
•Maintained Silk Roads, Postal
System during ; safe travel
encouraged international trade
•Facilitated commerce and
communication
Middle East
•Ruthless annihilation of resistance (terror tactics)
•Indirect rule: regents for the Khan
•Canal system destroyed
•Sacked and destroyed Baghdad
Russia
•General benevolence when no resistance
•Religious toleration to consolidate rule; Russian
Orthodoxy flourished
•Heavy Taxes levied and collected by Moscow
Princes
•Indirect rule: regents for the Khan
•Outlet for the fur trade from
Russia
•Maintained Silk Roads, Postal
System during ; safe travel
encouraged international trade
•Facilitated commerce and
communication
2 or 3 historic examples = 1 point
(One piece of evidence can count for more than one region if it is
specifically explained for each region.)
•4 historic examples = 2 points
Format of the Thesis Sentence for a
Comparative Essay
 The Mongols had significant political and economic impact
on both Russia and China during their rule, but China
experienced a greater impact due to direct rule than did
Russia under rule by proxy.
 China and Russia both benefitted economically from
Mongol rule; however, China experienced greater political
intervention during the Mongol reign.
 Although Russia and China both benefitted economically
from Mongol rule, China benefitted more politically under
Mongol direction.
Direct Comparisons
 Need at least two direct comparisons of the regions
 May be either comparison or contrast
 One must be political
 One must be economic
 Earn 1 point
Expanded CORE Points
 Can only be earned if you receive a 6 on the basic
CORE
 Looking for:
 Clear, analytical and comprehensive thesis
 Balanced treatment of both regions
 Balanced treatment of both similarities and differences
 Balanced treatment of both political and economic
analyses
 Ample historical evidence
 Comparisons in a larger global context