Comparative Essay
• Another skill historians attempt to master
is the ability to compare what is
happening in one region or place in the
world with what is happening in another
region or place in the world during the
same historical time period
• EX: Compare political transformations in
the Middle East with political
transformations in Latin America from c.
1945 to present day.
Comparative Essay
• The Comparative Essay assesses
your ability to apply this historical
skill based on your knowledge of
the regions and time period.
Comparative Essay
• 4 Important Elements of the Comparative Essay:
1. Thesis – must be specific AND valid
a. Cannot be simply “There were many
similarities and differences…”
b. No need to keep your essay main ideas
a secret – just state your specific
comparisons in your thesis and
RESTATE them again as the topic
sentence for the respective body
paragraph
The Rule of Three
• Although you are only required to
have 1 similarity and 1 difference, you
should always try to identify and state
either 2 similarities and 1 difference
or 1 similarity and 2 differences.
• The Rule of Three applies to direct
comparisons, attempts at analysis,
and pieces of evidence as well.
Comparative Essay
2. Direct Comparison – you must make a
valid, specific, and QUANTIFIABLE direct
comparison sentence(s) in your body
paragraphs.
a. Usually this is your topic sentence
b. Quantifiable means you have to add an
adjective or describing word to help the
reader identify your comparison (stronger,
more centralized, extensive, etc.)
c. Start your direct comparison with words
such as:
• however, both, while, although, etc.
Comparative Essay
3. Evidence – you must provide Specific
Factual Information (or SFI) as
evidence for your direct comparison
– these are your FACTS!!!
• Remember the Rule of Three – try to
have 3 pieces of SFI for each area you
are comparing
Comparative Essay
4. Analysis – you must ANALYZE the reason
for the similarity or difference you
identify with your direct comparison.
•
•
•
This means give a reason for the
similarity or difference
Ask yourself “WHY are these the same?”
or “WHY are these different?”
If they are different you must explain why
they are different for BOTH regions/areas
Comparative Essay
• Which is a better Thesis statement?
1. There were many political similarities and
differences between Mesopotamia and Egypt.
2. There were many political similarities and
differences between Mesopotamia and Egypt such
as degree of centralization and size of the territory
they controlled.
3. While Egypt had a more stable and centralized
political system than Mesopotamia, both areas
required the ruler to maintain a strong military to
keep control over his territory.
Comparative Essay
This one counts for TWO
Direct Comparisons –
similarity and difference!
• Which is a valid, specific, and QUANTIFABLE direct
comparison statement?
1. Both Mesopotamia and Egypt had governments.
2. While both Mesopotamia and Egypt had
governments controlled by a ruling class of
aristocrats, Egypt’s government was much more
centralized than that of Mesopotamia, which was a
loose confederation of city-states.
3. Both Mesopotamia and Egypt had governments
controlled by a ruling class of aristocrats.
This only counts for ONE
Direct Comparison – a
similarity.
Comparative Essay
• Analysis of the direct comparison
• This is the hardest part of this essay
• AGAIN - You must give a reason WHY this similarity or difference exists
OR why this similarity or difference is SIGNIFICANT
• You MUST address both areas in the analysis
• Example:
• While both Mesopotamia and Egypt had governments controlled by
a ruling class of aristocrats, Egypt’s government was much more
centralized than that of Mesopotamia, which was a loose
confederation of city-states.
• WHY…
• Why did both empires have governments run by a ruling class of
aristocrats?
• Why was Egypt’s government much more centralized than
Mesopotamia?
Comparative Essay Process
• Let’s see if you can create an essay
framework by comparing river valley
civilizations!
Handout: Comparative Essay Process