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 question
2
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.