CCOT essay
Plus
A (different) sample
question & answer
Read Question carefully!
 Analyze the social and
economic transformations
that occurred in the Atlantic
world as a result of new
contacts among Western
Europe, Africa and the
Americas from 1492-1750.
Clearly note time, place,
categories
 1492 (why?) – 1750
 Western Europe, Africa,
Americas
 Social, economic
Thesis
 Must be explicit, address all
parts of the question (including
time period) with an argument /
answer
 NOT just a restatement of
question!
 Try to put full thesis in introduction
(although AP readers don’t require it)
Essay body – Bake the
cake
Addresses all parts of the
question though not
necessarily evenly or
thoroughly (2 or 1)
Substantiates thesis with
appropriate historical
evidence (2 or 1)
 Generalizations should be
backed up by reference to
people, places, dates, events,
etc. [never use etc]
 ALL parts of the question
require evidence
Uses relevant
world historical context
to explain change /continuity
over time
 Global historical context –
connections between areas,
relation to other, similar
events/changes
Analyzes the PROCESS
of change over time…
 Explain how/why the change
occurred
 Analyze the process by
which the change developed
Icing: - beyond the core
scoring
 Pays attention to sequence of
change
 Analyzes cause and effect
 Isn’t weaker on one category –
shows solid knowledge on all
 Provides exceptional amount of
historical evidence
More icing…
 Links to other relevant
events as support also
 Something exceptional…
Sample question
Analyze the changes
and continuities in
commerce in the Indian
Ocean region from
650 C.E. to 1750 C.E
Thesis
 Must be explicit, address all
parts of the question
(including time period) with
an argument / answer
 NOT just a restatement of
question!
To what extent does this
thesis fulfill the
requirements?
 It fulfills the basic core
requirements, but is not
analytical. [no icing for
thesis]
 Try to put full thesis in
introduction (although AP
readers don’t require it)
Essay body must also
address all parts of the
question although not
necessarily evenly
 Does this essay address all
parts of the question?
 How is the essay
organized?
Substantiates thesis with
appropriate historical evidence
 Generalizations should be
backed up by reference to
people, places, dates, events,
etc. [never use etc]
 ALL parts of the question
require evidence
Evidence
 To what extent does the
essay fulfill the core
requirements?
 How many pieces of
CORRECT information are
included?
 Around 10?
Uses relevant
world historical context
to explain change /continuity
over time
 Global historical context –
connections between areas,
relation to other, similar
events/changes
World historical context
What examples of
“world/global historical
context” are included in
this essay?
Analyzes the PROCESS
of change over time…
 Explain how/why the change
occurred
 Analyze the process by
which the change developed
Analysis
 Where and how does the
essay analyze a process of
change?
Continuity
What remained more or
less constant/ the same
from before the beginning
of the time period though
until the end (within the
categories)
 Does the essay effectively
address an appropriate
continuity?
Icing: - beyond the core
scoring
 Pays attention to sequence of
change
 Analyzes cause and effect
 Isn’t weaker on one category –
shows solid knowledge on all
 Provides exceptional amount of
historical evidence
More icing…
 Links to other relevant
events as support also
 Something exceptional…
 Does this essay have
icing?
Continuity words
 non-stop, remained, unremitting,
permanent, consistently,
constant, unbroken, lasting,
enduring, uninterrupted,
continuously, maintained, didn't
change, persisted, continued,
remained steady
Change words
 new, novel, fresh, different,
transmitted, introduced,
initiated, brought in, instituted,
started, then set up, brought an
alteration to, exchanged, broke
the pattern of interaction,
began, transformed, modified,
altered