Change and Continuity
Over Time Essay
Your Essay Question
Analyze the political,
economic, and cultural
continuities and changes
in Europe between 14501750.
Change and Continuity
 Show both in essay.
 You will usually see more change
than continuity.
 Examine all aspects of the civilization
or group you are discussing.
 GRAPES
Read the Question
 Make sure you understand what the
question is asking.
 Are there specific aspects of the
civilization or group you are to
address? (social, political, economic)
 What are the time period parameters
given in the question?
Rubric
 Thesis that addresses issues and time period.
 Address all parts of the question.
 Back up your thesis with historical evidence.
This is the meat of your essay.
 Show the change or continuity by discussing
historical context. What happened in the
world to cause the change/continuity?
 Analyze the process of continuity and change.
Break it down into parts and explain. How do
you get from point A to Z? Explain B-Y.
Essay Outline
 Introduction Paragraph
 Well written thesis that address all issues
discussed in the question and the time
period
 Be specific. What are the changes?
What are the continuities?
 Pick 3 issues/aspects to discuss if none
are provided in the question.
Essay Outline
 Second Paragraph
 Addresses first issue (change or
continuity) from beginning of time period
to the end of time period
 Topic sentence for the paragraph
 At least four other sentences in which
you give historical evidence to back up
the thesis, explain historical context and
analyze the process of change.
 Will show a change or continuity
Essay Outline
 Third Paragraph
 Addresses second issue (a change or
continuity) from beginning of time period
to the end of time period
 Topic Sentence
 At least four other sentences in which
you give historical evidence to back up
the thesis, explain historical context and
analyze the process of change
 Will show a change or continuity
Essay Outline
 Fourth Paragraph
 Addresses third issue (a change or
continuity) from beginning of time period
to the end of time period
 Topic Sentence
 At least four other sentences in which
you give historical evidence to back up
the thesis, explain historical context and
analyze the process of change
 Will show a change or continuity
Essay Outline
 Conclusion Paragraph
 Restates the thesis in a different way
 Sums up the change/continuity of the
issues addressed
 If the body of your essay is all change,
but you have one continuity, you can put
it in the conclusion. (and vice versa)
General Rules for Essays
 Never, never, never use first person!
 No I, Me, or We
 Do NOT write, “In this essay…”. Never
refer to your essay in your essay.
 Do NOT write, “I think” or “In my
opinion”. No one cares about your
opinion. State ideas as fact. You will be
providing evidence to back up what you
say.
General Rules for Essays
 I don’t grade on how many words or
pages you write.
 I grade using the AP Rubric.
Your Essay Question
Analyze the political,
economic, and cultural
continuities and changes
in Europe between 14501750.
Let’s Work It Out Together
 What are the three specified areas?
 What are the time period
parameters?
 Is there change or continuity, or
both?
 What can our thesis be?
 How will we set up the rest of our
essay?
Peer Grading
 Read the essay. In red grading pen,
mark spelling and grammar errors.
 Thesis (1 point): time period
parameters, state continuity and
change, areas that will be discussed
in essay per prompt
 All parts of question (1-2 point):
continuity, change, areas you are
discussing, time period
 Evidence (1-2 points): historical
facts to back up your thesis
 World historical context (1 point):
What is going on in the world to
create the change/continuity?
 Process of change/continuity (1
point): How do you get from point to
the next to the next…..?