Change & Continuity Over
Time
(CCoT) Essay
AP World History
What’s the goal of this essay?
It deals specifically with analysis of continuities and changes over time.
Change: You have to recognize major changes in history, and identify and
understand what causes those changes.
Continuity: You have to recognize factors which remain the same throughout
history, and identify and understand factors that allow this.
It addresses a particular theme.
Technology, trade, culture, migrations, the environment, politics…
It also addresses a particular region (but usually, you get to pick)
CCoT prompts look like this:
What the Directions Mean
1. Write a thesis that points out
changes & continuities over
time.
2. Support it with evidence.
3. Answer all parts of the
question.
4. Show the change over time,
using relevant history.
a. Contrast how things
turned out with how
things were originally,
and weigh what changed
vs. what stayed the same.
The rubric:
Basic Core: Competence
1. Has acceptable thesis. (Addresses global
issues, correct time period. Must include
change and continuity.) - 1 point
2. Addresses all parts of the question, though
not necessarily evenly or thoroughly. - 2
points
3. Substantiates thesis with appropriate
historical evidence. - 2 points
4. Uses relevant historical context effectively
to explain change over time and continuity.
(How are changes and continuities in this
specific topic influenced by global historical
movements or processes?) - 1 point
5. Analyzes the process of change over time
and continuity. (Why do things change or stay
the same?) - 1 point
Expanded Core: Excellence
Expands beyond the basic core of 1-7 points. A
student must earn 7 points in the basic core before
earning points in the expanded core area.
● Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive
thesis
● Addresses all parts of the question
comprehensively
● Provides even and ample evidence of change
and continuity
● Analyzes both change and continuity
throughout the essay
● Provides ample world historical context
● Provides extended analysis of change or
continuity (extra reasons why things change or
stay the same)
Writing the CCoT
Step 1: Process the Prompt
Read the question and figure out what you’re expected to do.
Circle the key phrases:
What (topics)
Who (societies or regions)
When (dates)
What:
Changes & continuities in
Participation in
interregional trade
(trade with other regions)
Who:
One of the three choices
(Latin America, SubSaharan Africa,
Southeast Asia)
When:
1500 to 1750
Step 2: Brainstorm your Info
The topics you discuss (what changes & stays the same) will be based on the prompt.
Sometimes they’ll give you categories, other times you can create your own.
SCRIPTED: Social, Cultural, Religion, Interactions with Others, Politics, Technology,
Economics, Demography (Population)
Try to get 3 topics.
→ 3-sentence thesis
Step 2: Brainstorm Your Info
Beginning:
(The “baseline”)
What is the topic like
in this region at the
beginning of this time
period?
Set it up so you can
explain the changes
1500
Middle:
What has changed
about this topic? What
has stayed the same?
Why?
End:
What has changed
about this topic? What
has stayed the same?
Why?
Step 2: Brainstorm Your Info
Beginning:
(The “baseline”)
What is the topic like
in this region at the
beginning of this time
period?
Set it up so you can
explain the changes
Ex. In SE Asia, part of
Indian Ocean trade
network -- peaceful
trade between India,
China, Arabs
1500
Middle:
What has changed
about this topic? What
has stayed the same?
Why?
End:
What has changed
about this topic? What
has stayed the same?
Why?
Ex.
Changes - European
nations (Spain,
Portugal) get into
trade
More military use in
SE Asia (Portugal)
Continuities - Trade
between India, China,
Arabs for luxury goods
Ex.
Changes - Dutch
dominate spice trade,
English begin to
control India
Europeans control
major trading ports &
demand tribute from
locals
Continuities - etc.
Step 3: Write a Thesis/Intro
1 sentence -- set up the time period/historical background (using the prompt)
3 sentences - 1 for each of your 3 main arguments
Make sure to address continuity and change
See the whiteboard for examples
Step 4: Write the Essay
Each body paragraph is a snapshot of time. What’s going on with your topic in this
area during this part of history? (You can think of it like the “beginning” paragraph, the
“middle” paragraph, and the “ending” paragraph.)
In each body paragraph, talk about each of your three themes/topics:
Topic Sentence
Theme 1 - what changed or stayed the same? Why (analyze)?
Theme 2 - what changed or stayed the same? Why (analyze)?
Theme 3 - what changed or stayed the same? Why (analyze)?
Change & Continuity Words
Now
Persistent
Gradually
Sustained
Later
Enduring
Eventually
Ongoing
Immediately
Constant
Until that time
Sustained
Up to that time
Maintained
Formerly
Uphold/upheld
As things evolved
Preserve
Keep this in mind while you write:
You have to use concrete details and analyze based on the prompt.
You can’t just say “Prior to 1948, the Jewish people had no homeland. In 1948,
Israel was established.”
Use facts to show the historical development of the change:
“In the early twentieth century, few people saw the need for the
establishment of an independent Jewish state. However, as a result of
the genocide of Jewish people during World War 2, support for the the
establishment of such a state began to grow, leading to the creation of
Israel in 1948.”
You got this!