Name __________________________________________ Date _________________ Class Period __________________
Change and Continuity Over Time (CCoT) Essay Sheet
Read the prompt you’ve received from your teacher for this essay. Identify the following:
What: What is the topic of this essay? ___________________________________________________________________
Who: What societies/regions will you discuss? (You may get to pick.) __________________________________________
When: What range of dates will you discuss in your essay? ________________ to __________________
Which historical time period (or periods) is this? (Ancient, Classical, Post-Classical, Early Modern, Modern, Contemporary)
Brainstorm what you know about the topic in this region & time period. (Think about the timeline – what changes? What
stays the same?) Use another sheet of paper if you need more space.
Based on your brainstorming, pick 3 themes from SCRIPTED. These will
help you organize & explain your changes and continuities. Make sure
the themes you pick can be related to the prompt.
List the 3 themes for your essay here:
1.
SOCIAL STRUCTURES

Economic, Social Classes

Gender Roles, Relations

Inequalities

Family, Kinship

Racial, Ethnic Constructs
POLITICS

Nations, nationalism

Empires

Forms of Government

Revolts, Revolutions

State-building, expansion
CULTURE

Cultural

Intellectual

Arts, Architecture

Family, Lifestyles

Literatures
TECHNOLOGY

Science and Industry

Invention, Innovation

Power

Transportation

Communication
RELIGION

Religion

World Views

Philosophy

Secularism, Atheism

Ideologies and “isms
ECONOMICS

Industrialization

Economic Systems

Capitalism, Socialism

Business Organizations

Labor

Labor Organizations
INTERACTIONS

War, Conflict

Trade, Commerce

Exchanges, Migrations

Diplomacy, Alliances

Transnational Organizations
DEMOGRAPHY

Demography, Disease

Human, Environment Interaction

Patterns of Settlement

Geography, Region

Agriculture, Pastoralism
2.
3.
Intro & Thesis
Now, write your intro & thesis. This is your argument for the paper – your answer to the question, “What changed and
stayed the same about this topic during this period of history?”
For each of your three themes, write a topic sentence explaining what changes or continuities occurred. Don’t just say
“there were changes or continuities” – tell me what changed or stayed the same and why.
Example:



Political: During this time period, China’s government did not change from the system of hereditary dynasties
led by an autocratic ruler, while Japan’s feudal system changed to be more centralized under a military
shogunate.
Economic: China and Japan saw economic changes, as both societies saw a growth in levels of agricultural
production and increases in the amount of commerce and merchant activity.
Social: Although individual classes rose or fell in status, China & Japan maintained class systems with wealthy
landowning classes on top, followed by farmers and merchants.
Your thesis should be at least 3 sentences – 1 for each of your 3 themes – and address both continuity & change.
Write your introduction here:
Body Paragraphs
Each of your body paragraphs is a snapshot of time. What’s going on with the topic in during this part of history? By
reading your whole essay, the grader will be able to see your understanding of how historical events & processes change
chronologically.
Each paragraph will have this structure:





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)?
o For each theme, prove it -- give historical evidence (facts)
Global context
o What’s going on in the rest of the world? How does this topic relate?
Paragraph 1 – Date: _________ (What’s happening at the beginning of the time period? Set it up for each theme so you can discuss
changes & continuities in the next two paragraphs.)
Topic Sentence:
Discussion of changes, continuities, and global context:
Paragraph 2 – (What’s happening at the middle of the time period? What’s changed or stayed the same? Why?)
Topic Sentence:
Discussion of changes, continuities, and global context:
Paragraph 3 – Date: _________ (What’s happening at the end of the time period? What’s changed or stayed the same? Why?)
Topic Sentence:
Discussion of changes, continuities, and global context: