How to Write the Essay!

To evaluate your ability to analyze historical
changes and continuities that have shaped
events, social, political, economic
developments in history and ability to gauge
your analysis of global processes.

This is really a high-level analysis of history.
What do they Mean?

This essay question deals specifically with
analysis of continuities and changes over time
covering at least one of the periods (or over a
significant period of time) in the course outline.
It addresses, for example, technology, trade,
culture, migrations, or environment.

The continuity and change over time questions
require analysis of process and explanation of
causation with specific examples.




Change
Recognize it as it occurs in history.
Identify & Understand the causes of change
Continuity
Recognize factors which remain the same
throughout an entire period
Identify & Understand factors which allow
this to continue

Must discuss, utilize concrete detail and analyze
changes that occurred relevant to the prompt and
correctly!

If the prompt discusses command terms (social and
political) you need to focus on political and social
changes.

If your prompt is more vague, you need to think of
aspects to base your analysis

By the end of the course we will have regional CCOT
charts!

The prompt also asks you to address
continuities, generally these are patterns or
tendencies that remain the same for years
and years.

You need to have concrete detail (facts) to
back up your continuities.
How to read the question


Read the question
Determine
 “What” – topic
 “Who” – society or region
 “When” – parameter of dates


List the Continuities
Build a timeline for Change
 list events for the topic
 Beginning, middle, end
Analyze the political transformation that
occurred from 622 CE through 1258 in Western
Asia and the Muslim World.
Draw your Essay Circle on your Paper!
Setting up Clear Wrting
Continuities
Continuity #1
Continuity #2
Continuity #3
Changes
Beginning Date
End Date
622 CE
1258 CE
Now Use the One on your Own Paper
Characteristics at
beginning of Time
Period
Examples of Significant Changes, Turning Points or
Developments – include dates
Note type of change (sudden gradual, developmental)
1.
2.
3.
Significant Continuities
1.
2.
3.
Reasons Why
Changes &
Continuities
Occured
Global
Context
1.
2.
3.
Characteristics at
the end of the
Time Period
How to Write Clearly

You can choose several
ways to organize the
essay.
 Period Approach
▪ Beginning
▪ Middle
▪ End
 Topic Approach
▪ Political
▪ Social
▪ Technological, etc
I would choose
Period approach for the
Changes and add a
Continuity Paragraph to
the essay.


While _________ stayed the same, in the
period from _______ to __________,
_________ changed from __________ to
____________ and _________ changed
from _________ to __________,
This is a sample….not the best thesis!!

Unacceptable:
 Islam as a political structure both changed and stayed the
same during this period.
 Islam was the main religion until today.

Acceptable
 From 600-1258 Islam became the main focus for politics in
Western Asia and North Africa, however it went from unity
to fragmentation.

Excellent:
 While Islam became the foundation for political structure
in Western Asia, North Africa and Al-Andalus from 6001258, it varied from unity to fragmentation due to
fractures from power legitimization and takeover.
CHANGE WORDS
now
gradually
Later
Eventually
immediately
at once
at this point
Next
afterward
soon
before
until that time
up to that time
formerly
as things evolved
in the
century
over time
ironically
previously
CONTINUITY WORDS
carry on
Proceed
Stay
Persist
Remain
Unceasing
Preserve
Retain
persistent
sustained
enduring
ongoing
constant
sustained
maintained
uphold
Clearly Writing

Background Information
 Write 2-3 sentence to set up the time period

Thesis
 Put your excellent thesis at the end of the
paragraph
 Use your change and continuity words

Change Paragraph
 Topic sentence
 Set up characteristics at beginning of time period
▪ Use specific examples and dates - evidence
 Describe examples of significant changes, turning
points, or developments
▪ Use specific examples and dates - evidence
 Analyze (give reasons) why each of these changes
occurred
 Set up characteristics at end of period
▪ Use specific examples and dates - evidence
 Describe the global context

Continuity Paragraph
 Topic sentence
 Give specific examples of continuities (related to
topic) in the time period
 Give reasons (analyze) why these continuities
occurred
 Describe the global context for the continuities


Restate Thesis
Show that you have proved your case
 Summarize the basic trends of the time period as
related to the question
Proof that you Wrote Clearly


1 pt
Has an acceptable thesis.
 Must be explicitly stated in the introduction or
conclusion ofthe essay.
 May appear as 1 sentence or as multiple
(contiguous) sentences.
 May not be split among separated sentences, or a
mere restatement of the question.


2 pts – 1 pt
Addresses all parts of the question, though not
necessarily evenly or thoroughly
 For 2 Points: Address BOTH change AND continuity.

Addresses most parts of the question: for
example, addresses change but not continuity.)
1 pt
 For 1 Point: Address EITHER change OR continuity.


2pts
Substantiates thesis with appropriate
historical evidence. 2 pts
 Provides 6 pieces of accurate evidence of change
and/or continuity.
 evidence for continuity or change must be related
to topic of question
 at least 1 piece of evidence must be a continuity,
and at least 1 must be a change.


1 pt
Partially substantiates thesis with
appropriate historical evidence. 1 pt
 Provides 3 pieces of accurate evidence of change
and/or continuity.
 evidence for continuity or change must be related
to question topic.


1 pt.
Uses relevant world historical context
effectively to explain continuity and change
over time. 1 pt
 Provides accurate and relevant world historical
context for either change or continuity.
 This context may relate to broad world historical
patterns or to specific global historical
developments.


1 pt.
Analyzes the process of continuity and change over time.
1 pt
 Analyze (with accuracy and specificity) the causes and/or effects
of either change or continuity during the time period.
 Analysis may NOT count as the thesis point.

Analysis “Cue” Words





because caused / caused by
led to
came from
in order to
due to

Expands beyond basic core of 1–7 points.

The basic core score of 7 must be achieved
before a student can earn expanded core
points





Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive
thesis.
Addresses all parts of the question (as relevant):
global context, chronology, causation, change,
continuity, effects, content
Provides ample historical evidence to
substantiate thesis.
Provides links with relevant ideas, events and
trends in an innovative way
Addresses all parts of the question evenly