Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay: Necessary Steps
(AP World History Format)
The compare/contrast essay on the AP Exam usually addresses how two societies
responded to a major development or theme. Besides knowing specific similarities and
differences between the societies given in the topic, it is also very important to keep in
mind “big-picture” ideas in history. In other words, don’t just concentrate on two
societies or geographic regions mentioned in the question. Think of larger global
processes that influenced the changes and continuities in the societies you are
comparing and contrasting. “The major themes tested on the AP World History Exam
comparative essay include the following:




How different societies responded to each other, other societies, or events
How different societies changed - or didn’t – in response to some event
How different societies developed
How different societies responded to new technologies or new ideas”1
Basic Core Rubric for the Compare/Contrast Essay:
BASIC CORE: (Competence: Historical Skills and Knowledge
Required to Show Competence: 1-7)
1. Has acceptable thesis (Do you compare and contrast the issues
or themes specified?).
2. Addresses all parts of the question though not necessarily
evenly or thoroughly.
Addresses most parts of the question (for example, deals with
differences but not similarities).
3. Substantiates thesis with appropriate historical evidence (this
means: do you have specific examples to prove your thesis
and/or your topic sentences)
Partially substantiates thesis with appropriate historical evidence
4. Makes at least one or two relevant, direct comparisons
between or among the societies.
5. Analyzes at least one reason for a similarity or difference
identified in a direct comparison. (this is where your knowledge
of larger historic processes comes in handy!)
SUBTOTAL:
1
Adopted from Cracking the AP World History Exam: 2006-2007., p.75.
Point(s)
Possible:
1
2
(1)
2
(1)
1
1
7
Expanded Core Rubric for Compare/Contrast Essay:
EXPANDED CORE: (excellence – Historical Skills and Knowledge
Required to Show Excellence) – A student must earn 7 points in the
basic core area before earning points in the expanded core area.
Examples:
 Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive thesis
 Addresses all parts of the question (as relevant): comparisons,
chronology, causation, connections, themes, interactions,
content
 Provides ample historical evidence to substantiate thesis
 Relates comparisons to larger global context
 Makes several direct comparisons consistently between or
among societies
 Consistently analyzes the causes and effects of relevant
similarities and differences
Point(s)
Possible:
SUBTOTAL:
2
TOTAL:
9
In this class, the grading rubric for Compare/Contrast Essay will be out
of 10 points. I will either add a point to basic core requirement #4 or
#5. You will be informed ahead of time where the point is added before
writing every essay.
0-2
10
NECESSARY STEPS:
STEP 1: PROCESS THE QUESTION
TOPIC: Compare and contrast reactions to western European commercial and cultural
contacts in two of the following empires between 1500 and 1800.
JAPAN
CHINA
RUSSIA
You must understand what you need to address in your thesis. Circle or underline
key words or phrases in the question. The phrase that you should underline in this
case is: western European commercial and cultural contacts. Do not forget that your
essay (your thesis) must include comparisons as well as contrasts.
STEPS 2 and 3: BUILD THE FRAMEWORK and PROVIDE EVIDENCE:2
STEP 2:
Society 1:
Society 2:
Western
commercial and
cultural contacts
and each societies’
reactions:
SIMILARITIES:
DIFFERENCES:
STEP 3:
Society 1: China
Western
commercial and
cultural contacts
and each societies’
reactions:
SIMILARITIES:
DIFFERENCES:
2
-Europeans’ trade contact:
seeking Chinese porcelain,
silk, cotton, lacquer
- Limited exposure of the
Chinese to crops from the
New World
- Chinese court deals with
Euro. Trading companies
(VOC and EIC). Trade
regulated/controlled (only
certain ports can be used,
etc.)
- Jesuits in China (Kangxi)
(concentrate on upper
classes; transfer of
technology and scientific
knowledge)
- Importance of the Chinese tea
to Europeans – unfavorable
balance of trade for Europeans
State regulation of economies
18th cen. ruler’s interest in the
West (Kangxi)
Chinese econ. more diverse
– more powerful
-Jesuit Influences
Adopted from Cracking the AP World History Exam: 2006-2007.
Society 2: Russia
- In the 17th cen. surrounded
by powerful neighbors.
Unsuccessful at accessing
warm water ports. (Sweden
and Poland-Lithuania)
- Econ. contact with the West:
fur trade! (Siberian expansion)
- Peter the Great’s Westernization
(Russian contacts with the West:
architecture (St.Petersburg),
dress, mingling of sexes, foreign
officers, professionals, etc.)
-Catherine the Great: Russian
exports to the West: gold,
timber, iron.
- Christian Orthodoxy – mostly
strong (state religion), but not in
Western Russia (Poland,
Western Ukraine)
- Western companies had to
obtain special privileges to trade
State regulation of economies
18th cen. ruler’s interest in the
West (Peter and Catherine)
- Peter the Great’s Westernization
- Exports: primarily raw materials
STEP 4: Direct comparisons/contrast

You want to make sure that your comparisons/contrasts are about the same
issue. For example:
“The quantity and variety of the Chinese products allowed China to enjoy more
benefits from its contacts with the West in contrast to Russia’s limited contacts. The
Chinese economy flourished from its interactions with Western Europe because of
high demand for such highly valuable products as silk, porcelain, tea, and lacquered
furniture. On the other hand, only a few products from Russia were in high demand in
the West. Furs from Siberia was one of them, and, though Russian exports to Western
Europe expanded toward the end of the 18th century, they were still mostly raw
materials, such as timber and iron.“
STEP 5: Larger global context / processes
For this step you are basically addressing this question: What larger historic global
processes of that time period explain the differences/similarities mentioned in the
essay?
Example: Advantageous position of the Chinese in comparison to Russia’s standing
with the West can be attributed to the fact that the majority of Chinese products were
finished goods that did not encounter serious competition from other regions in the
world. Increases in contact and volume of trade between Russia and the West as well
as China and the West, especially in the 18th century, were partially due to a more
interconnected world economic system, incorporating goods, services, precious metals,
and societies of Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.”
KEY ELEMENTS of the ESSAY:
KEY ELEMENT 1: THESIS

A solid thesis statement clearly states a claim (you must take a position). It
identifies/defines the terms, context, chronology of the events under
discussion, and, when needed, describes why your claim is true. When
writing a compare and contrast essay your thesis MUST INCLUDE
COMPARISONS (similarities) as well as CONTRASTS (differences)
From this point on, let’s look at the following example and then you can practice writing
a thesis for your topic (Ch.19/Ch.20).
TOPIC: Compare and contrast reactions to western European commercial and cultural
contacts in two of the following empires between 1500 and 1800.
JAPAN
CHINA
RUSSIA
THESIS: Even though both empires’ economies benefited from trade with Western
Europe, the variety, quality, and high demand for the Chinese products gave China more
advantageous terms of trade compared to the Russian commercial interactions with the
West. The governments of both countries attempted to control and regulate economic
exchanges with western Europeans. On the other hand, Russian culture underwent more
dramatic changes as a result of opening and expanding the country, especially in the 18th
century. Chinese high society, though influenced by Jesuits, remained more traditional.

For your part, choose any two out of six empires/civilizations mentioned in
Chapters 19 and 20. Come up with a topic for your compare/contrast essay (for
some ideas: see Chapter 19 questions on p.485). Write your own topic and then
practice writing a thesis statement.
YOUR TOPIC:
YOUR THESIS STATEMENT:
KEY ELEMENT 2: BODY PARAGRAPH(s)
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
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Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence that will state either
a similarity or a difference previewed in your thesis statement.
Then, you must provide evidence to support your topic sentence. Preferably,
the evidence in your body paragraph will directly compare/contrast the two
societies.
Follow evidence with analysis when appropriate.
Example:
(topic sentence) The quantity and variety of the Chinese products allowed China to
enjoy more benefits from its contacts with the West in contrast to Russia’s limited
contacts.
(evidence) The Chinese economy flourished from its interactions with Western Europe
because of high demand for such highly valuable products as silk, porcelain, tea, and
lacquered furniture. On the other hand, only a few products from Russia were in high
demand in the West. Furs from Siberia was one of them, and, though Russian exports
to Western Europe expanded toward the end of the 18th century, they were still mostly
raw materials, such as timber and iron.
(analysis) – see next page
(analysis) Advantageous position of the Chinese in comparison to Russia’s standing
with the West can be attributed to the fact that the majority of Chinese products were
finished goods that did not encounter serious competition from other regions in the
world. Increases in contact and volume of trade between Russia and the West as well
as China and the West, especially in the 18th century, were partially due to a more
interconnected world economic system, incorporating goods, services, precious metals,
and societies of Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
YOUR BODY PARAGRAPH:
JUST A FEW MORE IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Your opening paragraph should start with a broad sentence(s) that will “set
the stage.” For my topic, it might look something like this:
Period between 1500 and 1800 witnessed the emergence of western European
countries as the most technologically and economically dominant world powers on a
global scale. China and Russia, two greatest land empires of that time period, reacted
to these contacts in a variety of ways.

Mention both sides (empires for this essay) in your topic sentence(s). If you
only write about one of them in your topic sentence, you may forget to
compare/contrast it with the other one in your body paragraph.

To make your body paragraph flow, use transitional words and phrases,
such as furthermore, in addition, even though, in contrast to, similarly to, etc.

Summarize main points of your essay in your conclusion.