ST
21
FRIDAY, AUGUST
–
AP WORLD HISTORY
Today, You Will Need:
Access to Your Assignments (Hunter-Gatherer, Neolithic
Revolution Questions)
Access to Your Textbooks (pages 15 and 16)
Paper and Pen
MAKING COMPARISONS IN WORLD
HISTORY
HISTORICAL THINKING SKILLS
Historical Argumentation
Periodization
Appropriate Use of Relevant
Historical Evidence
Comparison
Historical Causation
Interpretation
Patterns of Continuity and
Change Over Time
Synthesis
Contextualization
MAKING COMPARISONS IN AP WORLD HISTORY
One of the major components of world history is to be able to compare and
contrast regions, time periods, processes, etc.
In order have a valid comparison, you must:
 Clearly state what the similarity or difference is between TWO regions/groups
 Provide SPECIFIC HISTORICAL EVIDENCE to prove your point
 Analyze (explain WHY) the two regions/groups are similar or different
When writing comparisons, you will probably need at least 2-3 sentences for
each one.
STEP 1: MAKING SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE
QUESTION
Go to page 16 in your textbook – “Write as a Historian –
Identifying the Thinking Skill.”
On your own, read the paragraph and each of the five
prompts.
For each prompt, identify the SKILL that you need to use AND
the TOPIC of the prompt.
STEP2: BRAINSTORMING SIMILARITIES AND
DIFFERENCES
Turn to page 15  “Comparative Essay Questions” (bottom of page)
As a cohort, decide which essay question you want to use to brainstorm
similarities and differences. (HINT: PICK WHICH ONE YOUR GROUP THINKS IS
THE EASIEST)
Each person should write down as many similarities and differences as possible
that answer your selected question
 Use information from Chapter 1, your homework assignments, the Crash Course
video, and BBC Article to help you.
For each similarity or difference, try to find specific evidence for each group to
prove your point. For each comparison, you should have at least one piece of
historical evidence for each region.
STEP 3: MAKING SURE YOUR RESPONSES ARE
SPECIFIC AND THOROUGH
Go pack to page 16  “Think As a Historian –
Historical Argumentation”
Now, review your group comparisons and make any
revisions necessary to ensure you have specific
similarities and differences listed
STEP 4: CONSTRUCTING APPROPRIATE
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
Remember, each similarity or difference needs to include:
A clear statement of the similarity or difference that includes
both groups
Specific Historical Evidence that proves your point for EACH
region
ANALYSIS of WHY or HOW the groups are similar or
different.
See samples on next slide
SAMPLE COMPARATIVE STATEMENTS
EXAMPLE – SIMILARITY:
 During the River Valley Period, Mesopotamia and Egypt both based their civilizations along
rivers. For example, Mesopotamia was centered around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers,
while the Egyptian civilization was near the Nile River. Both regions used rivers as the basis
for their civilizations because those rivers provided food, water, and transportation options.
EXAMPLE – DIFFERENCE:
 During the River Valley Period, Mesopotamia and Egypt had very different outlooks on their
religious deities. For example, Mesopotamian religion believed the gods were very angry
and vengeful, while Egyptian gods and goddesses were depicted as kind and giving. This is
due to the fact that the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia) flooded irregularly,
causing the Mesopotamians to believe they were being punished, while the Nile River flooded
regularly, leaving the Egyptians to believe their deities favored them.
PRACTICING COMPARATIVE STATEMENTS
Individually review your list of similarities and differences.
On the back of your paper, make sure you identify which question you are answering
from page 15. (Just write #1, #2, #3)
Pick 1 similarity AND 1 difference from your list, and write formal comparative
statements like the ones in the examples. Each statement should be 2-3 sentences
long.
Submit to the teacher when you are finished.