“ writing well means never having to say, 'i guess you had to be there.' .”
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“ Writing well means never having to say, 'I guess you had to be there.' .”. Jef Mallet. The Comparative Essay. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
E. Napp
“Writing well means never
having to say, 'I guess you had to
be there.' .”
Jef Mallet
E. Napp
THE COMPARATIVE ESSAY The comparative essay requires students to
compare and contrast how at least two (perhaps more) civilizations or nations have undergone or responded to a historical event or experience
Students must give equal weight to both (or all) civilizations or nations specified in the question
Students must also balance similarities and differences, although one may be considered more important than the other
The central task for this essay is comparison
E. NappGENERAL TIPS FOR WRITING THE COMPARATIVE ESSAY Students should take 40 minutes to complete
the comparative essay Students should spend 5 of the 40 minutes
reading the question, reflecting on the question, and organizing thoughts concerning the essay
The comparative essay requires that students compare and contrast how at least two civilizations or nations have undergone or responded to a historical event or experience
The essay’s focus is on comparison
E. Napp Because the central task of the comparative
essay is comparison rather than a theme, it may appear difficult to create a thesis statement. The question may not lend itself to a clear-cut theme or argument but by emphasizing how likenesses outweigh differences or vice versa or by arguing that similarities and differences are equally balanced, a solid thesis statement can be created.
E. Napp
Let’s Practice!
E. NappFROM THE 2002 WORLD HISTORY AP EXAMINATION (COURTESY OF COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION BOARD):
Analyze and compare the differing responses of China and Japan to western penetration in the nineteenth century.
E. NappTHOUGHTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE WRITING How did the Chinese respond to western
penetration in the nineteenth century ? Were all Chinese responses similar or were
there differing responses within China to this penetration?
How did the Japanese respond to western penetration in Japan?
How did western penetration differ in China and Japan?
What important dates in the nineteenth century regarding western penetration in China and Japan must be remembered?
E. NappDefinition: Compare
To examine the character or qualities of especially in order to discover resemblances or differences
~Merriam-Webster dictionary
Definition: Contrast To set off in contrast: compare or appraise in
respect to differences
~Merriam-Webster dictionary
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SO, WAIT A MINUTE It’s not just what is the same but what is
different
E. NappREMEMBER TO READ THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY Analyze and Compare Differing Responses of China and Japan To Western Penetration In the Nineteenth Century
E. NappFACTS ABOUT CHINESE RESPONSES TO WESTERN PENETRATION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
As late as the 1810s, China had the upper hand in their relationship with the West
China was too strong to conquer, and it enjoyed an enormous advantage in its balance of trade
Europeans could trade with China only in a small number of designated ports and cities (including Kiakhta in the north and Canton on the southern coast)
The Chinese accepted only a tiny selection of Western goods in trade
In return, they sold the nations of the West silk and porcelain (not quite the answer yet)
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The most profitable commodity was tea, which the Chinese sold in immense quantities to the outside world, especially Russia and Britain
In exchange, the West paid China vast amounts of silver bullion
For years, Westerners complained about these conditions and requested the Chinese to let them sell more goods in China
The Qing emperors viewed all outsiders as barbarians but over time, Westerners made scientific and technological advances that led to stronger navies, better weapons, and more effective armies
By the early 1800s, the British began flooding China with opium in order to correct this trade imbalance
E. Napp Opium became the drug of choice among
Chinese of all classes The British made fantastic profits and the
balance of trade swung in their favor The Chinese government (the Qing Dynasty)
was outraged as silver flowed out and opium addiction increased
The Qing government arrested dealers, seized opium supplies, and intercepted boats carrying the drug (The time period of the question)
When the Chinese navy blockaded Canton, the first Opium War began (1839-1842)
The British easily won and forced the Chinese to sign the humiliating Treaty of Nanking (Nanjing)
E. Napp The Chinese were forced to sign the first of
several “unequal treaties” and had to open more ports to foreign trade, lower tariffs on British goods, and grant extraterritorial rights to areas in China were the British lived and worked (British, not Chinese, laws prevailed in these areas)
In addition, China surrendered Hong Kong to Britain
A second Opium War led to new treaties and legalized the opium trade, opened more ports to foreign trade, and allowed Europeans to set up economic concessions on Chinese territory
The Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) was one response to the declining Qing Dynasty in the face of western penetration
E. Napp The Taiping Rebellion was the costliest and
most devastating civil war in world history Hong Xiuquan, the founder of the rebellion,
became convinced that he was Jesus Christ’s younger brother and decided to establish a “heavenly kingdom of supreme peace” – the meaning of the word taiping – in China
The rebellion waned when competent generals and a foreign force helped to weaken it
In 1878, the dowager empress Cixi essentially “ruled” China until her death in 1908 but she adamantly opposed modernization
Cixi opposed all reform, which she regarded as pro-Western treason
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Under the Tokugawa shoguns, the real political power belonged to the shogun, who ran the country in the emperor’s name
Tokugawa Japan isolated itself from the rest of the world
By the 1720s, the only country Japan had formal relations with was Korea and some foreign trade was allowed at the port of Nagasaki (Not the time period of the question)
But in 1853, American gunships appeared off the coast of Japan
Their commander, Commodore Matthew Perry, requested Japan to open its economy to foreign trade (The time period for the question)
FACTS ABOUT JAPANESE RESPONSES TO WESTERN PENETRATION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
E. Napp Although the words were friendly, the threat
of naval bombardment lay behind them After some debate, the shogun agreed to end
his country’s decades-long isolation For a time, it appeared that Japan might fall
victim to the same kind of Western economic pressure that was crippling China
But certain samurai leaders staged a military uprising against the last shogun and in January 1868, overthrew the shogunate and restored political power to the emperor
Meiji, the emperor who had ascended to the throne in 1867, became the first emperor in nearly a thousand years to enjoy full imperial powers
E. Napp The Meiji Restoration of 1868 began Japan’s
modern age The members of the new government realized
that, in order to avoid western domination, Japan would have to adopt Western learning, economics, and military methods
In addition, the emperor himself was personally inclined toward Westernization
What followed was a revolution from above In 1871, Meiji abolished feudalism Former samurai were forbidden to wear
swords, their traditional symbols of authority, in public
The rigid social hierarchy of the Tokugawa regime ended
Modern laws were drawn up
E. Napp The Constitution of 1890 created an elected
parliament, the Diet But the emperor had a great deal of power
over the Diet Agricultural productivity increased But the major economic change involved
industrialization New railroads, steamships, ports, and canals
were constructed every year Huge corporations called zaibatsu, sponsored
largely by the state, came to dominate the economic landscape
Politically, access to positions in government were increasingly dependent on merit, competence, and civil service examinations
E. Napp Meiji reforms and Japanese industrialization
increased the size and power of the merchant and middle classes, much as industrialization did in the West
The feudal prejudice against trade and artisanship faded away
The farming population decreased, while the industrial working class grew
Taxes increased considerably for both, and the lower classes were barred from full political participation by the Constitution of 1890 due to property qualifications for voting and other restrictions
The new tax system funded a national educational system
E. Napp Meiji Japan became increasingly militaristic Nationalist sentiment ran high As a resource-poor island, Japan also needed
raw materials to continue industrial growth Japanese expansion began in the 1870s Japan forced Korean ports to open to trade,
much as the West had done to China and Japan itself
Japan modernized its navy and drafted a well-drilled and well-equipped army
The Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) resulted in Japan’s occupation of Taiwan and Korea
During the Meiji Restoration, Japan modernized, industrialized, and increased the power and strength of its military forces
E. NappBEFORE WRITING, LET’S REVIEW THE SCORING GUIDE Basic Core (For a possible total of 7 points) -Acceptable thesis (1 point) -Deals with all parts of the question (2
points) -Backs up thesis with appropriate historical
evidence (2 points) -Provides one or two relevant, direct
comparisons between or among societies (1 point)
-Analyzes one or more reasons for a difference or similarity discussed in a direct comparison (1 point)
E. NappTHE EXPANDED CORE FOR THE COMPARATIVE ESSAY The basic core of 7 must be earned before a
student can earn a maximum of 2 additional points
-Opens with an analytical, clear, comprehensive thesis
-Deals with all relevant parts of the question: comparisons, chronology, causation, connections, themes, interactions, content
-Gives ample historical evidence to back up thesis
-Links comparisons to larger global context -Draws several direct comparisons -Regularly examines the reasons for and the
results of key similarities and differences
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KEY INGREDIENTS Thesis Addresses all relevant parts of the question Historical evidence to support thesis Provides direct comparisons between or among
societies Analyzes reasons for differences or similarities
discussed in comparisons And for expanded core points: Analytical,
Comprehensive, Ample Evidence, Creative - links comparisons to larger global context, draws several direct comparisons, and regularly examines the reasons for and the results of key similarities and differences
E. NappSO, WHAT ARE THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN CHINESE AND JAPANESE RESPONSES TO WESTERN PENETRATION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY?
E. NappHOW THE FACTS WILL DETERMINE THE THESIS Facts will provide the evidence needed to
create a thesis statement So, ultimately, reflect on the Chinese and
Japanese responses to western penetration and look for similarities and differences
If there are more differences that similarities, emphasize the differences
The thesis statement or argument that works is the thesis statement or argument that can be proven
E. NappSAMPLE THESIS PARAGRAPH
Western penetration in the nineteenth century affected the political, economic, and social realities of non-European lands but these actions also affected the ways in which non-Europeans responded to western penetration. While China was never completely conquered by the Europeans, parts of China were largely controlled by Europeans. During the nineteenth century, the Chinese responded to the Opium Wars and western intrusion through a combination of challenging the West, embracing traditional ways , challenging the Qing Dynasty, or seeking moderate reforms. Japan, though never conquered, responded to the intrusion of West quite differently. Rather than looking to the past, the Japanese sought to emulate the West. During the Meiji Restoration, Japan modernized. Japan sought to avoid China’s fate by adopting aspects of Western culture.
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WHAT TO NOTICE Are there significant differences or important
similarities? In this essay, the Chinese and Japanese
responses are quite different but that does not mean that similarities are completely absent
In addition, Chinese and Japanese responses were sometimes the very responses of other groups in the nineteenth century
Which groups responded similarly? Finally, is there merit in copying the dominant
power or should the dominant power be rejected by embracing that which is culturally unique?
These thoughts can help clarify the thesis
E. NappNOW, LOOK FOR COMPARISONS TO THE LARGER GLOBAL CONTEXT Consider looking for general trends or global
issues that move beyond the specific comparison
Of course, answer the question fully but then use the facts to shed light on comparable global trends or patterns
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FACTS MATTER Of course, to write a comparative essay,
facts are critical Unlike the DBQ, the only information the
student has to answer the question is the information the student has remembered
And the best way to remember information is to practice and interact with it regularly
E. Napp
“In theory there is no difference
between theory and practice. In practice
there is.”
Yogi Berra