AP World History

Writing the Comparative Essay

Foundations comparison essay

• Compare and contrast the use of technology and the dynamics of trade in TWO of the following regions for the periods mentioned:

• China during the Qin and Han Dynasties( 3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE)• The Mediterranean Basin during the

Roman Empire( 1st century BCE to 4th century CE)

Foundations essays

• Compare the political and social structures of two early civilizations, using any two of the following:

• Mesopotamia• Egypt• Indus Valley• Shang Dynasty• Mesoamerican and Andean South

America

Foundations Essay

• Compare the role of women in TWO of the following belief systems:

• Buddhism

• Christianity

• Confucianism

• Hinduism

Foundations Essay

• Compare Hinduism with Confucianism in regard to their role in creating a social hierarchy within their respective societies

Topics commonly in comparative essays come from the “six themes” of World history

• Technological advances and developments

• Social and economic impact of warfare

• Gender issues and treatment of minority populations

• Evolution of political systems and structures

• International trade and exchange

• Labor systems, trade• migrations

Focus of comparative essays

• Broad patterns of historical development that affect all societies throughout history

• Balance the similarities and differences.

• Use the five paragraph essay format

General tips for essay writing

• Develop a thesis and state it clearly

• Your thesis must be explicit!

• Write a short introductory paragraph

• Your thesis statement can be more than one sentence.

• Students usually put their thesis statement in the introductory paragraph

General Tips Continued

• Read the directions and follow them closely- each essay has its own specific rules and rubric for evaluation of the essay.

• Look at the prompt’s key verb:

Defend or refute, Assess the validity of.. Evaluate, describe, discuss, or detail, analyze or examine, compare and contrast

More General tips

• Write neatly and clearly.• Divide your essay into

paragraphs and clearly indent them

• Turn in an answer of an appropriate length

• Quantity does not mean quality!

• Two full pages-minimum length

• Reread your essay if time permits

Writing the comparative essay

• Compare / contrast how two or more civilizations / nations have undergone or have responded to a historical event.

• Some comparison essays offer students a choice: Which regions to compare?—pick those regions that you know the most facts about and relate them to the question

Look out for “Big Picture” ideas and themes as we cover the time periods of history

• How different societies responded to each other or other societies or events.

• How different societies changed—or didn’t change—in response to some event

• How different societies developed

• How different societies responded to new technologies or new ideas.

Writing Tips

• You have 40 minutes to write your essay.

• Spend 5-10 minutes organizing your ideas and planning.

• Make sure that you have read the prompt at least two or more times

• You must answer all parts of the prompt to get full credit on your essay

• Write only direct comparisons!

Analyze the Reason(s) for the Similarities and / or differences

• State clearly in your essay the reasons why the similarities or differences existed in the societies being compared / contrasted.

• Listing the items in common or the differences is not enough to earn the core point for analysis

Show both similarities and differences in your essay

• The comparison essay asks: what is the same and what is different between two or more regions

• Put as many facts as possible in your body paragraphs. Fact must be relevant and pertain to the regions being compared

• Weave comparisons within each paragraph

Using comparative words

• You should use plenty of comparative words as logical connections between the regions. The most commonly used words are:

ALSO, AS WELL AS, FURTHERMORE, LIKEWISE, ON THE OTHER HAND, HOWEVER, TO THE CONTRARY

• Write paragraphs in which BOTH regions are discussed together.

Don’t do the following!

• Favor one region to the exclusion of the other.

• Mention facts that are not focused on the topic or question

• Discuss each region in isolation

• Do not rewrite the essay prompt when writing your thesis or write a thesis that states: “ There are many similarities and differences between ….

Generic Scoring Guide: Basic core- up to 7 points

• Has an acceptable thesis- 1 point• Addresses all parts of the question- 2 points• Addresses most parts of the question- 1 point• Substantiates thesis with appropriate historical

evidence- 2 points• Partially substantiates thesis with appropriate historical

evidence.- 1 point• Makes at least two relevant, direct comparisons

between or among societies- 1 point• Analyzes at least ONE reason for a similarity or

difference identified in a direct comparison.- 1 point

Generic Scoring Guide: Expanded Core:1- 2 bonus points

• Analytical thesis• Addresses all parts of the question and includes-

comparisons, chronology, causation, connections to today, themes, interactions etc

• Ample historical evidence to support the thesis• Relates comparisons to the larger global

perspective• Makes several DIRECT comparisons

consistently between or among societies• Analyzes the causes and effects of the relevant

similarities and differences.

The learning curve

• Study and memorize your rubric

• We will practice writing comparative essays all year and by the end of this semester, you will be able to write a good essay!

• By the end of second semester, you will be writing timed essays.