Comparative Essay

1
Comparative Essay

• 3rd essay youll see on the AP World History
  exam, but you dont have to do it last.
• Based on a comparison of two societies in a
  particular time period.
• You should have a choice of what two
  civilizations to pick.
• Your job is to organize the information you know
  to see how they relate to the topic and each
  other, making sure you discuss both similarities
  and differences.

2
What the directions mean

• Heres what you are suppose to do
• 1. Write a thesis telling the reader what you are
  going to say in the essay, using at least one
  similarity and one difference based on the
  characteristic of a society you are given
  (PERSIAN).
• 2. Use concrete details you know about your
  topic. Support your thesis with them. Tell why
  you think you detail supports your thesis
  (commentary). Analyze the reason for a similarity
  or difference in your comparison (why).
• 3. Finish with a conclusion that restates your
  thesis (1 sentence)
• So to write a decent comparative essay, you need
  to write an essay that opens with a thesis,
  support that thesis with concrete details and
  commentary, then finishes with a conclusion.

3
How the Comparative Essay is Scored

• All AP World History essays are read for a basic
  core. It must include all of the following to
  get a score of 7 on the basic core of the
  Comparative Essay
• Is your thesis acceptable? 1 point
• Have you addressed all parts of the questions?
  (both similarities and differences) 2 points
• Have you supported the thesis with appropriate
  evidence? 2 points
• Do you make at least one or two relevant direct
  comparisons between societies? 1 point
• Have you analyzed at least one reason for a
  similarity or difference identified in a direct
  comparison? 1 point

4
Expanded core

• Worth up to two extra points
• Do you have a clear, analytical and comprehensive
  thesis?
• Have you addressed all parts of the question (as
  relevant) comparisons, causation, connections,
  themes, interactions, content?
• Do you provide ample historical evidence to
  substantiate your thesis?
• Have you related comparisons to a larger global
  context?
• Do you make several direct comparisons
  consistently between or among societies?
• Have you a consistent analysis of the causes and
  effects of relevant similarities and differences?
• Notice several of the items are simply more
  detailed basic core items. To get expanded core
  you must first get basic core. You dont need to
  do all expanded core, just two.

5
What this means to do

• 1) Write a detailed thesis that has a subject,
  precise opinion and blueprint (1 sentence)
• 2) Write 3 paragraphs that show the similarities
  and differences. It could be two paragraphs for
  similarities and one for differences, or two for
  differences and one for similarities
• 3) Make sure you are covering the characteristic
  of society (PERSIAN) the question is asking.
• 4) Support your thesis with concrete details you
  know about the societies.
• 5) Use commentary to show why (analyze) the
  details support your thesis
• 6) Use the conclusion to restate your thesis. (1
  detailed sentence)

6
Pre write

• Before you begin your essay brainstorm the topic.
• Decide which two societies you know the most
  about in the terms of the characteristic the
  question asks about.
• Write down as many concrete details you know
  about the topic, these will be what you weave
  into your essay.
• The actual writing will be easier if you got a
  handle on the question.
• Youll probably need only 20-30 minutes to write
  the essay
• Plan, Plan, Plan before you write

7
Work the question

• Process the Question
• You already know the directions, scan to make
  sure. Circle where you are getting your points
  from to make sure you hit them.
• Next read the question carefully and circle what
  you are suppose to analyze and the actions you
  need to take.
• Underline the important stuff (time period,
  culture, location, etc)
• Do your prewriting work in the green booklet, the
  sealed pink booklet is for your actual essay

8
Build a Framework

• After you brainstorm the topic create a framework
  for processing the question. Write down any
  information you know.
• Decide which societies you are going to compare.
• Use PERSIAN as you work through the civilizations
• Decide which characteristic(s) the question is
  asking for.
• Write down the similarities and differences in
  the two societies for the characteristics you are
  to address.
• Make sure you have at least one of each.

9
Write your Thesis

• First rephrase the question as a simple answer.
• Next decide which 3 characteristics your body
  paragraphs are going to talk about. Come up with
  another word to describe the characteristic that
  is more specific, yet still broad enough to write
  3 details about. Remember you could have three
  parts of one characteristic, read carefully what
  they are asking for
• Economic.. Trade
• Socialfamily structure
• Political revolutionary process
• You will have 2-1 ratio of similarities or
  differences, your choice but you must have both.
• Try to change the verbs to make a strong
  statement about what you are going to prove
• Changed.transformed
• Effectedinfluenced
• Remember to have a limited subject, precise
  opinion and blueprint

10
Comparative Essay Outline

• Next outline your essay. Use this 5 paragraph
  form.
• 1) Thesis (1 detailed sentence). Use Rule of 3
• 2) Body 1 Thesis. (1st of your 3)
• 1st society characteristic
• 2nd society characteristic
• Commentary to analyze why the societies are
  similarity or different
• 3) Body 2 Thesis. (2nd of your 3)
• 1st society characteristic
• 2nd society characteristic
• Commentary to analyze why the societies are
  similarity or different
• 4) Body 3 Thesis (3rd of your 3)
• 1st society characteristic
• 2nd society characteristic
• Commentary to analyze why the societies are
  similarity or different
• 5) Conclusion (restate thesis in one sentence)

11
Write the Essay

• Now write the essay by following your outline.
• Have a good body thesis for each paragraph that
  ties back into your main thesis. Try to limit it
  to one detailed sentence.
• Be sure to describe the evidence you plan to use
  for one of the societies. Make sure it addresses
  your PERSIAN characteristic you identified in
  your thesis.
• Next compare your evidence to give a
  characteristic of the other society. Tell whether
  it is a similarity or difference with the
  original society.
• Finish your body thesis to include commentary as
  to why you think this similarity or difference
  occurred.
• Try to have 3 solid body paragraphs describing
  either a similarity or difference. Make sure you
  have a least one of each.
• Your last paragraph should be a conclusion that
  should just restate your thesis. Again it should
  only be one sentence.

12
Write the Essay

• Now write the essay by following your outline.
• Remember your concrete details should include
  commentary as to why this supports your thesis.
• Your conclusion should just restate your thesis.