COMParative Essay

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COMParative Essay

• AP World History

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General Information

• 3rd essay youll see on the AP World History
  exam, but you dont have to do it last.
• Worth 1/3 of the total essay score, 1/6 of the
  total test score.
• 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 evidence you know to
  see how they relate to the question and each
  other, making sure you discuss both similarities
  and differences.

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Steps to Writing a Good Comparative Essay

• 1. Identify the Rubric
• 2. Read the Question Carefully
• 3. Brainstorm the Topic
• 4. Write a Thesis
• 5. Outline the Essay
• 6. Write the Essay
• 7. Add an Conclusion
• 8. Proofread your Essay

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Step 1

• Identify the Rubric
• Like all AP World History essays, the Comparative
  Essays are read first for a basic core. It must
  include all of the following to get a score of 7
  on the basic core
• 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

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Expanded core

• Worth up to two extra points
• Do you have a clear, analytical and comprehensive
  thesis? Do you include a conclusion?
• 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, but the more the better.

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Step 2

• Read the Question Carefully
• Most important step
• You must know what they are asking in order to
  answer the question
• Underline the important parts of the question
• Timeframe, location, society
• Is it a two part question?
• What PERSIAN characteristics are they asking for?
• What exactly are they asking by finding key words
• Compare, contrast, analyze, cause, consequence,
  etc
• Write some synonyms for key words, but dont be
  afraid to repeat key words throughout your essay
  again and again.

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Step 3

• Brainstorm the Topic
• Write down some ideas you already know
• What do you know about this time period(s)
• Who is rising or falling
• What interaction is going on
• What new trends starting, old trends stopping.
• What do you know about the locations
• Who is strong, who is weak
• Any new groups in the area
• What do you know about the societies
• How do they rule
• What do they do for work
• How do they live
• These ideas you will tie back to your thesis and
  evidence.

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Step 4

• Write a Good Thesis
• The thesis is your first paragraph that tells the
  reader what you are going to say.
• Try to keep it to one detailed sentence, this
  keeps it clear.
• First rephrase the question as a simple
  statement.
• Make sure to include the location and timeframe.
  
• Next add the blueprint. Use the rule of 3 for the
  blueprint.
• Decide which 3 characteristics your body
  paragraphs are going to talk about. (2
  similarities and 1 difference or vice versa)
• Use key words in the thesis that readers look
  for similarity/differences, political, economic,
  social.
• Remember you must address both similarities and
  differences in your thesis as it relates to the
  question.

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Step 5

• Outline your Essay
• First come up with your 3 body thesis
• The body thesis is very important. It ties the
  reader and your evidence back to the main thesis.
  This allows you to get the most points possible
  for having appropriate evidence.
• For the body thesis repeat one of your rule of 3
  from your main thesis. Use your key words again
  (i.e., similar/different, political, cultural,
  economic).
• Make sure you have at least 1 similarity and 1
  difference.
• It should be broad enough that you can find
  enough evidence, yet narrow enough to address the
  question.
• Make sure it ties back to the thesis, repeat your
  key words from your main thesis.

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Step 5 (continued)

• Next come up with evidence to complete your body
  paragraphs.
• For your body evidence use other words to
  describe the characteristic that is more
  specific, and try to get at least 3 details
  about it.
• Economic.. Trade, marketplace, agriculture
• Socialfamily hierarchy, womans roles,
  religion, class structure
• Political government style, revolutionary
  process, laws
• Try to change the words to make a strong
  statement about what you are going to prove.
• Difference
• But, however, although, though in contrast,
  alternatively, transformed
• Similarity
• Since, moreover, similarity, as well as, still,
  likewise, therefore
• Make sure to end your body paragraph has an
  analysis of why your similarity or difference
  evidence happened, including world historical
  context.
• What caused these things to happen in the
  society?
• How does what is going on in this society relate
  to what is happening elsewhere around the word
  during this time period?

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Step 6

• Write the Essay
• Now write the essay by following your outline
• Remember your evidence must tie back to the
  question and your thesis on how the societies are
  similar or different.
• Have at least two examples of evidence for each
  body thesis.
• Compare the two societies directly in the same
  sentence.
• After your evidence include your analysis which
  explains why the evidence happened and how it
  relates to your thesis. It may be part of your
  evidence sentence or a separate sentence
  following it. Remember to include some historical
  context.
• Use specific wording
• The reason for this difference was because.
• This similarity occurred because of .
• An analysis of the context in which this
  difference occurred shows it happened because

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Comparative Essay Outline

• 1) Thesis (try to use 1 detailed sentence).
• Remember to restate the question as a statement ,
  then use the rule of 3 for your blueprint
• 2 similarities and 1 difference or
• 1 similarity and 2 differences
• 2) Body 1 Thesis (1st of your 3, either a
  similarity or difference)
• Evidence from societies showing a similarity or
  difference.
• Evidence from societies showing a similarity or
  difference.
• Evidence from societies showing a similarity or
  difference.
• Commentary to analyze why the societies are
  similarity or different using historical context.
• 3) Body 2 Thesis (2nd of your 3, either a
  similarity or difference)
• Evidence from societies showing a similarity or
  difference.
• Evidence from societies showing a similarity or
  difference.
• Commentary to analyze why the societies are
  similarity or different using historical context.
• 4) Body 3 Thesis (3rd of your 3, either a
  similarity or difference)
• Evidence from societies showing a similarity or
  difference.
• Evidence from societies showing a similarity or
  difference.
• Evidence from societies showing a similarity or
  difference.
• Evidence from societies showing a similarity or
  difference.
• Commentary to analyze why the societies are
  similarity or different using historical context.

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Step 7

• Conclusion
• Finish your essay with a concluding paragraph.
• Like your thesis try to keep it to one sentence.
• Simply restate your thesis in different words.
• This is your insurance policy, your backup to
  insure you get you point for a good thesis.
• A conclusion is also part of the expanded core
  points.

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Step 8

• Proofread your Essay
• When you finish take time to look back over your
  essay.
• Recheck your rubric (step 1) to make sure you hit
  all your basic core points.
• Dont be afraid to add things in the margin if
  you have to.
• Correct any spelling or grammatical errors you
  find.

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Final Advice

• Think before you write
• Make notes, jot ideas, create an outline
• The more work you do before you write, the neater
  and more organized your essay will be
• Write neatly, if you dont know how to spell a
  word choose another
• Watch your time
• Spending too much time on any essay could mean
  running out of time or rushing another.
• Remember each essay counts equally, dont skip or
  shortchange any of the three essays.