Response:
Comparative
Essay
AP World History Writing Workshop
Julia M. Hyman
BISD K-12 Social Studies Consultant
Comparative Essay
• The final free-response essay-comparative question that focuses on developments in two or more societies, and their interactions with each other or with major themes or events (e.g. culture, trade, religion, technology, migrations). •You'll have 40 minutes to write the essay. It's recommended that you spend five minutes planning and/or
Scoring Guidelines
Basic CORE: Competency
Possible Points: 0 - 6
Has an acceptable thesis
1 point
Address all parts of the question
2 points
Substantiates thesis with appropriate historical evidence
2 points
Makes at least two relevant, direct comparisons among or between societies
1 point
Expanded CORE: Excellence
Basic CORE of six points must be obtained before the expanded
CORE can be earned.
Possible Points : 0 - 3
Acceptable Thesis
State directly
Locate at either the beginning
or end of essay—do not split
Must include both similarities and differences
Focus on Subordinating
Conjunctions!!
Format of the Thesis Sentence for a
Comparative Essay
___________, coordinating conjunction ___________.
(Coordinate: Of Equal Value use coordinating conjunction with a full sentence on either
side. Use words such as and, or, but, neither/nor, either/or, not only/but also)
If you need to show a relationship or demonstrate causality, go with one of the following formats:
_____________; subordinating conjunction, ________.
(Value one over the other use a subordinating conjunction. See Chart.)
Subordinating conjunction ____________, _________.
(Value one over the other use a subordinating conjunction. See Chart.)
Subordinating Conjunctions
Concession
(Provide help on the thesis)
Compare
Contrast
Although
like
although
Though
same
however
Even though
both
differ
While it may be true
the same as
unlike
In spite of
similar
even though
Granted that
in the same way
yet
Whereas
most important
but
While
similarly
instead
as
on the contrary
too
whereas
as well as
while
compared to
unless
Consider this Question:
Compare and contrast the political and
economic effects of Mongol rule on TWO of the following regions:
China
Middle
Russia
East
Address All Parts of the Question:
Break Down the Prompt:
Compare and contrast the political and
economic effects of Mongol rule on TWO of the following regions:
China
Middle
East
Russia
Address all four parts = 2 full points
Address only two – three parts = 1 point
Address only one part = 0 points
Brainstorm What You Know: 5 Minutes
Political Evidence
Economic Evidence
China
•Kept modified civil service system
•Upper level bureaucracy reserved for
Mongols
•Yaun Dynasty: Kublai Khan direct rule
•General benevolence when no resistance
•Religious toleration to consolidate rule
•Maintained Silk Roads,
Postal System during ; safe travel encouraged international trade
•Facilitated commerce and communication Middle East