How To Write the Compare and Contrast Essay

1. How To Write the Compare and Contrast Essay AP WORLD HISTORY

2. AP World History Test Format • Multiple Choice – 70 questions in 55 minutes • Writing: 2 hours, 10 minutes • Document Based Question (DBQ) – 10 minutes reading, 40 minutes writing • Change and Continuity Over Time – 40 minutes • Compare and Contrast – 40 minutes

3. Step One: Read the Question • Generally, you will be asked to analyze a broad historical issue or issues for two areas of the world • Identify the TASKS and TERMS of the question • TASKS: What is the question asking you to DO? • TERMS: What SUBJECT(S) do you need to TALK ABOUT in your essay?

4. Step 1.5: Make Your Selection when Possible • Sometimes the question will give you a choice of topic(s) and/or region(s) • Make your selection • You may be given choices • Pick the areas you know the most facts about • If the questions picks the region(s), but allows you to choose the topics, you should always choose THREE topics/categories of analysis (Think SPICE) • Be sure to read the question carefully, as it may provide you with all of the tasks and terms that you need to answer the question without making any choices.

5. Sample Questions With Choice (Categories AND Region): With Choice (Region) Compare demographic and environmental effects of the Columbian Exchange on the Americas with the Columbia Exchange’s demographic and environmental effects on ONE of the following regions between 1492 and 1750. Africa Asia Europe • Within the period from 1450 to 1900, compare the processes (e.g. political, social, economic) of empire building in the Spanish Empire with the empire-building processes in ONE of the following: • The Ottoman Empire • The Russian Empire

6. Sample Question (No Choice) • For the period from 1500 to 1830, compare North American racial ideologies and their effects on society with Latin American/Caribbean racial ideologies and their effects on society.

7. Practice Identifying TASKS and TERMS Analyze political, economic, and cultural similarities and differences between Egypt and Mesopotamia during the River Valley period.

8. Step #2: Brainstorm Essential Ideas • Before writing your essay, try to list as much as you can about the terms/topics addressed in the question • Create categories of analysis from your list of facts (IF they give you a choice) • Your knowledge should dictate your choice of region(s) and/or topic(s) • You need to be able to identify at least THREE specific facts or pieces of evidence per category of analysis • Brainstorming should take no more than five minutes

9. Step 3: Develop Thesis and Introduction Paragraph • Your thesis must respond to the question directly by telling the reader why/how you will complete the task by using the terms of the question • Can be more than one sentence • Make sure to address ALL parts of the questions

10. Step 3: Elements of Thesis • All Thesis Statements must include at least: • Time Period • Region(s) • Categories of Analysis/Topics • Explanation of a similarity or a difference for EACH of the categories of analysis using specific details

11. Sample Thesis Outline • When analyzing (thematic category), (thematic category) and (thematic category) in (region) and (region) during/between (time period), there are many similarities and differences. With regards to (thematic category #1), a (S/D) is (identify S/D), due to (brief explanation). Regarding (thematic category #2), a (S/D) is (identify S/D), due to (brief explanation). Finally, when examining (thematic category #3), (S/D) is (similar/different) because (brief explanation).

12. Step 3: What Not to Do in a Thesis • DO NOT SIMPLY RESTATE THE QUESTION • Avoid Flowery Language or vague generalities – get right to the point in your thesis • Avoid giving historical background unless absolutely necessary

13. Practice: Identifying Strong, Blah, and Weak Thesis Statements

14. Analyze political, economic, and cultural similarities and differences between Egypt and Mesopotamia during the River Valley period. • Early River Valley civilizations have both similarities and differences. • Early River Valley civilizations have both similarities and differences. Both have rivers, however they differ in many aspects. • Egypt and Mesopotamia have both similarities and differences. Both early river valley civilizations have similar environmental origins, however aspects such as religion, economics, and politics developed differently in each civilization.

15. Analyze political, economic, and cultural similarities and differences between Egypt and Mesopotamia during the River Valley period. • During the period of river valley civilizations, Egypt and Mesopotamia shared many political, economic, and cultural similarities, while also remaining different in several ways throughout the same categories. Economically, both relied on trade for essential items. Politically, however, Egypt was centralized and Mesopotamia decentralized due to differing geographic features. Finally, their cultural traditions differed due to their differing environments.

16. Analyze political, economic, and cultural similarities and differences between Egypt and Mesopotamia during the River Valley period. • Egypt and Mesopotamia developed both similarly and differently during the river valley period, particularly when examining their economic, political, and cultural traditions. In early history, Egypt and Mesopotamia shared similar polytheistic beliefs that were often connected to their surrounding geography, although differences in this geography led to varying interpretations on the nature of the gods and the afterlife. Economically, both civilizations traded with surrounding regions, not only for necessary goods, but also luxury goods, indicating both civilizations’ economic strength. Finally, while both employed monarchical governments, Mesopotamian government was decentralized, whereas Egyptian government was centralized. Just as geography determined religious beliefs, so too did it factor into the political decisions and organization of these early civilizations.

17. Step 4: Body Paragraphs • All parts of the question must be addressed in your body paragraphs • You need to address similarities AND differences within EACH category of analysis • You must ALWAYS explain WHY or HOW the regions are similar or different • RULE OF THREE: • Each essay should have THREE categories of analysis, unless otherwise noted • Each essay should have at least THREE body paragraphs, one for each category of analysis • Each body paragraph should have at least THREE similarities/differences identified • Each body paragraph needs to have at least THREE pieces of specific evidence to support the similarities/differences

18. Step 4: Body Paragraphs • Each body paragraph MUST have a topic sentence • It should briefly restate (in different words) what you said in the thesis • Good Example of a Topic Sentence: • Egypt and Mesopotamia shared many political similarities, such as monarchies, but also many differences, such as centralized and decentralized governments. • Bad Example of a Topic Sentence: • Egypt and Mesopotamia had many political similarities and differences.

19. Step 4: Direct Comparisons in Body Paragraphs • You must have at least one direct comparison in each body paragraph. • The best essays have multiple direct comparisons in each body paragraph • Direct Comparison: referencing BOTH civilizations in one sentence, as related to a specific similarity or difference

20. Direct Comparison Examples • Poor Direct Comparison: • Egypt and Mesopotamia shared several political similarities. • Slightly Better Direct Comparison: • Egypt and Mesopotamia were similar because both had kings. • Best Direct Comparison: • Egypt and Mesopotamia both had kings at the center of their government in order to provide central leadership and clear laws for both regions. However, while Egypt believed their Pharaohs were gods, people in Mesopotamia believed that gods only gave kings the right to rule.

21. Step 4: Analysis in Body Paragraphs • You must always explain WHY or HOW the regions are similar or different for every example that you provide. • If you cannot do this, do not include the example in your body paragraphs. • You can combine the identification and explanation into one sentence, or make it 2+ sentences.

22. Unacceptable Body Paragraph • Egypt and Mesopotamia were politically similar and different in many ways. Egypt and Mesopotamia both had kings. Egypt believed its king, known as a pharaoh, was a god. Egypt was centralized, but Mesopotamia was decentralized. Egypt was not invaded as often as Mesopotamia.

23. Better Body Paragraph • Egypt and Mesopotamia shared many political similarities, such as monarchies, but also many differences, such as centralized and decentralized governments. Egypt and Mesopotamia both had kings at the center of their government in order to provide central leadership and clear laws for both regions. However, while Egypt believed their Pharaohs were gods, people in Mesopotamia believed that gods only gave kings the right to rule. This, in large part, was due to the more positive beliefs attributed to Egyptian gods, as compared to Mesopotamia’s more negative views on religion. Both governments employed bureaucracies to implement the laws the king, making it easier to maintain control. Finally, while they shared many political features, one major difference was that Egypt had a more centralized government, whereas Mesopotamia was more decentralized as city-states. Egypt’s centralization is because of its isolation and protection provided by the Sahara Desert and Nile River cataracts. However, Mesopotamia has no such geographical features, thus leaving them more vulnerable to outside attack and in greater need of smaller, more spread out governments that can respond at any time.

24. Step 5: Conclusion • Every essay MUST have a conclusion paragraph – you will lose points in my class if you do not have a conclusion paragraph that includes at least: • Restatement of thesis in new words • Brief explanation of an example from each category to demonstrate similarities and differences

25. General Tips • All essays are worth 100 points • Always Remember the Rule of Three • All Essays written at home must be typed, double-spaced, with 1” margins, and 12-point font • Late essays lose 10% points per day. Essays later than 2 days will receive a 0; missing essays will result in an incomplete in Infinite Campus until you submit it