ACCEPTABLE THESIS THAT ADDRESSES COMPARISON/CONTRAST (1 POINT) DEALS WITH ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION (2 POINT) OR DEALS WITH MOST PARTS OF QUESTION (1 POINT) BACKS UP THESIS WITH SOME APPROPRIATE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE (1 POINT) BACKS UP THESIS WITH MORE EVIDENCE (2 POINTS) OR PROVIDES RELEVANT, DIRECT COMPARISON (1 POINT) ANALYZES REASONS DISCUSSED IN THE DIRECT COMPARISON (1 POINT) COMPARATIVE ESSAY The 7-Point System

4-Paragraph Format 1. THESIS must be clear, to the point & make at least one argument [Two arguments is BEST]. 2. COMPARE paragraph that deals with the FIRST part of the question [Two Comparisons also]. REASONS for the similarity will be included in this paragraph. 3. CONTRAST paragraph that deals with the SECOND part of the question [Two Contrasts as well]. REASONS for the difference will be included in this paragraph. 4. THESIS will be written again in a conclusion fashion, like a synopsis of the entire essay. Unlike the DBQ, the thesis on the comparative question is a VERY HIGH BAR. This means that a lot of students use precious time crafting a thesis and don’t get very far. Recalling that on the AP World exam the thesis can be the LAST paragraph, I think it best that you write a SUMMARY of your essay at the end.

The Question Steps (1-3) The C.E., like the DBQ, is pretty easy to mine for points if some common-sense mechanics are observed. Here’s a sample… 1. Compare and contrast the degree to which TWO of the following regions modernized between the end of the First World War and the beginning of the Second World War. South Asia Southeast Asia The Middle East STEP ONE: What Time Is It? SO many students screw this up. This is called PERIODICITY. Your essay is usually about one of these “Regions- in-Time”. Sometimes the essay prompt will give you a span of years. This one is sneakier and assumes you know those years.

The Question Steps (1-3) STEP TWO: Where in the World? The prompt usually asks you to choose two of three. Of course, you pick the pair you know something about. If you don’t know diddly about the Middle East between 1918 and 1939, forget it. Drop it! It’s toxic! This question also might give you a specific region. Or, it may give you one of the WHAP accepted regions. You must know them from the World Map Assessment. DO NOT GUESS HERE. IF YOU WRITE ABOUT THE WRONG PLACE, IT WILL NOT COUNT & TIME IS WASTED!!!!! So, going back to the prompt, you are going to choose two. Once you do, you have one last thing to do. Pick the countries. Let’s say you choose South Asia and Southeast Asia, and you decide to devote the bulk of the essay to Vietnam and India as your paradigms. You are ready to write. But, about what and how?

The Question Steps (1-3) STEP THREE: Begin the Beguine … It Takes TWO to Rhumba You truly need TWO comparisons & TWO contrasts, because ONE might be wrong. If the question specifically asks you about “modernization” and “degrees” for example. Those two can mean many, many different things. So make it simple. Just be sure to answer the questions of, “Why & How?” If you notice, you already have TWO comparisons and TWO contrasts; wrap it up and move on.

Writing the Essay THE THESIS This point is SO hard to get. It’s really just like the DBQ thesis with a little more specificity. Don't be afraid to restate key arguments you are MAKING, what you are trying to PROVE. PLEASE USE THE PROMPT, BUT NOT AS A STANDALONE. At the end of the essay, recount your two comparisons & two contrasts addressing all parts of the prompt. DO NOT PUT ANY EVIDENCE IN THE THESIS. It won’t count for anything, so it is a waste of time. Save that for the body.

Writing the Essay THE COMPARE/CONTRAST PARAGRAPHS In these paragraphs, you will make TWO RELEVANT DIRECT COMPARISONS for each between the societies/civilizations SUPPORTED BY RELEVANT WHAP EVIDENCE. A comparison is really a “general similarity.” A contrast is really a “general difference.” Once you have already set-up one general similarity; you are done. Move on to the next one! After the second, TWO PIECES OF EVIDENCE for each point made & explain why they are important to your analysis. In truth, it is difficult to argue many things because the “ideas” are not always concrete. Pay special attention to how you use the KEY WORD(S) and that will make all the difference. Also, ALWAYS use the key word(s) inside the paragraphs & use the words “Another similarity/difference.” USE THE PROMPT WORDS AND THE WORDS “COMPARE, CONTRAST, LIKE, UNLIKE, SIMILAR TO, DIFFERENT FROM” TO GUIDE THE READER.

What is EVIDENCE? Everyone is aware that you only have a brief amount of time to write. The neat thing on this essay is that “evidence” does not have to be all that elaborate. If you get a point of evidence WRONG, it will not count FOR you, but it will not count AGAINST you either. The reader will just ignore it! So you need to “go to town!” So how much do you need? THE "RULE OF EIGHT." Personally, I would shoot for ten seeing as how easy evidence points are easy to obtain. And what if you get one wrong? So what? It cannot be used against you!

THESIS EXAMPLES Your THESIS should state an opinion. BE BOLD! Do not merely restate the question/prompt or one of its assumptions. To argue a point, you must first of all have one. The following is not an acceptable thesis: Russia and China both gained freedom from Mongol domination. Your thesis NEEDS the CATEGORIES (STEEPP) that you will use in the essay as evidence.

THESIS EXAMPLES Bad: The recovery of Russia and China after the Mongols had many similarities and differences. The above sentence is vague, wimpy, and is really just a restatement of an assumption in the prompt. It is a fluttering of loose ends, needing to be nailed down onto concrete categories (STEEPP). Now look at the next one.

THESIS EXAMPLES Better: When Russia and China recovered from Mongol domination they had similar political goals but different cultural goals. This thesis is getting there. It at least declares in general categories how the paths of China and Russia were different and how they were similar after the Mongols. It has broken down (analyzed) these things into categories that lend themselves to a well defined essay. But it could be better. Note the difference between the last thesis and this one.

THESIS EXAMPLES Best: While both Russia and China built strong centralized governments after breaking free from the Mongols, Russia imitated the culture and technology of Europe while China became isolated and built upon its own foundations Think about this thesis for a moment … It directly addresses the comparison (in common/different). It contains the categories (Political and Social (cultural) from STEEPP) on which the writer will hang relevant historical facts, and the terms (foreign influence and isolationism) on which the comparisons will be made. These categories should form the paragraphs of the essay. This thesis is a verbal engine sufficient to drive the type of essays that could generate an 8 or a 9 points on your WHAP test, providing you accomplish the other thesis requirements. Try it sometime. In fact, try it now!