HOW TO WRITE A CCOT

THE RUBRIC Key things: - relevant world historical context - Analyzes the process of change and continuity over time

FIRST THINGS FIRST Discuss both changes and continuities So many people just talk about changes! SOMETHING within that era stayed the same (probs religion or gender roles; those are two good assumptions) “Relevant World Historical Context” Zoom-out from the topic and look at the big picture. What else is happening in the world? How might that cause changes or continuities within your specific region? SOMETHING in the world played into the changes Cover the time period An old prompt was about the Atlantic World from 1450-1750 and people immediately thought COLUMBUS SAILED THE OCEAN BLUE IN 1492, which is great, but don’t stop there. What was the Atlantic world like at the END of the time period? You have to cover the whole thing!! Also, your continuity has to be the same over the whole time period – the New World did not “remain a Christian nation” from 1450-1750….

Format Outline Thesis Change/Continuity Paragraph Topic Sentence with change/continuity. Evidence, Evidence, Evidence. World history context analysis Analysis

How You Should Organize Your Paragraphs TOPIC SENTENCE** (these are really crucial for organization, y’all. Get in the habit of using them in all of your essays.) What it was like at the beginning of the time period. Evidence! What it was like at the end of the time period. WHY that changed/stayed the same Sentence stems! Did world historical context cause that change? (and repeat as often as necessary within that paragraph)

1. Thesis An acceptable thesis must have: The global issues and the time periods specified Answer the question asked using their wording Categories of BOTH change and continuity BE SPECIFIC – don’t say “religion stayed the same, but politics changed.” “Western Europe from 600-1450 remained a predominantly Christian region. However, during that time period, Western Europe experienced massive changes, such as the reintroduction of science, math, and technology from Southwest Asia. Therefore, in the Early Modern Era, there were more changes than continuities in Western Europe.” Follow that sentence structure and style but just fill in the blank with the italicized words. Also, I can talk about more continuities and changes than the few that I said in my thesis! I just neeeeeeed to specific in the thesis.

2. Analyzes both changes and continuities This just means that you have to address both changes and continuities in your essay. This has to be done OUTSIDE of your thesis statement, too! But y’all got this – that’s why we make you do a paragraph over changes and a paragraph over continuities

3. Historical Evidence: Must have at least 6 pieces (more gets you into the 8-9 score range) Must have evidence for BOTH change and continuity To count as separate pieces your evidence can not be given in a list. EX: China traded luxury goods such as silk, porcelain, and paper. (1 piece of evidence) EX: China traded many luxury goods, one of which was silk. Another luxury good that China traded was porcelain. (2 pieces of evidence) BE SPECIFIC!!! (no “stuff”, “they”, “it”)

4. World Historical Context: Explain something that is happening in another region in the world FIRST (in its own context), and then relate that to your argument – how that event/thing affected change/continuity

5. Analyzes the process of continuity and change over time Accurately explains the reason for or impact of a continuity OR change Not just cause and effect, must include “why?” Sentence stems “Because of...” “Due to…” Example: The introduction of paper along the silk roads allowed governments to keep more detailed records and enhance their power. (Not – “Paper was traded along the Silk Road”)

Examples of Old CCOT Prompts: Analyze the changes and continuities in commerce in the Indian Ocean region from 650 C.E. to 1750 C.E. Analyze major changes and continuities in the formation of national identities of ONE of the regions listed below from 1914 to present. Be sure to include evidence from specific countries in the region selected. Middle East Southeast Asia Sub-Saharan Africa

Examples of Old CCOT Prompts: Analyze major changes and continuities in the formation of national identities of ONE of the regions listed below from 1914 to present. Be sure to include evidence from specific countries in the region selected. Middle East Southeast Asia Sub-Saharan Africa

For funzies Analyze the continuities and changes in your personality from Elementary school to High School.