What is the LEQ? The Long Essay requires you to present arguments on two sides of an issue and provide reasons why you choose one argument over the other. Ex: “Historians label autumn as the best season. To what extent is this an accurate description of autumn?” You must argue with SPECIFIC examples/evidence that this label is accurate AND give COUNTER ARGUEMENTS against the label with specific examples/evidence IN THE END, explain why one side is more accurate than the other The idea here is to show complexity in your thinking, and not write about history as a one-sided affair.   It doesn’t matter which side you pick as long as you can back up your argument with SPECIFICS.

General Rules DO: Write in 3rd person Write in past tense DON’T: NEVER: I, we, us, you, your, me, mine Write in past tense DON’T: Contractions: don’t, won’t, shouldn’t Meaningless Words/Phrases: very, a lot, since the beginning of time, across history Absolutes: always, never, all the time

Tips – C. Evidence DON’T regurgitate textbook info PLAGIRISM ANSWER THE QUESTION BY ANNOTATING PROMPT! Prompt 1: Describe and explain significant similarities and significant differences between the intellectual and social traditions expressed in Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance art. Prompt 3: Describe and explain significant similarities and significant differences between TWO New Monarchs in their approach to domestic and foreign affairs. About half just used these words in thesis; other half did not  both bad

Tips – C. Evidence Be specific!  Art in Italian Renaissance was idealized, art in Northern Renaissance not.  As evidenced in Michelangelo’s The Sistine Chapel, Italian Renaissance art idealized its subjects to show the unlimited nature of human potential; Northern Renaissance art utilized realism as a means of celebrating God’s creation as evidence in Brueghel's pieces depicting peasant life. Hanging evidence: do not merely identify evidence – identify AND EXPLAIN!  Louis was more concerned with foreign affairs while Henry VII was focused on domestic issues.  As evidenced by his standing army and efforts to pacify France’s border, Louis had a more foreign focus while Henry VII was focused on stabilizing domestic politics following the civil war called the War of the Roses.

Historical Thinking Skill: Comparison

Comparison Essay Format Comparison LEQ This essay may ask you to evaluate the significance of a person or event in terms of similarities and differences. Think: Categorized Venn Diagram Paragraph 1: Intro Identify and explain the main similarities and differences Contextualization Thesis Ex: Perhaps the greatest (sim or diff) was (provide either a sim or a diff). You have to lean more one way or another - NEVER in the middle Paragraph 2: Body (Similarity/Difference) Discuss a major, relevant significant similarity Provide SPECIFIC evidence s Paragraph 3: Body (Similarity/Difference) Discuss a major, relevant significant difference Paragraph 4: Greatest Similarity OR Difference MUST be ONE paragraph Discuss THE greatest similarity OR difference Remember: you are taking a side so you have to lean more one way or another – NEVER in the middle Paragraph 5: Conclusion Conclude with a summary that accurately reflects all the terms of the question, with specificity.   In other words, re-write your thesis in another way.

Comparison Tips SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES Prompt asks for both so not to identify and explain both does not fully answer prompt Identify (articulate a clear similarity or difference) and explain (why, reason, significance)  N. and Italian Renaissance art both depicted religious subjects  N. and Italian Renaissance art depicted religious subjects due to the fact that the Catholic Church was the prevailing political, religious, and social power during the Renaissance.