1. LEQ: Compare and Contrast

2. About the LEQ
You are required to answer one Long Essay Question on the exam. You have 35 minutes to do so.
This section is 15% of your total exam score.
You will be given a choice between two comparable long essay options – this is an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you know best.

3. LEQ: The Comparative Essay
Ability to describe, compare and evaluate developments within one society, across or between different societies, and in various chronological and geographical contexts. This may also include comparisons and evaluations of historical perspectives.
Students should be able to:
Compare developments across place, time, and/or societies
Explain and evaluate different perspectives on a given historical phenomenon

4. LEQ: Comparative Rubric
Each LEQ is a six (6) point rubric
1 point Thesis and argument development
1 point—presents a thesis that makes a historically defensible claim and responds to all parts of the question. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place, either in the introduction or conclusion.
2 points Argument Development: Using Targeted Historical Thinking Skill
1 point—describes similarities and differences among historical individuals, events, developments, or processes.
1 point—explains the reasons for similarities and differences among historical individuals, events, developments, or processes. Or depending on the prompt, evaluates the relative significance of historical individuals, events, developments, or processes.

5. LEQ: Comparative Rubric (cont.)
2 points Argument development using evidence
1 point—addresses the topic of the question with specific examples of relevant evidence.
1 point—utilizes specific examples of evidence to fully and effectively substantiate the stated thesis or a relevant argument.
Scoring note: to fully and effectively substantiate the stated thesis or a relevant argument, responses must include a broad range of evidence that through analysis and explanation, justifies the stated thesis or a relevant argument.

6. LEQ: Comparative Rubric (cont.)
1 point Synthesis
Extends the argument by explaining the connections between the argument and one of the following:
a) A different time historical period, situation, era, or geographic area.
b) A course theme and/or approach to history that is not the focus of the essay (such as political, economic, social, cultural, or intellectual history)
c) A different discipline or field of inquiry (such as economics, government and politics, art history, or anthropology).
Scoring Note: The synthesis point requires an explanation of the connections to different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area, and is not awarded for merely a phrase or reference.

7. LEQ Organization Introduction Historical Context Last sentence: Thesis
Paragraph 1: Similarities
Topic Sentence
Work for no less than 3 similarities, give reasons for the similarities (analysis), give evidence (facts [nouns]), explain evidence-link to thesis insert synthesis example
Paragraph 2: Differences
Work for no less than 3 differences, give reasons for the differences (analysis), give evidence (facts [nouns]), explain evidence-link to thesis insert synthesis example
Conclusion
Synthesis
Restatement of thesis

8. LEQ: Introduction
Must have an introduction; set the stage for developing your argument
Speak to the big picture and narrow into what the prompt is asking
What happened prior to the prompt?
Set the stage – what’s going on?
The LAST sentence of the introduction will be the thesis.

9. LEQ Rubric: Thesis
Must include prompt in wording (make a historically defensible claim)
Must include place/time as stated in prompt (if given)
Must address both similarities and differences
Must have thesis that identifies the major similarity/difference
Must answer the question
Should be in the first paragraph (if it is anywhere else other than the conclusion it is not counted—always put it in the first)
You will repeat it in the conclusion after your synthesis writing it better

10. Comparison Essay Success Tips
Must address both similarities and differences
Must have thesis that identifies the major similarity/difference
Must directly compare/contrast in the body of the essay—several times
Must use specific supporting facts or examples for each comparison/contrast appropriate for the time and places of the prompt
Must use transitional words to show similarities/differences

11. C/C Thesis Template
“From (this date) to (that date), (A) and (B) were similar in (X), yet differed in (Y) and (Z).
You may have more similarities than differences … that’s ok! Just reflect that in your thesis.

12. Signal Words to use in Essays
Examples or supporting detail:
For example
Including
For instance
Such as—
“Han China developed central control through the Confucian system. For example, the idea of a responsible superior and an obedient subordinate developed in the family model was inserted into governmental relationships.”
Have lots of supporting detail for a good score!

13. Signal Words to use in Essays
Comparison:
Like, likewise
Similarly
Also
Resembling
In addition to
Just as
Not only… also
“Han China had values mirroring the Confucian ideas of honor and respect to maintain order. Likewise Mauryan leader Asoka used the Buddhist idea of humility and “not- wanting” as a governing principle, which automatically helped to quell any adverse aggression.”

14. Signal Words to use in Essays
Contrast:
But
Although
On the other hand
Instead of
However,
On the contrary
While
“Gupta India, on the other hand, was content to maintain an allegiance system as its governmental control, as long as taxes were paid and no opposition to its rule was challenged.”

15. Signal Words to use in Essays
Analysis/Cause-effect:
Because
Since
Consequently
Therefore So
As a result
“Gupta India was able to use less central control because of the cultural strength of Hinduism.”
Remember you must give analysis or the “why” of the changes and similarities

16. Prompt from Wood page 132
Using specific examples, compare social structures in Han China to those in the Roman Empire. Make sure to include similarities as well as differences.

17. What are social structures?
Can include socioeconomic groups; class/caste; racial & ethnic constructions; family & gender roles & relations; systems of unfree labor (indenture, slavery, etc.), associations (guilds, etc.); religious groups
All human societies develop ways of grouping their members, as well as norms that govern interactions between individuals and social groups. Social stratification comprises distinctions based on gender, race, wealth, and class.
What were the social structures in Han China and what were the social structures in the Roman Empire?

18. Recommendation for charts: list everything you know about each country’s social structures. List similarities in the middle
Han China
…….
…….. ……
Similar
Roman Empire
…….. or

19. Contextualization for first paragraph
Han China and Roman Empire fall into the Classical period 600 BCE to 600 CE.
What occurred before this time period related to this question, especially in each empire?
Think about what preceded each empire and what were social structures like?

20. Synthesis ideas
Look at the social structures you describe. Did they exist anywhere else at any other time period.
What did social structures look like at various time periods in other regions? Can you contrast them?
Another possible angle occurs with this question: because this is a question on social structures, did these structures impact the economics or politics of their empires, or subsequent empires?