1. Change & Continuity Over Time (CCoT) Essay
AP World History

2. What’s the goal of this essay?
It deals specifically with analysis of continuities and changes over time.
Change: You have to recognize major changes in history, and identify and understand what causes those changes.
Continuity: You have to recognize factors which remain the same throughout history, and identify and understand factors that allow this.
It addresses a particular theme.
Technology, trade, culture, migrations, the environment, politics…
It also addresses a particular region (but usually, you get to pick)
You have to analyze what changes and what stays the same for an aspect of history, explain why those changes and continuities occur, and give specific examples.

3. CCoT prompts look like this:

4. What the Directions Mean
Write a thesis that points out changes & continuities over time.
Support it with evidence.
Answer all parts of the question.
Show the change over time, using relevant history.
Contrast how things turned out with how things were originally, and weigh what changed vs. what stayed the same.
Analyze the process of continuity and change. Explain why it happens.

5. The rubric: Basic Core: Competence Expanded Core: Excellence
Has acceptable thesis. (Addresses global issues, correct time period. Must include change and continuity.) - 1 point
Addresses all parts of the question, though not necessarily evenly or thoroughly. - 2 points
Substantiates thesis with appropriate historical evidence. - 2 points
Uses relevant historical context effectively to explain change over time and continuity. (How are changes and continuities in this specific topic influenced by global historical movements or processes?) - 1 point
Analyzes the process of change over time and continuity. (Why do things change or stay the same?) - 1 point
Expands beyond the basic core of 1-7 points. A student must earn 7 points in the basic core before earning points in the expanded core area.
Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive thesis
Addresses all parts of the question comprehensively
Provides even and ample evidence of change and continuity
Analyzes both change and continuity throughout the essay
Provides ample world historical context
Provides extended analysis of change or continuity (extra reasons why things change or stay the same)

6. Writing the CCoT

7. Step 1: Process the Prompt
Read the question and figure out what you’re expected to do.
Circle the key phrases:
What (topics)
Who (societies or regions)
When (dates)
What:
Changes & continuities in Participation in interregional trade (trade with other regions)
Who:
One of the three choices
(Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia)
When: to 1750

8. Step 2: Brainstorm your Info
The topics you discuss (what changes & stays the same) will be based on the prompt. Sometimes they’ll give you categories, other times you can create your own.
SCRIPTED: Social, Cultural, Religion, Interactions with Others, Politics, Technology, Economics, Demography (Population)
Try to get 3 topics.
→ 3-sentence thesis

9. Step 2: Brainstorm Your Info
Beginning: (The “baseline”)
What is the topic like in this region at the beginning of this time period?
Set it up so you can explain the changes
Middle:
What has changed about this topic? What has stayed the same? Why?
End:
What has changed about this topic? What has stayed the same? Why?

10. Step 2: Brainstorm Your Info
Beginning: (The “baseline”)
What is the topic like in this region at the beginning of this time period?
Set it up so you can explain the changes
Ex. In SE Asia, part of Indian Ocean trade network -- peaceful trade between India, China, Arabs
Middle:
What has changed about this topic? What has stayed the same? Why?
Ex.
Changes - European nations (Spain, Portugal) get into trade
More military use in SE Asia (Portugal)
Continuities - Trade between India, China, Arabs for luxury goods
End:
What has changed about this topic? What has stayed the same? Why?
Ex.
Changes - Dutch dominate spice trade,
English begin to control India
Europeans control major trading ports & demand tribute from locals
Continuities - etc.

11. Step 3: Write a Thesis/Intro
1 sentence -- set up the time period/historical background (using the prompt)
3 sentences - 1 for each of your 3 main arguments
Make sure to address continuity and change
See the whiteboard for examples

12. Step 4: Write the Essay
Each body paragraph is a snapshot of time. What’s going on with your topic in this area during this part of history? (You can think of it like the “beginning” paragraph, the “middle” paragraph, and the “ending” paragraph.)
In each body paragraph, talk about each of your three themes/topics:
Topic Sentence
Theme 1 - what changed or stayed the same? Why (analyze)?
Theme 2 - what changed or stayed the same? Why (analyze)?
Theme 3 - what changed or stayed the same? Why (analyze)?
For each theme, prove it -- give historical evidence (facts)
Global context
What’s going on in the rest of the world? How does this topic relate?

13. Change & Continuity Words
Now
Gradually
Later
Eventually
Immediately
Until that time
Up to that time
Formerly
As things evolved
Over Time
At this point
Afterword
Next
Persistent
Sustained
Enduring
Ongoing
Constant
Maintained
Uphold/upheld
Preserve
Retain
Remain
Stay
Carry on

14. Keep this in mind while you write:
You have to use concrete details and analyze based on the prompt.
You can’t just say “Prior to 1948, the Jewish people had no homeland. In 1948, Israel was established.”
Use facts to show the historical development of the change:
“In the early twentieth century, few people saw the need for the establishment of an independent Jewish state. However, as a result of the genocide of Jewish people during World War 2, support for the the establishment of such a state began to grow, leading to the creation of Israel in 1948.”

15. You got this!