1. The Continuity and Change Over Time (CCOT) Essay

2. About the CCOT
Tests students’ historical thinking skills (argumentation, causation, contextualization, synthesis).
The student must show what has changed and what has remained continuous from the beginning to the end of the time period given.
The important element is WHY things did or did not change.
Time allotted for this essay is 40 minutes (5-10 of which should be spent planning/outlining).
If possible, ALWAYS pick the nonwestern regions.

3. CCOT Prompts
Find the Phrase

4. 2002 CCOT
Choose TWO of the areas listed below and analyze how each area’s relationship to global trade patterns changed from 1750 to the present. Be sure to describe each area’s involvement in global patterns around 1750 as your starting point.
Latin America
East Asia
Eastern Europe
North America
South/South East Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa
Middle East

5. 2003 CCOT
Describe and analyze the cultural, economic, and political impact of Islam on ONE of the following regions between 1000 CE and 1750 CE. Be sure to discuss continuities as well as changes.
West Africa
South Asia
Europe

6. 2004 CCOT
Analyze the changes and continuities in labor systems between 1750 and 1914 in ONE of the following areas. In your analysis, be sure to discuss the causes of the changes and the reasons for the continuities.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Russia
Sub-Saharan Africa

7. 2005 CCOT
Analyze the social and economic transformations that occurred in the Atlantic world as a result of new contacts among Western Europe, Africa, and the Americas from 1492 to 1750.

8. 2006 CCOT
Analyze the cultural and political changes and continuities in ONE of the following civilizations during the last centuries of the classical era.
Chinese ( CE)
Roman ( CE)
Indian ( CE)

9. 2007 CCOT
Analyze major changes and continuities in the formation of national identities in ONE of the regions listed below from 1914 to the present. Be sure to include evidence from specific countries in the region selected.
Middle East
Southeast Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa

10. 2008 CCOT
Analyze the changes and continuities in commerce in the Indian Ocean region from 650 CE – 1750 CE.

11. 2009 CCOT
Analyze the continuities and changes in patterns of interactions along the Silk Roads from 200 BCE to 1450 CE.

12. 2010 CCOT
Describe and explain continuities and changes in religious beliefs and practices in ONE of the following regions from 1450 to the present.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Latin America/Caribbean

13. 2011 CCOT
Analyze changes and continuities in long-distance migrations in the period from 1700 to Be sure to include specific examples from at least TWO different world regions.

14. 2012 CCOT
Analyze continuities and changes in trade networks between Africa and Eurasia from circa 300 CE to 1450 CE.

15. 2013 CCOT
Analyze how political transformations contributed to continuities and changes in the cultures of the Mediterranean region during the period circa 200 CE to 1000 CE.

16. 2014 CCOT
Analyze continuities and changes in the ways ONE of the following regions participated in interregional trade during the period
Latin America/Caribbean
Sub-Saharan Africa
Southeast Asia

17. Thesis
Acceptable thesis statements need to address both change and continuity, with at least one of each.
Need to be explicit, not restatements of the prompt or vague statements, such as “there were more changes than continuities.”
Thesis Musts
Address Prompt
Place/Time
3 Categories/Groups
1 Continuity and 2 Changes / 2 Continuities and 1 Change

18. How to Construct the Thesis
“From (this date) to (that date), (X) showed changes in (A), yet showed consistency in (B) and (C).”
“From (this date) to (that date), (X) showed consistency in (A), but showed changes in (B) and (C).”
“Even though (A) showed changes in (this place) at (this time), (B) and (C) continued to happen.”
“Even though (A) remained the same in (this place) at (this time), (B) and (C) changed.”

19. Sample Thesis
2012: Analyze continuities and changes in trade networks between Africa and Eurasia from circa 300 CE to 1450 CE.
“From (this date) to (that date), (X) showed consistency in (A), but showed changes in (B) and (C).”
From 300 CE to 1450 CE, trade relations between Africa and Eurasia showed consistency in the basic types of exports and imports as well as the importance of coastal cities, but also showed changes in the arrival of Islam, the extent and degree of trade, and the rise of new and powerful empires in Eurasia.

20. The Order Introduction – Thesis Sentence
Paragraph 1 – Group 1 (how it changed/continued from beginning to end)
Paragraph 2 – Group 2 (how it changed/continued from beginning to end)
Paragraph 3 – Group 3 (how it changed/continued from beginning to end)
Conclusion (if time)

21. Continuity Change Continuity Change Continuity Change
What Order?
Continuity Change Continuity
Change Continuity Change
Continuity Continuity Change
Continuity Change
Change Continuity
If time is not to your advantage, always organize your essay according to the top row.

22. Tips for a CCOT
The continuities must be substantial, not obvious (Germans remained Germans), nor can change be continuous.
Provide solid chronological knowledge across the entire time period
Include dates to demonstrate the ability to describe with some precision when continuity and change happen
Use the phrase throughout your paper!

23. AP Rubric
&
Class Expectations

24. World Historical Context
Provide the surrounding historical events so that the reader understands what is occurring at the time of the changes/continuities. OR
Describes extra-regional connections to explain a continuity OR change in response to the prompt.

25. World Historical Context
Good example: “From 200 BCE to 400 CE, the stability in major empires such as the Romans in Europe, Guptas in India, Hans in China, allowed the Silk Roads to prosper, until disease and nomadic invasions disrupted this peace and the Silk Roads fell into disuse.”
Poor example: “Over a period of time, Silk Roads were responsible for bringing different cultures into contact”
NOT acceptable because it lacks specificity.

26. Analyzing Change or Continuity
Must analyze the reasons for a continuity or change
Why does this particular thing change? What causes that change, and why does that change occur right then and not at some other time?
Why does this particular thing stay the same? Did something prevent change, or is consistency with this thing desired?

27. Analyzing Change or Continuity
If your Change is “Buddhism declined in India,” how would you explain WHY?
Example: “Buddhism’s popularity declined in India during the Classical period as a result of many factors. First, the Guptas promoted Hinduism in a period directly after Buddhist Kushan rule where Buddhism had come to be associated with foreignness. Secondly, Buddhism rejects the idea of the caste system, a social structure which was deeply engrained into Indian society as a result of Aryan and Hindu influence.”

28. 2006 CCOT
Rubric
Write an essay that:
Has a relevant thesis (1) and supports that thesis with appropriate historical evidence (2).
Addresses all parts (2) of the question.
Uses world historical context (1) to show change over time and/or continuities.
Analyzes (1) the process of change over time and/or continuity.

29. 2006 CCOT
“Analyze the cultural and political changes and continuities in ONE of the following civilizations during the last centuries of the classical era.”
Chinese, 100 CE – 600 CE
Indian, 300 CE – 600 CE

30. Brainstorm: India, 300 CE - 600 CE
2006 CCOT
Brainstorm: India, 300 CE CE
Changes
Gupta Empire ( CE) using regional divisions, stable and prosperous initially
Collapse: invasions of White Huns, 5th-6th c.; regional kingdoms split from empire
Golden Age: Gupta emperors supported Hinduism, math and science
Gradual decline of Buddhism in India, spread beyond India into Southeast Asia
Because of Buddhism and trade, India’s influence extends to SE Asia
Continuities
Continued patriarchy
Continued strength of Hinduism
Continued trade by land and sea
Continued caste system

31. Brainstorm: China, 100 CE - 600 CE
2006 CCOT
Brainstorm: China, 100 CE CE
Changes
Han Empire, 206 BCE-220 CE- centralization, bureaucracy
Fell due to internal problems (disagreements at court, corruption)
Fell due to external problems (conflicts with Hun invasions)
: 3 Kingdoms Period, regional kingdoms, warlords, disorder
Sui dynasty
Buddhism slowly becomes more popular, coming in on Silk Road
Continuities
Continued Daoism
Confucianism continued
Continued patriarchy, filial piety, veneration of ancestors
Continued examination system
Continued expansion of Great wall

32. Tuesday, September 2nd – 2006 CCOT due
Type the essay, double-space it, and annotate the following parts:
Thesis – bold
Topic Sentences with Categories/Groups – underline
Pieces of Evidence - italicize
World History Context – different font
Analysis – larger size
Do NOT do extra research (Wikipedia, etc) for this essay. Utilize your textbook, notes, and prepbook.