1. The CCOT Essay Writing Tips
Continuity and Change Over Time

2. CCOT EXAM Prompt
Analyze the cultural and political changes and continuities in ONE of the following civilizations in the last centuries of the classical era.
INDIA 300CE to 600 CE
CHINA 100CE to 600 CE
ROME 100CE to 600 CE

3. READ, Plan, & Answer the Question
Identify
at least 1 change & 1 continuity accurately
Establish a baseline before describing the changes that occur
Can be a year when a big event caused chg
When planning…
consider that change often happens in steps

4. Create a working timeline
Base line year
Crisis of 3rd century
*invasions, civil strife, depression, plague
* 284 CE – division of empire
* 312 CE – Christianity legal
* 330 CE - Constantinople
100 CE
Pax Romana
Cultural highpoint
600 CE
Christian
Political fragmentation

5. Thesis
Intro with thesis stating time period and location (must state both)
Thesis should have 3 main ideas related to change & continuity

6. Thesis – 2 examples
2006 EXAM:
Analyze the cultural and political changes and continuities in ONE of the following civilizations in the last centuries of the classical era.
India 300CE to 600 CE
China 100CE to 600 CE
Rome 100CE to 600 CE

7. 2006 Thesis – example 1
In the classical era between 100 CE and 600 CE, the Roman civilization experienced many political and cultural changes and continuities. The Roman government went from a republic to Empire dominance that crumbled in But cultural aspects of the Roman Empire remained the same.
Penn State

8. Thesis example 2
Between 100 CE and 600 CE, the Roman empire underwent a change in government as the empire collapsed due to corruption within. Also, the influence of Christianity increased greatly. However, the “Eastern Roman Empire”, the Byzantines, kept the culture going.

9. CHANGE 1 or 2 paragraphs
Change #1 – simple sentence that definitely mentions change & shows change with supporting details
Analysis must have the because statement & global context
Change #2 same as above…

10. CONTINUITY 1 or 2 Paragraph(s)
Continuity paragraphs are set up just like Change paragraphs
1 analysis } for
1 global context } each

11. Required Element: Support
Give multiple, specific examples to support thesis claims (requires that you know history)
Don’t be afraid to note exceptions to a trend
Have goal of 3 supporting details per body ¶
Good historical writing & paragraph structure call for statements of analysis
CCOT is about process – NOT "snap shots" of how things were at the beginning and end of the time period without connections

12. Rule of 3 Penn State’s advice
3 controlling ideas in thesis
3 body paragraphs
3 supporting details per paragraph
3 examples of global context – 1 per paragraph
3 causes of change or continuity – 1 per paragraph

13. Conclusion
You must have it
It must restate the thesis

14. Finally This is a 4, 5 or 6 paragraph paper
Global context in every paragraph
RUBRIC: thesis; address pp for chg, and for cont; evidence = facts; global context and analyses must be present in body paragraphs
Do not use words like…
“change and continuities or similarities and differences” at all!!!

15. China Latin America Russia South Asia EXAMPLE
Choose ONE of the following regions and discuss the changes and continuities of gender roles from 1914 to the present. {Discuss both change and continuity}
China
Latin America
Russia
South Asia

16. Assignment: List details/examples for each
1 What is the appropriate historical evidence in the essay?
2 What examples of world historical context show change over time?
3 How are the processes of both change over time and continuity addressed?