The Comparative Essay.pptx

The Comparative Essay
•  A question that requires
you to compare and
contrast two societies in
a certain time period
•  You have 40 minutes to
write the essay
•  You are normally given
options, like:
–  Middle East
–  China
–  Rome
Typical Comparative Question
•  Analyze similarities and
differences between the
role of the state in Japan’s
economic development and
the role of the state in the
economic development of
ONE of the following during
the late nineteenth and
early twentieth centuries:
–  China
–  Ottoman Empire
–  Russia
Basic Core Rubric
•  Has acceptable Thesis
(1)
•  Addresses all parts of
the question (2)
•  Supports thesis with
appropriate historical
evidence (2)
•  Makes at least one
relevant, direct
comparison between/
among societies (1)
Basic Core Rubric
•  Analyzes at least one
reason for a similarity or
difference identified in a
direct comparison (1)
7
Extended Core Rubric
•  After earning 7 points,
students can earn an
additional 2 by
exceeding expectations:
–  Provide a great deal
of historical evidence
–  Puts the comparison
in a global context
–  Discussing multiple
similarity and
differences
9
Acceptable Thesis (1)
•  The thesis is essentially
your answer to the
question, which you will
then defend with the
majority of your paper
•  Just like any other
thesis, it should be
short, to the point, and
most importantly:
•  ANSWER THE QUESTION!
Addresses All Parts of the Question (2)
•  Make sure that you
address every aspect of
the question (Econ/Pol)
•  You will need to provide
at LEAST one difference
and at LEAST one
similarity
•  These do not necessarily
need to be addressed
evenly, so feel free to
focus on one
Substantiate Thesis
with Historical Evidence (2)
•  You will need to provide
historical evidence for
your thesis
•  This is the most difficult
part of the essay,
because you must have
outside information
•  A minimum of FIVE
pieces of historical
evidence is necessary to
get full credit (split)
Makes at least one direct, relevant
comparison between societies (1)
•  This must be a
completely separate
comparison from the
ones made previously
•  This is a comparison you
need to make later in
your paper that you
know a great deal about,
and can provide evidence
•  This is like saving your
best moves for last
Analyze at least one reason for a
similarity or a difference (1)
•  Or in other words, “The
Word because is your
friend”
•  This portion needs to be
dedicated to explaining
why a specific diff/sim
exists
•  For example:
–  The Romans had a different
slave system from the Han,
because the Han method
was not practical in Rome.
Breakdown of the Essay
•  First paragraph:
–  Thesis
•  Second Paragraph:
–  Either comparison/
contrast (2)
•  Third Paragraph:
–  Opposite of 2nd (2)
•  Fourth Paragraph:
–  Direct Comp/Cont
•  Fifth Paragraph:
–  Analyze Comp/Cont
The Bad News
•  BYOI
•  You must be well versed
in the topic you have
chosen/been given
•  There’s much more
urgency about staying on
topic and within the time
period asked about
•  You must also talk
exclusively about the
geographical region
The Bright Side
•  The comparative is not
graded nearly as hard as
the DBQ
•  Your historical evidence
doesn’t need to be
nearly as concrete as the
DBQ
•  Stay on topic and get it
in the ballpark, and
graders will normally
give you the BOD