The CCOT Essay Writing Tips

Continuity and Change Over Time

CCOT - 2006 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

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

Create a working timeline• 100 CE• Pax

Romana

• Cultural highpoint

• 600 CE• Christian• Political

fragmentation

Base line yearCrisis of 3rd century

*invasions, civil strife, depression, plague

* 284 CE – division of empire

* 312 CE – Christianity legal

* 330 CE - Constantinople

Thesis

1. Intro with thesis stating time period and location (must state both)

2. Thesis should have 3 main ideas related to change & continuity

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

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 476. But cultural aspects of the Roman Empire remained the same.

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.

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…

CONTINUITY1 or 2 Paragraph(s)

• Continuity paragraphs are set up just like Change paragraphs

– 1 analysis } for – 1 global context } each

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

Rule of 3Penn 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

Conclusion

• You must have it

• It must restate the thesis

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!!!

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

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?