How to “Head-Off” Weak Papers! How to “Head-Off” Weak Papers! Writing a “Killer” Compare Contrast Essay!!

How to How to “Head-Off”“Head-Off”Weak Papers!Weak Papers!

How to How to “Head-Off”“Head-Off”Weak Papers!Weak Papers!

Writing a Writing a “Killer”“Killer”

Compare Compare Contrast Contrast Essay!!Essay!!

Writing a Writing a “Killer”“Killer”

Compare Compare Contrast Contrast Essay!!Essay!!

The AP World History The AP World History Exam:Exam:

• Multiple Choice Section – Multiple Choice Section – 70 multiple 70 multiple Choice QuestionsChoice Questions in 55 minutes in 55 minutes

• Three EssaysThree Essays – 2 Hours 10 minutes: – 2 Hours 10 minutes:

1 DBQ Essay1 DBQ Essay (Document Based Question)(Document Based Question)

1 Compare Contrast Essay1 Compare Contrast Essay

1 Change & Continuity Over Time 1 Change & Continuity Over Time EssayEssay

TOTAL TIME FOR ENTIRE TEST: TOTAL TIME FOR ENTIRE TEST:

3 Hours, 5 Minutes3 Hours, 5 Minutes

The The C/C Essay:C/C Essay: What to What to ExpectExpect

The prompt will allow a choice between developments in The prompt will allow a choice between developments in at least at least TWOTWO societies/regions in the societies/regions in the SAMESAME time period time period

2008 C/C Essay Prompt2008 C/C Essay Prompt

• When the prompt says When the prompt says “compare”“compare” that that always means to compare always means to compare ANDAND contrast. contrast.

• You will ALWAYS show You will ALWAYS show similarities similarities and and differencesdifferences in this type of essay. in this type of essay.

THE RUBRICTHE RUBRIC• You can score 9 You can score 9

points on the C/C points on the C/C Essay.Essay.

• You can score 7 You can score 7 points on the “Basic points on the “Basic Core”.Core”.

• In you earn all 7 In you earn all 7 Basic Core points, Basic Core points, you might be able to you might be able to earn 2 additional earn 2 additional “Expanded Core” “Expanded Core” bonus points.bonus points.

Your Mission:Your Mission:

1.1. Write a Write a 55 paragraph essay. paragraph essay.

2.2. Write a Write a thesisthesis that answers that answers ALLALL parts of the parts of the essay prompt and has essay prompt and has threethree ways to prove your ways to prove your argument.argument.

3.3. Identify Identify three topicsthree topics for your for your body paragraphsbody paragraphs (these should be the same three ideas in your (these should be the same three ideas in your thesis). thesis). If the categories (If the categories (gendergender, , religionreligion, , politicalpolitical, etc.) are given to you in the prompt… , etc.) are given to you in the prompt… you you MUSTMUST use them! use them!

4.4. If the categories are not given in the essay If the categories are not given in the essay prompt, you can use prompt, you can use S.P.R.I.I.T.E. S.P.R.I.I.T.E. themes.themes.

Categories?Categories?

• Analyze the Analyze the political, economic, and political, economic, and socialsocial effects of the Black Plague in effects of the Black Plague in 1414thth century Europe. century Europe.

• Compare and contrast the rise of Compare and contrast the rise of fascism in Germany and Italy in the fascism in Germany and Italy in the 1930s.1930s.

• Discuss the ways that seventeenth-Discuss the ways that seventeenth-century absolute monarchs and century absolute monarchs and twentieth-century dictators twentieth-century dictators gainedgained and and maintainedmaintained their power. their power.

Make a Basic Chart

1ST Region or Civilization(_________________)

2nd

Region or Civilization(_________________)

1st Theme

2nd Theme

3rd Theme

Let’s Practice…Let’s Practice… “ “Compare the geographic, Compare the geographic,

political, and social political, and social characteristics of Ancient characteristics of Ancient Greece and the Persian Greece and the Persian Empire.”Empire.”

1. First, make a chart listing 1. First, make a chart listing everything you know about those everything you know about those civilizations in those categories.civilizations in those categories.

2. Second, write a thesis which 2. Second, write a thesis which answers the prompt.answers the prompt.

SPRIITESPRIITEPersian Empire Ancient Greece

Geographic-Hot dry, desert like-relied on irrigation for agriculture

-Mountains, hills-City states/polis were separated by geography

Political-King, satraps,-Cyrus, Darius-Expanded empire from Mediterranean to India

-polis was primary political form; democracy/oligarchy-Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth-Solon the lawgiver, Pericles

Social-Patriarchy; male supreme head of household-Slavery and class divisions-family groups-Women treated inferior

- more egalitarian but still had class divisions, had slaves-distinct gender roles-private & public roles

THESISTHESIS

• Once you have your three categories, Once you have your three categories, you are ready to write your thesis.you are ready to write your thesis.

• Your thesis statement should always Your thesis statement should always start with the word “start with the word “AlthoughAlthough” or ” or “While” or “Despite the fact”.“While” or “Despite the fact”.

• Your thesis statement can be one or Your thesis statement can be one or two sentences.two sentences.

The BAD ThesisThe BAD Thesis

Greece and Persia shared Greece and Persia shared many similarities and many similarities and differences.differences.

The “Blah” ThesisThe “Blah” Thesis

Although Ancient Greece and Although Ancient Greece and the Persian Empire shared the Persian Empire shared some similarities in their some similarities in their social features, they were social features, they were different politically and different politically and geographically.geographically.

Although both Ancient Although both Ancient Greece and the Persian Greece and the Persian Empire had distinct Empire had distinct patriarchal societies which patriarchal societies which relegated women to an relegated women to an inferior status, their inferior status, their geographic features varied geographic features varied significantly and the size and significantly and the size and strength of their political strength of their political forms were vastly different.forms were vastly different.

The Winner ThesisThe Winner Thesis

• Your thesis must be a specific Your thesis must be a specific and explicit answer to the and explicit answer to the prompt. It must address prompt. It must address ALLALL parts of the question.parts of the question.

• If you don’t have a thesis that If you don’t have a thesis that answers the prompt or you answers the prompt or you have a really bad one, it could have a really bad one, it could cost you cost you THREETHREE basic core basic core points!points!

• Tends to be the “killer” point Tends to be the “killer” point for many students who don’t for many students who don’t answer answer ALLALL parts of the parts of the prompt.prompt.

THESISTHESIS

The Good, the Bad, the The Good, the Bad, the UglyUgly

BadBad The recovery of Russia and China after the Mongols had The recovery of Russia and China after the Mongols had many similarities and differences.many similarities and differences.

The above sentence is vague, wimpy, and is really just a restatement of The above sentence is vague, wimpy, and is really just a restatement of an assumption in the prompt. It is a fluttering of loose ends needing to be an assumption in the prompt. It is a fluttering of loose ends needing to be nailed down onto concrete categories. Now look at this one.nailed down onto concrete categories. Now look at this one.

BetterBetter When Russia and China recovered from Mongol When Russia and China recovered from Mongol

domination they had similar political goals but different cultural domination they had similar political goals but different cultural goals.goals.

This thesis is getting there. It at least declares in general categories This thesis is getting there. It at least declares in general categories how the paths of China and Russia were different and how they were how the paths of China and Russia were different and how they were similar after the Mongols. It has broken down (analyzed) these things into similar after the Mongols. It has broken down (analyzed) these things into categories that lend themselves to a well defined essay. But it could be categories that lend themselves to a well defined essay. But it could be better. Note the difference between the above thesis and the one below:better. Note the difference between the above thesis and the one below:

BestBest While both Russia and China built strong centralized While both Russia and China built strong centralized governments after breaking free from the Mongols, Russia governments after breaking free from the Mongols, Russia imitated the culture and technology of Europe while China imitated the culture and technology of Europe while China became isolated and built upon its own foundations.became isolated and built upon its own foundations.

MAKING MAKING COMPARISONSCOMPARISONS

• Your essay must make Your essay must make directdirect comparisons between comparisons between societies.societies.

• Your essay must include Your essay must include similarities as well as similarities as well as differences. differences.

• Your essay must include Your essay must include sufficient evidence – sufficient evidence – at least at least 6 facts 6 facts (minimum).(minimum).

• Your essay must analyze relevant reasons for similarities and differences.

What To Do With The Body?

DirectDirectComparison Comparison

#2#2

• FACT #1-FACT #1-



• ANALYSIS-ANALYSIS-

THESIS PARAGRAPHTHESIS PARAGRAPH

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

• Direct Direct Comparison Comparison #1#1






#2#2





Body Paragraphs Should be

Body Paragraphs Should be

Comparative or Contrastive...NOT

Comparative or Contrastive...NOT BOTHBOTH

Also, DO NOT write about the first

Also, DO NOT write about the first

civilization and then the second. Instead,

civilization and then the second. Instead,

write the paper by category.

write the paper by category.

The “Why” StatementThe “Why” Statement

• Lastly, your essay must analyze Lastly, your essay must analyze “why”“why” there were similarities or there were similarities or differences. differences.

• For example, For example, “Why”“Why” were Ancient were Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia so different Egypt and Mesopotamia so different politically? politically?

• This is called This is called analysisanalysis. You must go . You must go beyond mere comparisons and beyond mere comparisons and statements of fact to earn this point.statements of fact to earn this point.

THESIS:

1ST Region or Civilization(_________________)

2nd

Region or Civilization

(_________________)

KeySimilarities and

Differences

Analyze one reason why each theme is

similar/different

1st Theme

2nd Theme

3rd Theme

CONCLUSION:

• You must include You must include analysisanalysis in your essay at least in your essay at least THREETHREE times.times.

• Usually the analysis statement is placed at the Usually the analysis statement is placed at the end of end of the body paragraphthe body paragraph, but it can be used throughout the , but it can be used throughout the essay. essay. The more analysis the better!The more analysis the better!

• If you get stuck – remember the following phrases to If you get stuck – remember the following phrases to help you include analysis:help you include analysis:

The “Why” StatementThe “Why” Statement

““This This [sim/diff][sim/diff] was most likely due to was most likely due to the fact that…”the fact that…”

OrOr

““Obviously, this Obviously, this [sim/diff][sim/diff] was a result was a result of…”of…”

• If you achieve all 7 basic If you achieve all 7 basic core points, you can earn core points, you can earn an an additional 2 pointsadditional 2 points on on your essay through the your essay through the expanded core.expanded core.

• Basic core shows Basic core shows competence. Expanded competence. Expanded core demonstrates core demonstrates excellenceexcellence in writing! in writing!

EXPANDED COREEXPANDED CORE

EXPANDED COREEXPANDED CORE

• Unlike the Basic Core, the Expanded Core can be Unlike the Basic Core, the Expanded Core can be viewed as somewhat viewed as somewhat subjectivesubjective. .

• Concentrate on these four expanded core Concentrate on these four expanded core criteria (easiest way to earn expanded core criteria (easiest way to earn expanded core points):points):

1.1. Write a complex, comprehensive thesis.Write a complex, comprehensive thesis.

2. Make consistent comparisons often.2. Make consistent comparisons often.

3. Provide ample historical evidence.3. Provide ample historical evidence.

4. Include additional analysis of 4. Include additional analysis of similarities and differences.similarities and differences.

Write the Essay!Write the Essay!1. Remember the 1. Remember the “Rule of Three”“Rule of Three”

• ThreeThree points in your thesis points in your thesis• ThreeThree body paragraphs body paragraphs• ThreeThree pieces of evidence in support pieces of evidence in support

of each point/paragraphof each point/paragraph• ThreeThree analysis statements (one per analysis statements (one per

paragraph)paragraph)

2.2. Write the paper – Write the paper – Maintain Maintain parallel orderparallel order from thesis from thesis

3. Don’t forget to include 3. Don’t forget to include topic sentencestopic sentences. . Also include Also include transition sentencestransition sentences at the at the end of your body paragraphsend of your body paragraphs

Remember the Outline!Remember the Outline!


#2#2





THESIS PARAGRAPHTHESIS PARAGRAPH

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

• Direct Direct Comparison Comparison #1#1






#2#2





• Then Then write a C/C Thesis.write a C/C Thesis. Your thesis must have Your thesis must have a total of a total of THREETHREE ideas to compare (2 sims, one ideas to compare (2 sims, one diff. or 2 differences, one sim).diff. or 2 differences, one sim).

• Your thesis must begin with an Your thesis must begin with an “Although”“Although” statement:statement:

EXERCISEEXERCISE: In your History Journal, make a : In your History Journal, make a chart with three categories showing the chart with three categories showing the similarities and differences between the similarities and differences between the following two services…following two services…

AlthoughAlthough WhileWhile Even ThoughEven Though

While it may be While it may be truetrue

In spite ofIn spite of Granted thatGranted that

** If you don’t know anything about Facebook or Twitter, compare middle school vs. high school.

Make a Basic Chart1st Theme

2nd Theme

3rd Theme

Please Highlight Your EssayPlease Highlight Your EssayPlease Highlight Your EssayPlease Highlight Your Essay

• Thesis Sentence(s) – Thesis Sentence(s) – PINKPINK

• Basic Core #4 – Basic Core #4 – GREEN GREEN (direct (direct statement of similarity or statement of similarity or difference)difference)

• Basic Core #5 – Basic Core #5 – YELLOWYELLOW (“How” or (“How” or “Why” sentences – at least 2 “Why” sentences – at least 2 explanations for a similarity or explanations for a similarity or difference)difference)

Documents

How to “Head-Off” Weak Papers! How to “Head-Off” Weak Papers! Writing a “Killer” Compare Contrast Essay!!