Download Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay

Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay: Necessary Steps
(AP World History Format)
The compare/contrast essay on the AP Exam usually addresses how two societies responded to a major
development or theme. Besides knowing specific similarities and differences between the societies given in the
topic, it is also very important to keep in mind “big-picture” ideas in history. In other words, don’t just
concentrate on two societies or geographic regions mentioned in the question. Think of larger global
processes that influenced the changes and continuities in the societies you are comparing and contrasting.
“The major themes tested on the AP World History Exam comparative essay include the following:




How different societies responded to each other, other societies, or events
How different societies changed - or didn’t – in response to some event
How different societies developed
How different societies responded to new technologies or new ideas”1
Basic Core Rubric for the Compare/Contrast Essay:
BASIC CORE: (Competence: Historical Skills and Knowledge Required to
Show Competence: 1-7)
1. Has acceptable thesis (Do you compare and contrast the issues or
themes specified?).
2. Addresses all parts of the question though not necessarily evenly or
thoroughly.
Addresses most parts of the question (for example, deals with
differences but not similarities).
3. Substantiates thesis with appropriate historical evidence (this means:
do you have specific examples to prove your thesis and/or your topic
sentences)
Partially substantiates thesis with appropriate historical evidence
4. Makes at least one or two relevant, direct comparisons between or
among the societies.
5. Analyzes at least one reason for a similarity or difference
identified in a direct comparison. (this is where your knowledge
of larger historic processes comes in handy!)
SUBTOTAL:
1
Adapted from Cracking the AP World History Exam: 2006-2007., p.75.
Point(s) Possible:
1
2
(1)
2
(1)
1
1
7
Expanded Core Rubric for Compare/Contrast Essay:
EXPANDED CORE: (excellence – Historical Skills and Knowledge
Required to Show Excellence) – A student must earn 7 points in the basic core
area before earning points in the expanded core area.
Examples:
 Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive thesis
 Addresses all parts of the question (as relevant): comparisons,
chronology, causation, connections, themes, interactions, content
 Provides ample historical evidence to substantiate thesis
 Relates comparisons to larger global context
 Makes several direct comparisons consistently between or among
societies
 Consistently analyzes the causes and effects of relevant similarities
and differences
Point(s) Possible:
SUBTOTAL:
2
TOTAL:
9
In this class, the grading rubric for Compare/Contrast Essay will be out of 10
points. I will either add a point to basic core requirement #4 or #5. You will be
informed ahead of time where the point is added before writing every essay.
10
0-2
NECESSARY STEPS:
STEP 1: PROCESS THE QUESTION
TOPIC: Compare and contrast reactions to western European commercial and cultural contacts in two of the
following empires between 1500 and 1800.
JAPAN
CHINA
RUSSIA
You must understand what you need to address in your thesis. Circle or underline key words or phrases
in the question. The phrase that you should underline in this case is: western European commercial and
cultural contacts. Do not forget that your essay (your thesis) must include comparisons as well as
contrasts.
STEPS 2 and 3: BUILD THE FRAMEWORK and PROVIDE EVIDENCE:2
STEP 2:
Society 1:
Society 2:
Western commercial and
cultural contacts and
each societies’ reactions:
SIMILARITIES:
DIFFERENCES:
STEP 3:
Society 1: China
Society 2: Russia
Western commercial and -Europeans’ trade contact:
seeking Chinese porcelain,
cultural contacts and
each societies’ reactions: silk, cotton, lacquer
- Limited exposure of the
Chinese to crops from the
New World
- Chinese court deals with
Euro. Trading companies
(VOC and EIC). Trade
regulated/controlled (only
certain ports can be used,
etc.)
- Jesuits in China (Kangxi)
(concentrate on upper
classes; transfer of
technology and scientific
knowledge)
- Importance of the Chinese tea
to Europeans – unfavorable
balance of trade for Europeans
SIMILARITIES:
DIFFERENCES:
State regulation of economies
18 cen. ruler’s interest in the West
(Kangxi)
Chinese econ. more diverse – more
powerful
-Jesuit Influences
th
- In the 17th cen. surrounded
by powerful neighbors.
Unsuccessful at accessing
warm water ports. (Sweden
and Poland-Lithuania)
- Econ. contact with the West:
fur trade! (Siberian expansion)
- Peter the Great’s Westernization
(Russian contacts with the West:
architecture (St.Petersburg),
dress, mingling of sexes, foreign
officers, professionals, etc.)
-Catherine the Great: Russian
exports to the West: gold,
timber, iron.
- Christian Orthodoxy – mostly
strong (state religion), but not in
Western Russia (Poland,
Western Ukraine)
- Western companies had to obtain
special privileges to trade
State regulation of economies
18 cen. ruler’s interest in the West
(Peter and Catherine)
th
- Peter the Great’s Westernization
- Exports: primarily raw materials
STEP 4: Direct comparisons/contrast
 You want to make sure that your comparisons/contrasts are about the same issue. For example:
“The quantity and variety of the Chinese products allowed China to enjoy more benefits from its contacts
with the West in contrast to Russia’s limited contacts. The Chinese economy flourished from its interactions
with Western Europe because of high demand for such highly valuable products as silk, porcelain, tea, and
lacquered furniture. On the other hand, only a few products from Russia were in high demand in the West.
Furs from Siberia was one of them, and, though Russian exports to Western Europe expanded toward the
end of the 18th century, they were still mostly raw materials, such as timber and iron.“
STEP 5: Larger global context / processes
For this step you are basically addressing this question: What larger historic global processes of that time
period explain the differences/similarities mentioned in the essay?
Example: Advantageous position of the Chinese in comparison to Russia’s standing with the West can be
attributed to the fact that the majority of Chinese products were finished goods that did not encounter serious
competition from other regions in the world. Increases in contact and volume of trade between Russia and
the West as well as China and the West, especially in the 18th century, were partially due to a more
interconnected world economic system, incorporating goods, services, precious metals, and societies of Asia,
Europe, Africa, and the Americas.”
KEY ELEMENTS of the ESSAY:
KEY ELEMENT 1: THESIS

A solid thesis statement clearly states a claim (you must take a position). It identifies/defines the
terms, context, chronology of the events under discussion, and, when needed, describes why your
claim is true. When writing a compare and contrast essay your thesis MUST INCLUDE
COMPARISONS (similarities) as well as CONTRASTS (differences)
From this point on, let’s look at the following example and then you can practice writing a thesis for your topic.
TOPIC: Compare and contrast reactions to western European commercial and cultural contacts in two of the
following empires between 1500 and 1800.
JAPAN
CHINA
RUSSIA
THESIS: Even though both empires’ economies benefited from trade with Western Europe, the variety, quality,
and high demand for the Chinese products gave China more advantageous terms of trade compared to the Russian
commercial interactions with the West. The governments of both countries attempted to control and regulate
economic exchanges with western Europeans. On the other hand, Russian culture underwent more dramatic
changes as a result of opening and expanding the country, especially in the 18th century. Chinese high society,
though influenced by Jesuits, remained more traditional.
KEY ELEMENT 2: BODY PARAGRAPH(s)
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
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Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence that will state either a similarity or a
difference previewed in your thesis statement.
Then, you must provide evidence to support your topic sentence. Preferably, the evidence in your
body paragraph will directly compare/contrast the two societies.
Follow evidence with analysis when appropriate.
Example:
(topic sentence) The quantity and variety of the Chinese products allowed China to enjoy more benefits from
its contacts with the West in contrast to Russia’s limited contacts.
(evidence) The Chinese economy flourished from its interactions with Western Europe because of high
demand for such highly valuable products as silk, porcelain, tea, and lacquered furniture. On the other
hand, only a few products from Russia were in high demand in the West. Furs from Siberia was one of
them, and, though Russian exports to Western Europe expanded toward the end of the 18th century, they
were still mostly raw materials, such as timber and iron. (analysis) Advantageous position of the Chinese in
comparison to Russia’s standing with the West can be attributed to the fact that the majority of Chinese
products were finished goods that did not encounter serious competition from other regions in the world.
Increases in contact and volume of trade between Russia and the West as well as China and the West,
especially in the 18th century, were partially due to a more interconnected world economic system,
incorporating goods, services, precious metals, and societies of Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
JUST A FEW MORE IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Your opening paragraph should start with a broad sentence(s) that will “set the stage.” For my
topic, it might look something like this:
Period between 1500 and 1800 witnessed the emergence of western European countries as the most
technologically and economically dominant world powers on a global scale. China and Russia, two greatest
land empires of that time period, reacted to these contacts in a variety of ways.

Mention both sides (Byzantine, Islamic, or Indian Empires in your essay)in your topic sentence(s). If
you only write about one of them in your topic sentence, you may forget to compare/contrast it
with the other one in your body paragraph.

To make your body paragraphs flow, use transitional words and phrases, such as furthermore, in
addition, even though, in contrast to, similarly to, etc.

Summarize main points of your essay in your conclusion.