An Introduction to the free response essay format Continuity and Change over Time (CCOT)

What is the Continuity and Change over Time essay? Meant to see whether you can analyze how regions have changed and stayed the same Continuity = Stayed the same i.e. The Mandate of Heaven was used in China from 1000bce -1917ce Most often assesses changes and continuities in: Technology Trade Culture Migrations Environment Requires you to explain how/why things happened the way they did. Follows a very similar pattern as comparative essay Grading rubric is VERY similar Thesis and body structure almost identical Reputation for the hardest of the three essays

THINGS TO REMEMBER! Do not list events as “snapshots” in time Instead show how these events flowed into one another (movie vs. snapshot!) Indicate change by using clear transition words: “Over time changes in…..” “As political structures evolved…,” “Subtle changes in social structure developed…” “Gradually over time changes in economic……. “Eventually, over time, the role of the priest changed to … During the 17 th Century ___ ……

THINGS TO REMEMBER! (cont.) Indicate continuities by using words like the following: Women remained subservient The environment continued to play a central role Continuous raids from the margin resulted in the decline….. Nomadic traditions maintained a strong cultural component…. The Gupta rulers persistently used regional allies to rule New Mesoamerican conquerors such as the Toltecs consistently used many of the social practices of earlier societies Analyze the impact of the change(s) and the continuity (ies) Were the changed imposed or welcomed? Did the changes strengthen or weaken the society? How did the continuity strengthen or weaken the society.

What should I do first? Read and UNDERSTAND the question

What should I do first? BRAINSTORM – a list of as many key events as possible The more you come up with the easier it will be to write! ….Industrial revolution oMove to freer trade, Europe leader in exports, booming economies Enlightenment Triangular trade oSlaves, brought in Africa Growth in American colonies oUsed as resource source, and place to sell ORGANIZE – your info to look for continuities and changes

How should the essay be organized? Similar to comparison essay Paragraph 1: Intro/Thesis Body paragraphs written in one of the following formats: Chronological Method: Paragraphs 2,3,4 – Discuss beginning, middle, and end of time period Paragraph 5 – Continuities throughout all periods ADVANTAGES: oEasy structure to organize/write DISADVANTAGES: oEasy to mention changes, but omit “motion,” oNo change over time, merely three “snapshots” rather than “motion picture” that shows how ‘Early’became ‘Middle’ which then became ‘Late.’ oEasy to forget/omit Continuities

How should the essay be organized? Topic Method: Para 2-5 – Each paragraph focusing on a thematic continuity and change topics ADVANTAGES: Organizing each paragraph by topic encourages analytical cause-effect statements within each paragraph. (Why did A cause B?) Easy to include continuities in each paragraph. DISADVANTAGES: Requires students to know chronological order Conclusion (optional, but recommended) Restate and summarize your thesis