Comparative Essay Another skill historians attempt to master is the ability to compare what is happening in one region or place in the world with what is happening in another region or place in the world during the same historical time period EX: Compare political transformations in the Middle East with political transformations in Latin America from c. 1945 to present day.

Comparative Essay The Comparative Essay assesses your ability to apply this historical skill based on your knowledge of the regions and time period.

Comparative Essay Thesis – must be specific AND valid 4 Important Elements of the Comparative Essay: Thesis – must be specific AND valid Cannot be simply “There were many similarities and differences…” No need to keep your essay main ideas a secret – just state your specific comparisons in your thesis and RESTATE them again as the topic sentence for the respective body paragraph

The Rule of Three Although you are only required to have 1 similarity and 1 difference, you should always try to identify and state either 2 similarities and 1 difference or 1 similarity and 2 differences. The Rule of Three applies to direct comparisons, attempts at analysis, and pieces of evidence as well.

Comparative Essay Direct Comparison – you must make a valid, specific, and QUANTIFIABLE direct comparison sentence(s) in your body paragraphs. Usually this is your topic sentence Quantifiable means you have to add an adjective or describing word to help the reader identify your comparison (stronger, more centralized, extensive, etc.) Start your direct comparison with words such as: however, both, while, although, etc.

Comparative Essay Evidence – you must provide Specific Factual Information (or SFI) as evidence for your direct comparison – these are your FACTS!!! Remember the Rule of Three – try to have 3 pieces of SFI for each area you are comparing

Comparative Essay Analysis – you must ANALYZE the reason for the similarity or difference you identify with your direct comparison. This means give a reason for the similarity or difference Ask yourself “WHY are these the same?” or “WHY are these different?” If they are different you must explain why they are different for BOTH regions/areas

Comparative Essay Which is a better Thesis statement? There were many political similarities and differences between Mesopotamia and the Shang Chinese dynasty. There were many political similarities and differences between Mesopotamia and Shang China such as degree of centralization and size of the territory they controlled. While Shang China had a more centralized political system than Mesopotamia, both areas required the ruler to maintain a strong military to keep control over his territory.

Comparative Essay This one counts for TWO Direct Comparisons – similarity and difference! Which is a valid, specific, and QUANTIFABLE direct comparison statement? Both Mesopotamia and Shang China had governments. While both Mesopotamia and Shang China had governments controlled by a ruling class of aristocrats, Shang China’s government was much more centralized than that of Mesopotamia, which was a loose confederation of city-states. Both Mesopotamia and Shang China had governments controlled by a ruling class of aristocrats. This only counts for ONE Direct Comparison – a similarity.

Comparative Essay Analysis of the direct comparison Example: WHY… This is the hardest part of this essay AGAIN - You must give a reason WHY this similarity or difference exists OR why this similarity or difference is SIGNIFICANT You MUST address both areas in the analysis Example: While both Mesopotamia and Shang China had governments controlled by a ruling class of aristocrats, Shang China’s government was much more centralized than that of Mesopotamia which was a loose confederation of city-states. WHY… Why did both empires have governments run by a ruling class of aristocrats? Why was Shang China’s government much more centralized than Mesopotamia?

Comparative Essay Process Let’s see if you can create an essay framework by comparing river valley civilizations! Handout: Comparative Essay Process