Change and Continuity Over Time Essay

Change and Continuity  Show both in essay.  You will usually see more change than continuity.  Examine all aspects of the civilization or group you are discussing.  GRAPES

Read the Question  Make sure you understand what the question is asking.  Are there specific aspects of the civilization or group you are to address? (social, political, economic)  What are the time period parameters given in the question?

Rubric  Thesis that addresses issues and time period.  Address all parts of the question.  Back up your thesis with historical evidence. This is the meat of your essay.  Show the change or continuity by discussing historical context. What happened in the world to cause the change/continuity?  Analyze the process of continuity and change. Break it down into parts and explain. How do you get from point A to Z? Explain B-Y.

Essay Outline  Introduction Paragraph Well written thesis that address all issues discussed in the question and the time period Be specific. What are the changes? What are the continuities? Pick 3 issues/aspects to discuss if none are provided in the question.

Essay Outline  Second Paragraph Addresses first issue (change or continuity) from beginning of time period to the end of time period Topic sentence for the paragraph At least four other sentences in which you give historical evidence to back up the thesis, explain historical context and analyze the process of change. Will show a change or continuity

Essay Outline  Third Paragraph Addresses second issue (a change or continuity) from beginning of time period to the end of time period Topic Sentence At least four other sentences in which you give historical evidence to back up the thesis, explain historical context and analyze the process of change Will show a change or continuity

Essay Outline  Fourth Paragraph Addresses third issue (a change or continuity) from beginning of time period to the end of time period Topic Sentence At least four other sentences in which you give historical evidence to back up the thesis, explain historical context and analyze the process of change Will show a change or continuity

Essay Outline  Conclusion Paragraph Restates the thesis in a different way Sums up the change/continuity of the issues addressed If the body of your essay is all change, but you have one continuity, you can put it in the conclusion. (and vice versa)

General Rules for Essays  Never, never, never use first person!  No I, Me, or We  Do NOT write, “In this essay…”. Never refer to your essay in your essay.  Do NOT write, “I think” or “In my opinion”. No one cares about your opinion. State ideas as fact. You will be providing evidence to back up what you say.

General Rules for Essays  I don’t grade on how many words or pages you write.  I grade using the AP Rubric.

Your Essay Question  Analyze continuities and changes in the cultural and political life of ONE of the following societies. Chinese, 100 CE to 600 CE Roman, 100 CE to 600 CE Indian, 300 CE to 600 CE

Your Essay Question  Analyze continuities and changes along the Silk Roads from 200 B.C.E. to 1450 C.E.

Let’s Work It Out Together  What are the three specified areas?  What are the time period parameters?  Is there change or continuity, or both?  What can our thesis be?  How will we set up the rest of our essay?

Peer Grading  Read the essay. In red grading pen, mark spelling and grammar errors.  Thesis (1 point): time period parameters, state continuity and change, areas that will be discussed in essay per prompt  All parts of question (1-2 point): continuity, change, areas you are discussing, time period

 Evidence (1-2 points): historical facts to back up your thesis  World historical context (1 point): What is going on in the world to create the change/continuity?  Process of change/continuity (1 point): How do you get from point to the next to the next…..?