Free
Response:
Comparative
Essay

AP World History Writing Workshop
Julia M. Hyman
BISD K-12 Social Studies Consultant

Comparative Essay

• The final free-response essay-comparative question that focuses on developments in two or more societies, and their interactions with each other or with major themes or events (e.g. culture, trade, religion, technology, migrations). •You'll have 40 minutes to write the essay. It's recommended that you spend five minutes planning and/or

Scoring Guidelines
Basic CORE: Competency

Possible Points: 0 - 6

Has an acceptable thesis

1 point

Address all parts of the question

2 points

Substantiates thesis with appropriate historical evidence

2 points

Makes at least two relevant, direct comparisons among or between societies

1 point

Expanded CORE: Excellence
Basic CORE of six points must be obtained before the expanded
CORE can be earned.

Possible Points : 0 - 3

Acceptable Thesis
State directly
Locate at either the beginning

or end of essay—do not split
Must include both similarities and differences
Focus on Subordinating
Conjunctions!!

Format of the Thesis Sentence for a
Comparative Essay
___________, coordinating conjunction ___________.
 (Coordinate: Of Equal Value use coordinating conjunction with a full sentence on either

side. Use words such as and, or, but, neither/nor, either/or, not only/but also)

If you need to show a relationship or demonstrate causality, go with one of the following formats:
_____________; subordinating conjunction, ________.
 (Value one over the other use a subordinating conjunction. See Chart.)

Subordinating conjunction ____________, _________.
 (Value one over the other use a subordinating conjunction. See Chart.)

Subordinating Conjunctions
Concession
(Provide help on the thesis)

Compare

Contrast

Although

like

although

Though

same

however

Even though

both

differ

While it may be true

the same as

unlike

In spite of

similar

even though

Granted that

in the same way

yet

Whereas

most important

but

While

similarly

instead

as

on the contrary

too

whereas

as well as

while

compared to

unless

Consider this Question:
Compare and contrast the political and

economic effects of Mongol rule on TWO of the following regions:
 China
 Middle
 Russia

East

Address All Parts of the Question:
Break Down the Prompt:
Compare and contrast the political and

economic effects of Mongol rule on TWO of the following regions:
 China
 Middle

East

 Russia

Address all four parts = 2 full points
Address only two – three parts = 1 point
Address only one part = 0 points

Brainstorm What You Know: 5 Minutes
Political Evidence

Economic Evidence

China

•Kept modified civil service system
•Upper level bureaucracy reserved for
Mongols
•Yaun Dynasty: Kublai Khan direct rule
•General benevolence when no resistance
•Religious toleration to consolidate rule

•Maintained Silk Roads,
Postal System during ; safe travel encouraged international trade
•Facilitated commerce and communication Middle East