AP World History

AP World History

An Introduction to Comparison Essays

Compare these things:

Apples to Oranges

• Both fruit• Grow on trees• Lots of vitamins• Contain seeds

• Red vs. Orange• Skin vs. rind• Stem vs. no stem• Solid fruit vs. wedges

SIMLIARITIES DIFFERENCES

For the APWH comparative essay it is IMPERATIVE that you alwaysalways COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Compare these things:

A Possible Starting Point:

Create a diagram to help you make your comparisons and contrasts (or similarities and differences)

Getting Started•The first step in writing the Comparison Essay for APWH is to figure out WHAT the prompt is ASKING FOR:

Compare the football and basketball programs of Michigan and Michigan State from 1989 – 2011.

1.Football2.Basketball3.Michigan4.Michigan State5.1989-2011


• Your Comparative Essay must answer all five parts of that prompt. Therefore, you must do the following to write a good essay:

1. Compare Michigan and Michigan State football from 1989-2011

2. Contrast Michigan and Michigan State football from 1989-2011

3. Compare Michigan and Michigan State basketball from 1989-2011

4. Contrast Michigan and Michigan State basketball from 1989-2011


• Writing a good thesis is the key to writing a good essay – and efficient – remember you’ll be under time constraints

• Step One – recognize ALL parts of the prompt– Like we just did

• Step Two – determine how you will compare them– Plan out essay using a Venn Diagram or other comparison chart

• Step Three – Develop your thesis– Can be more than one sentence for these essays


• A good Comparison Essay thesis:

1. Restates the question as an answer; includes all phrases2. Addresses each part of the question with a statement of

evidence3. Includes both similarities and differences4. Makes the transition to the body of the essay with a

sentence like “to better understand the similarities and differences between these two universities…”


• Example of a VERY WEAK thesis statement:Michigan and Michigan State are similar and different in many ways.

• Example of a WEAK thesis statement:Michigan and Michigan State have several similarities and differences between their football and basketball programs.

• Example of an OKAY thesis statement:Michigan and Michigan State’s football and basketball programs have shared some similarities and differences during the years of 1989-2011.


• Example of a GOOD thesis statement:Michigan and Michigan State have both had good and bad seasons for their football and basketball programs during the period of 1989 – 2011. Michigan had the stronger programs in the early years, with Michigan State becoming better in more recent years.


• Example of a VERY GOOD thesis statement:During the years of 1989 – 2011, Michigan and Michigan State both experienced some ups and downs in the their football and basketball programs. While each school has experienced success in both sports during that time period, Michigan was the dominant football team during the early years and Michigan State has recently enjoyed the advantage. Likewise, Michigan had a powerful basketball program in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, while Michigan State’s program has become a national contender over the last 15 years.

Sparta vs. Athens Comparison Thesis

1. Read the provided document that looks at Greek Women and Sparta/Athens from 500-400 B.C.E.

2. On a blank sheet of paper, create a Venn Diagram that you will use to create a thesis statement

3. Write an APWH-style thesis statement responding to the following prompt:

Compare the lives of men and women in Sparta and Athens from 500 – 400 B.C.E.

AP World History

Documents

Transcript of AP World History