CCOT Essay

CCOT Essay

Change-over-Time Writing

Periodization c. 8000 B.C.E. to 600 B. C.E.

Technological and Environmental Transformations

c. 600 B. C.E. to 600 C.E.

Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies

c. 600 C.E. to 1450

Regional and Transregional Interactions

c. 1450 to 1750 Global Interactions

c. 1750 to 1914 Industrial and Global Integration

c. 1914 to the present

Accelerating Global Change and Realignments

What is the purpose?

Change over time is a major theme of historical study

This essay measure your ability to discuss continuities that accompany the changes over time

It is a measure of your ability to recognize the changes and understand what caused them

What is expected of you

Write a thesis that points out the change over time

Answer all parts of the question

Show the change over time using relevant history

Analyze the process of change and/or continuity over time

What does that mean?

You are going to write an essay with a thesis that identifies change over time for each country or period required, support that thesis by referencing relevant history, and contrast that change against either a starting point or something that did not change

Still confused? Let’s break it down a step at a time

First – what it is and what it is not

It is not enough to simply talk about how it was and then talk about how it is

A successful CCOT essay talks about how things were prior to change, and then makes it clear WHY things changed.

You MUST cover the historical development

How is the CCOT scored?

Look at your handout Basic Core

0-7 points You MUST earn all 7 points in order to earn

expanded points Note that you can receive PARTIAL credit (1 pt

instead of 2 pts) for some of the items

Expanded Core Note that several items in the expanded core

are simply more detailed versions of the basic core

TO get an 8 or 9, focus on doing a great job on the elements that are in both the basic and expanded core

What do the directions mean?

Step 1 – Process the question

You need to know exactly what you are being asked to do

The basic core places a heavy emphasis on answering ALL parts of the question.

Circle each key phrase as you process the question


Step 1 continued

Let’s look at an example:

Choose ONE of the following political units (countries, empires, etc) and discuss how technological developments from 1450 to 1750 changed its global influence. Be sure to describe its position of power and influence in the beginning of the period as your starting point

England

Portugal

Spain

Germany

Russia

Ottoman Empire

China

France


Step 1 continued

What key phrases did you circle?

Your list should include

One of the countries

Technological developments from 1450 – 1750

Global influence

Position of power and influence in the beginning of the period as your starting point


Step 1 continued

So what is it asking you to do? Choose one of the countries or empires

listed

Discuss its role as a global player in the early 1400’s or so (BEFORE some technological impact)

Walk through the technology(s) that had an impact on the country

Describe the impact – what changes occurred as a result


Step 2 – Build a Framework

The purpose of this is to both provide you with an outline for an essay and to ensure that you don’t miss any part of the question

Using the example from Step 1, begin by choosing the number of countries as instructed – one – then create a chart (see next slide)


Step 2 continued

Your chart should include: A baseline – what was its role in the world

in 1400’s/pretechnology Impact – what technologies had an

impact on it? Why and in what way? Change – what changes occurred to its

role in the world as a result of the technology?

Continuity – what remained the same despite technological innovations?

If you had been asked to select two countries, you would create a chart that had a column for each country


Step 3 – Build your essay

Fill in the framework/the chart

Fill in not only the information about each segment but also the bits of evidence to support each answer

Completing your chart with both what changed AND supporting evidence will help you create most of your essay


Step 4 – Write your essay Once you’ve completed your chart, its

time to start writing

Planning is CRITICAL – the more you plan, the less time it will actually take you to write

You have approx. 40 min for this essay, if you spend 20 min planning, you should easily be able to write the essay in the remaining 20 minutes


Step 4 continued

Your thesis is critical and MUST be supported by facts

Answer the question by including key phrases from the question

Support each of your assertions with some introductory evidence (save the details for your body paragraphs)

Transition from the thesis to the body of the essay

The essay

Make sure you address each portion of the question

Support your claims with evidence

After your introductory paragraph, each body paragraph should address one change or one continuity with specific evidence

Basic Thesis Template:

Between beginning date and ending date, area you chose to write about changed in the area of category(ies) from the prompt, but stayed the same in the area of the other category(ies) from the prompt.

More…

______________changed from ______________ to ___________ because of _______________.

When your are done with your CCOT

Essay, Ask yourself, “Did I…” Mention the country/region I chose?

Mention that country’s position before 1450?

Specifically name the technological inventions?

Mention the impact on change?

Mention global changes?

Mention continuities?

Use transitional words to make connections?

Include all key words/phrases on the thesis/intro?

Address each part of the questions w/a statement & evidence?

Transition “to better understand these changes…”

Use transitional words & trigger words to highlight important points?

If you think you did, can you locate them on your essay?

CCOT Essay

Documents

Transcript of CCOT Essay