Continuity

Historical Continuity and Change: CCOT

Describes patterns of continuity and/or change over time
Explain patterns of continuity and/or change over time
Explain the relative historical significance of specific historical developments in relation to a larger pattern of continuity and/or change

Possible Continuity Prompts:

T1 Continuities: Evaluate the extent of continuities of _____.
T1 Changes: Evaluate the extent of changes of _____.

T2 Continuities: Evaluate the extent of _____ continuities of _____.
T2 Changes: Evaluate the extent of _____ changes of _____.

The differences between T1 and T2 is that T1 students are not given a theme (or organizational category) to write on, so they can choose what they want. In T2 students are given a specific theme to write on .

Organizing a Continuity Prompt:

The graphic organizer for a continuity and change over time essay prompt is a T-Chart. The vertical line separates the differences between continuities and changes with the topic under investigation. The horizontal line separates the two themes that you will use to organize that information. This graphic organizer is similar to the graphic organizer that you will use to organize a comparison essay prompt.

Concrete Example of a Continuity Prompt

Consider the following prompt:

Evaluate the extent of change in the United States foreign policy in the period 1783 to 1828.

You should ask yourself several things when you first encounter an essay prompt.

What is the historical thinking skill being assessed? CONTINUITY AND CHANGE
What is the overall topic of the essay prompt? AMERICA IN THE WORLD
Are there any themes that are given to me that I am required to write on? NO
What are the parameters (time constraints) of the essay prompt? 1783 - 1828

Because this is a DBQ, you will have documents to use in order to answer the essay prompt. The first thing you do is go through the documents to see what, if any, patterns emerge, then determine those patterns and then organize the documents around two themes. For this example, the two themes selected used are: America in the World (WOR) and National Identity (NAT). NOTE: any themes will work; there is no right or wrong way of organizing this essay. As previously noted, it all depends on how you use the specific information to support and defend your argument. For this example, documents and what each document is about are noted in the boxes.

Determining the argument in a Continuity Prompt

Once the information is organized, you need to determine what your argument is going to be with regard to the prompt. Remember, the prompt asked for you to determine the "extent of change." This is the key to understanding what the argument is going to be. To evaluate the extent of continuities or changes, you are being asked to argue whether you believe there are more continuities or changes of the event or historical phenomenon under investigation.

2/1 Ratio in ALL Essay Prompts (A.B, and X)

In all essay prompts, you need to come up with a 2/1 ratio for your argument. So for a continuity and change essay, because you are determining whether there are more continuities or changes, you need to have 2 themed organized continuities (indicated as A, in blue, and B, in green, on the chart) and 1 change (indicated by X, in red, on the chart). Or vice versa, if you are going to argue there are more changes (then you would have 2 changes to 1 continuity). This will lead to your thesis package.