AP World History Comparative Essay

AP World History Comparative Essay

In this assignment, you need to analyze elements of a comparative essay. You will begin to review

the prompt for your own practice essay, and you will demonstrate that you understand the five main strategies necessary for achieving a high score on this essay.

Complete each question by listing your answer and explaining the reason for your response.

1. Identifying the question

Compare the economic transformations of China and Russia during the twentieth century.

Consider the above prompt. What limitations does the prompt place on the writer, and what

choices can the writer make? (5 points)

2. Choosing an acceptable thesis
3. a) The economic systems of China and Russia were inspired by com¬munism for most of the twentieth century. The Soviet Russian system focused on the working class, while the Chinese system focused on the peasants.
4. b) In the later part of the twentieth century, both China and Russia became open to

free-market economics. The Chinese, unlike the Russians, still kept many aspects of their communist system.

1. c) Both China and the Soviet Union forced the rapid industrialization of their economies.

The Chinese started from scratch, but the Soviets already had some factories before

rapid industrialization.

1. d) Both the Russians and the Chinese had revolutions during this period. These revolutions differed because the Chinese fought against the Nationalist Party, while the Russian revolutionaries fought against the tsar.

Consider the above thesis options. Which wouldnot be an acceptable thesis for the prompt “Compare the economic transformations of China and Russia during the twentieth century”?

Explain the reasoning behind your selection. (5 points)