- For each prompt, identify the historical thinking skill you want to use to answer the prompt
- Some historical thinking skills will be easier for some prompts, and sometimes the prompt might even use wording to guide you to a specific thinking skill
Comparison
- Compare similarities and differences
- Example: “Evaluate the extent to which the political regimes of Soviet Russia were similar to those of Nazi Germany during the interwar period”
- Its asking you to compare how they were similar and/or different
- Take a stance: were there more similarities or differences
Causation
- Compare causes and effects
- Example: “Evaluate the extent to which the Industrial Revolution led to the rise of imperialism in the 19th century”
- You have to talk about the causes of imperialism in relation to the Industrial Revolution
- For a counter argument you can talk about how the Industrial Revolution didn’t lead to imperialism
Continuity and Change over Time (CCOT)
- What stayed the same (continuities) and what changed (changes)?
College Board prompts are often wide enough to allow all three types of historical thinking, meaning there is no right or wrong one
Example:
Evaluate the extent to which the Columbian Exchange impacted Afro-Eurasia in the period between 1500-1750
Comparison: Compare the impact of the Columbian Exchange on two regions, such as Europe and Africa
Causation: How did the Columbian Exchange cause significant changes in Afro-Eurasia
CCOT: Explain how the Columbian Exchange led to new changes to Afro-Eurasia