A comparative outline sets two units side by side on one chosen dimension, lists similarities and differences with evidence, and ends with a supported judgement. Writing it first makes the final answer far easier to organise.
This lesson sits in core option A study pathways and uses your timeline, glossary and causal wording from the earlier lessons.
The example compares Italian and German unification. For the general skill of defining a dimension, see change, continuity and comparison. The outline below is an original practice example, not taken from any exam paper.
What makes a comparison useful?
A good comparison does not describe each case in turn. It makes points that face each other: “In Italy, X. In Germany, by contrast, Y.” Each point is tied to one dimension so the comparison stays focused.
The judgement at the end answers a question such as “how similar were they?” and gives a reason that follows from the evidence.
How to build the outline
- Write the question in one line and underline the dimension.
- Choose two to three similarities. Give a dated example from each case.
- Choose two to three differences. Again give an example from each case.
- Check for balance. Each side of each point should have evidence.
- Write the judgement. State how far the cases were alike and give your main reason.
- Label fact and interpretation. Mark where you are using a historian’s view rather than a record.
Worked outline: Italy and Germany
Question: How similar were the ways in which Italy and Germany were unified in the nineteenth century? Dimension: the role of war and the lead state.
Similarity 1, a lead state.
- Italy: the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia led the process, and the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in 1861.
- Germany: Prussia led the process, and the German Empire was proclaimed in 1871.
Similarity 2, war was used.
- Italy: war with Austria in 1859, with French support.
- Germany: wars in 1864, 1866 and 1870 to 1871.
Difference 1, the number and kind of wars.
- Italy: unification involved a war with Austria and also the campaign led by Garibaldi in 1860 in the south.
- Germany: three wars against three different states, ending with the Franco-Prussian War.
Difference 2, foreign help.
- Italy: French help was important in 1859, and Rome only joined in 1870 after French troops left.
- Germany: Prussia fought its main wars without a major ally, though it relied on the support of other German states in 1870.
Judgement (supported): the two were similar in having a lead state that used war, but different in how the wars were fought and who helped. A careful verdict is “similar in pattern, different in method”, with the reason that Italy depended more on outside help while Prussia relied on its own army. How far each leader planned events is an interpretation that historians debate, so the outline avoids resting its verdict on it.
Notice the outline also gives each point one date or example per side, so every sentence can be written in full during the exam.
The mistake to watch for
A student plans: “Italy: Garibaldi, Cavour, Piedmont, 1861. Germany: Bismarck, Prussia, 1871. Both were nationalist.”
This lists names but does not compare. There is no dimension, no point where the two meet, and “both were nationalist” is too general to test.
The correction is to turn each line into a facing pair on the same dimension: “Italy relied on France in 1859, whereas Prussia fought its main wars without a major ally.” That is a point that can be supported and judged.
Check yourself
1. Write one similarity and one difference between the two unifications on the dimension “who led”.
Show answer
A sample: Similarity: in both cases one existing state, Piedmont-Sardinia or Prussia, took the lead. Difference: in Italy a popular campaign led by Garibaldi in 1860 played a major part in the south, whereas in Germany the wars were fought by the Prussian-led armies. Your wording may differ.
2. How many years separate the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy and the German Empire?
Show answer
1871 − 1861 = 10 years.
3. Why is “both wanted to be a nation” a weak comparative point?
Show answer
Because it is too general to test with evidence and does not focus on the chosen dimension. A stronger point names the dimension and gives a dated example from each side.
Where this leads next
Try the outline on the Italian unification page and the German unification page, then test yourself with the integrated practice set. If you need to revisit wording, go back to causal language.
Many students can describe each case but struggle to build the facing points. In online one-to-one History tuition, a teacher can work on your outline with you and test each pair against your own notes.