R.A.C.E.

A Constructed Response Strategy

Learning Targets

Understand the purpose of constructed response

Describe the components of constructed response

Understand the guidelines for writing constructed response using the R.A.C.E. strategy

What is R.A.C.E.? R.A.C.E. is a strategy that helps

students answer constructed and extended response questions in writing.

Step 1: Reword the question Step 2: Answer the question

Step 3: Cite the evidence Step 4: Explain your answer

Step 1: Reword the question

You must first know what the question is asking.

You will use the question to form a focused topic sentence

Example: "What was life like for serfs in the Middle Ages?"

Restatement: "Life for serfs in the Middle Ages was..."

Step 2: Answer the question

Students will underline key words/phrases in the question.o Look for task words (words that tell you what to

do): explain, describe, compare, contrast, discuss, evaluate, identify, analyze, determine, etc.

Give a concise, logical answer Example: "What was life like for serfs in the

Middle Ages?" "Life for the serfs in the Middle Ages was

very difficult."

Step 3: Cite the evidence

Students will select appropriate examples from the text to support their answer.o Tell which piece of evidence you used.o Use specific detailso Quotes don't have to be super long!

Example: "What was life like for serfs in the Middle Ages?“

Red-paraphrasePurple-direct quote:Life for serfs in the Middle Ages was very difficult. In Document 2, it stated they often worked 7 days a week because they had to grow food for the manor and themselves. Also, Document 4 stated that serfs "also had very little freedom because both landowners and church leadership could tell them what to do."

Step 4: Explain your answer

Students will explain how the evidence they gave makes their point.o Demonstrate understanding of the question through the

response Example: Orange-explanation of answer

Life for serfs in the Middle Ages was very difficult. In Document 2, it stated they often worked 7 days a week because they had to grow food for the manor and themselves. Also, Document 4 stated that serfs "also had very little freedom because both landowners and church leadership could tell them what to do." A lack of freedom and constant hard work would make life unpleasant for anyone.

Sum It Up The last sentence should be a summary of the entire

paragraph. Restate the topic sentence in a different way.

Example: Green-Summary/Conclusion Life for serfs in the Middle Ages was very difficult. In Document 2, it stated they often worked 7 days a week because they had to grow food for the manor and themselves. Also, Document 4 stated that serfs "also had very little freedom because both landowners and church leadership could tell them what to do." A lack of freedom and constant hard work would make life unpleasant for anyone. In conclusion, a serf in the Middle Ages would have had an incredibly difficult life.

The Entire Paragraph…

Life for serfs in the Middle Ages was very difficult.

In Document 2, it stated they often worked 7 days

a week because they had to grow food for the

manor and themselves. Also, Document 4 stated

that serfs "also had very little freedom because

both landowners and church leadership could tell

them what to do." A lack of freedom and constant

hard work would make life unpleasant for anyone.

In conclusion, a serf in the Middle Ages would have

had an incredibly difficult life.

Practice

DOK 2: What do you notice about the

section titled inspiring others by leading?

What type of student behaviors have you

noticed to support it?

DOK 3: Can you elaborate on the reason

why we have implemented Patriot PRIDE

at Southwest?

DOK 3: How is “Doing What is

Responsible” related to student

achievement?

What do you notice about the section titled inspiring others by leading?

In the section titled “Inspiring Others

by Leading,” I noticed…

Constructed Response Rubric

2 The response:• gives evidence of the ability to explain inferences about theme• includes specific inferences that make reference to the text• supports the inferences with relevant details from the text

1 The response:• gives limited evidence of the ability to explain inferences about

theme • includes inferences but they are not explicit or make only vague

references to the text• supports the inference with at least one detail but the relevance of

that detail to the text must be inferred 0 A response gets no credit if it provides no evidence of the ability to

explain inferences about theme and includes no relevant information from the text.

Self Assessment

What can you say that you have accomplished and feel confident that it is being implemented with fidelity?

Where are YOU in the process?

What are YOUR Next

Steps?