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How to succinctly and effectively answer questions

about reading

A stands for answer the question.

Before we answer the question, we must RESTATE the question that is asked…

For example, What are two examples of figurative language in the short story “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan?

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To restate the question we use the same words in the question to form a sentence.

Example What are two examples of figurative language in the short story “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan?

In “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan, two examples of figurative language are…

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After restating- we must add our answer.

In “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan, two examples of figurative language are simile and hyperbole.

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After we answer the question, we must CITE our answer by finding a DIRECT QUOTE from the story to show support/proof.

You MUST put quotation marks around your proof because you are borrowing words from the author that are not your own.

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In “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan, two examples of figurative language are simile and hyperbole.

“He was not Chinese, but as white as Mary in the manger. For Christmas I prayed for this blond-haired boy, Robert, and a slim new American nose.”

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A

C

Expanding your answer is a SIMPLE and DIRECT ONE sentence CONNECTION to your answer.

Avoid the what and answer the WHY or HOW.

Do NOT introduce any new information in your conclusion statement.

Do not make your explanation more than one sentence!

Keep it simple! Stay on the main topic!

This is where you dig deep.

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In “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan, two examples of figurative language are simile and hyperbole.

“He was not Chinese, but as white as Mary in the manger. For Christmas I prayed for this blond-haired boy, Robert, and a slim new American nose.”

Considering that the biblical Mary was probably not a Cinderella lookalike, and that Santa Clause traditionally delivers toys, not noses, makes for a humorous comparison to how young Amy would rather be American than Chinese.

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A

C

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Write your answer in paragraph form!@!In “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan, two examples of figurative language the author uses are simile and hyperbole. “He was not Chinese, but as white as Mary in the manger. For Christmas I prayed for this blond-haired boy, Robert, and a slim new American nose.”Considering that the biblical Mary was probably not a Cinderella lookalike, and that Santa Clause doesn’t traditionally deliver noses explains how young Amy would rather be American than Chinese.

In “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan, two examples of figurative language the author uses to describe a school-girl crush are simile and hyperbole. “He was not Chinese, but as white as Mary in the manger. For Christmas I prayed for this blond-haired boy, Robert, and a slim new American nose.” Considering that the biblical Mary was probably not a Cinderella lookalike, and that Santa Clause traditionally delivers toys – not noses - offers a humorous spin on how young Amy would rather be American than Chinese.

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Notice that the POLISHED version is slightly different. Less dust, more shine!

There will be one question on your test that will ask one question about BOTH stories, this is called a crossover question.

Crossover questions will still use

ACE, just in a different way.

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Option #1 Answer/restate the prompt

Prove- story 1

Prove – story 2

Explain/Extend- tie both stories together with one sentence.

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Option #2 Answer story 1 then prove story 1

Answer story 2 then prove story 2

Explain/Extend- tie both stories together with one sentence.

How did both Hans and Sophie Scholl and Miep Gies stand up for what they believed in?

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Restate Prompt & Answer the question…

Hans and Sophie Scholl stood up for what they believed in by forming the White Rose freedom organization and passing out leaflets that opposed Hitler.

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Hans and Sophie Scholl stood up for what they believed in by forming a freedom organization and passing out leaflets that opposed Hitler.

“Working with a few close friends, Hans and Sophie created the White Rose - a secret resistance group. Despite the great risk involved it was often Hans or Sophie who offered to carry the leaflets into the city.”

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Meip Gies stood up for what she believed in by hiding several Jews in the attic above her place of work.

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Meip Gies stood up for what she believed in by hiding Jews like Anne Frank and her family in the attic above her place of work.

“When Otto Frank turned to her for help, she never hesitated, would she help, of course.”

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Miep Gies and Hans and Sophie Scholl repeatedly sacrificed their safety in their courageous efforts to help Jewish families survive persecution and capture during the Holocaust.

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Hans and Sophie Scholl stood up for what they believed in by forming freedom organization and passing out leaflets that opposed Hitler. “Working with a few close friends, Hans and Sophie created the White Rose – a secret resistance group. Despite the great risk involved it was often Hans or Sophie who offered to carry the leaflets into the city.” Meip Gies stood up for what she believed in by hiding Jews like Anne Frank and her family in the attic above her place of work. “When Otto Frank turned to her for help, she never hesitated, would she help, of course.” Miep Gies and Hans and Sophie Scholl repeatedly sacrificed their safety in their courageous efforts to help Jewish families survive persecution and capture during the Holocaust.

Notice the ACACE color code

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How are Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” and Maya Angelou’s “Champion of the World” similar?

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Restate and Answer the question…

Maya Angelou’s “Champion of the World” and Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” are similar in that both grapple with cultural shame in Anglo worlds.

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Maya Angelou’s “Champion of the World” and Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” are similar in that both grapple with cultural shame in Anglo worlds.Tan is mortified at what her crush Robert will “think of our shabby Chinese Christmas” and goes so far as to wish for a “slim new American nose” to compliment Robert’s blond hair.

Angelou recounts the anguished triumph of a negro boxer beating a white contender in segregated America and admits that it would be detrimental for “a black man and his family to be caught on a lonely road on a night when Joe Louis had proved that we were the strongest people in the world.”

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A

C1

C2

Both stories mention nationalities which feel inferior to the white race.

(But what else? Needs more elaboration based on the answer and cite??? Need to dig deeper. Hmmm? Tone perhaps…

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Maya Angelou’s “Champion of the World” and Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” are similar in that both grapple with cultural shame in the Anglo world. Tan is mortified at what her crush Robert will “think of our shabby Chinese Christmas”” and goes so far as to wish for a “slim new American nose” to compliment Robert’s blond hair.   Angelou recounts the anguished triumph of a negro boxer beating a white contender during The Great Depression and laments that it would be detrimental for “a black man and his family to be caught on a lonely road on a night when Joe Louis had proved that we were the strongest people in the world.” Even though both stories mention nationalities which feel inferior to the white race, Angelou’s tone is poignant and Tan’s is comical.

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A

C1

C2

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Keep it short, simple, to the point. 3 Score = Shiny (100) 2 Score = Dusty (80) aka SATISFACTORY 1 Score = Rusty (60) 0 Score = Krusty (it’s a zero, not a hero)

What would these three polished responses would earn as scores/grades?

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