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Use RAPS to Answer Text-Based Questions What is RAPS? RAPS is an acronym that stands for the following: restate the topic, answer the question, provide specific details, and sum it up. Common Core Learning Standards focus on students’ ability to read text closely, make inferences, and refer back to the text in their written answers. RAPS is an easy way for students to recall the organization and requirements of a short-response text-based question. Students can use RAPS in the content areas as well as in E.L.A. Common Core Learning Standards Correlation: ~ RL.4.1; W.4.1; L.4.1-3 ~ RL.7.1; W.7.1; L.7.1-3 ~ RL.5.1; W.5.1; L.5.1-3 ~ RL.8.1; W.8.1; L.8.1-3 ~ RL.6.1; W.6.1; L.6.1-3 Suggested Lesson Sequence: 1. Begin the lesson by telling students they will learn how to
write using specific text details. Going over the definition sheet on p.3 will be helpful, because some of them may be unfamiliar with the terminology.
2. Introduce the RAPS poster on p.4. I give each student a copy to keep, and I hang one up in the classroom as well.
3. Show students the graphic organizer on p.5 next. This will further illustrate how helpful the acronym can be. Some learners might find the worksheet on p. 6 is also helpful.
4. Next, either model the technique by writing a RAPS response together, or use the one that is included on p. 7.
5. Students can try this on their own, with a different question or the question on p. 8. It usually doesn’t take long before they no longer need any sort of graphic organizer. I find they will look at a question and know immediately if it is a “RAPS” question.
Copyright ©2012 Darlene Anne
W What is text?
Text consists of original words that have been written or printed, such as books, stories, articles, song lyrics, and more.
What is a text-based question?
It’s a question that can only be answered using specific details from the text.
How can RAPS help?
RAPS is an acronym. It can help you remember the steps to follow when you are answering the question.
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Copyright ©2012 Darlene Anne
Answer the question
Provide specific details
Sum it up
Restate the topic
Sum it up
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Restate
Answer
Provide Detail #1 Provide Detail #2
Sum it up
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Remember to include specific text details that support your answer!
Restate the topic:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Answer the question:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Provide specific text details:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Sum it up:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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This is an example of a short-response E.L.A. question with a RAPS answer. Question: Readers sometimes meet literary characters that they do not like and would not want to have as friends in real life. Choose a literary character you wouldn’t like to befriend, and explain why you would not like the character to be your friend.
Some characters from literature are so unpleasant that readers wouldn’t want to become friendly with them in real life. Templeton, the rat from Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, is one character I would not want to know. Templeton shows he is mean when he bites Wilber the pig’s tail very hard, and he is happy when Wilbur feels pain. He also calls Wilbur “stupid” and threatens to eat his food. Templeton is one literary character who is so mean that he would not make my “Friends” list.
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Restate
Answer
Detail #1
Detail #2
Sum it up
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
______________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Your Turn!
Answer the following question: Readers sometimes meet literary characters that they do not like and would not want to have as friends in real life. Choose a literary character you wouldn’t like to befriend, and explain why you would not like the character to be your friend. *Be sure to check your work for correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization.
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