Strategies for Success onStrategies for Success onAnswering Answering

Open-Ended QuestionsOpen-Ended Questions

Open-Ended ResponseOpen-Ended Response

Tests your Tests your READINGREADING ability ability This is This is NOTNOT about you about you DO NOTDO NOT include your opinion include your opinion Keep it Keep it simplesimple and and to the pointto the point

Example:Example:

I think…I think…

My opinion is….My opinion is….X

Step 1:Step 1:Read the Questions Read the Questions FIRSTFIRST

Read the question carefully (Read the question carefully (beforebefore you you read the passageread the passage). ).

UnderlineUnderline key words. key words. For example:For example:

What is one conflict that Newt and Catharine face in the selection a “Long Walk to Forever”?

Step 2: Step 2: Re-state the Question in your Re-state the Question in your

AnswerAnswer

Make sure the opening of your Make sure the opening of your response response directly addresses the directly addresses the question.question.

Re-stateRe-state the question the question For example:For example:

In “Long Walk to Forever” a In “Long Walk to Forever” a conflictconflict Catherine and Newt face is……Catherine and Newt face is……

Step 3: Step 3: Answer the QuestionAnswer the Question

Explain in your Explain in your own wordsown words Keep it simple and to the pointKeep it simple and to the point DO NOTDO NOT ECHOECHO your quote your quote

Example:Example:A conflict in “Walk to Forever” is that Catharine is A conflict in “Walk to Forever” is that Catharine is

getting getting married in a weekmarried in a week. “The . “The wedding is only a wedding is only a week awayweek away.”.”

Step 4: Step 4: Support your AnswerSupport your Answer

Use Use textual evidencetextual evidence from the selection from the selection to support your response. to support your response.

Your evidence should be a Your evidence should be a direct direct quotation.quotation.

Make sure you have quoted the words Make sure you have quoted the words exactlyexactly..

Properly quote your textual evidence Properly quote your textual evidence with with “quotation marks.”“quotation marks.”

Step 4: Step 4: Support your Answer (Continued)Support your Answer (Continued)For example:For example:

One conflict faced by Newt and Catharine in One conflict faced by Newt and Catharine in “Long Walk to Forever” is that Newt loves “Long Walk to Forever” is that Newt loves Catharine, but she is about to get married to Catharine, but she is about to get married to someone else. Newt told her, someone else. Newt told her, “Remember “Remember how much I love you.” She said, “What a how much I love you.” She said, “What a crazy time to tell me you love me…My crazy time to tell me you love me…My wedding is in one week.” wedding is in one week.”

Step 4:Step 4: STOP WRITINGSTOP WRITING

DO NOT mention a new idea without DO NOT mention a new idea without textual evidence.textual evidence.

Your score will be a “O” if you do this!Your score will be a “O” if you do this!

Presentation of ResponsesPresentation of Responses Read over your response. Read over your response. Is it Is it clear clear and and easyeasy to follow? to follow? Do you need to Do you need to clarifyclarify information? information? Write legibly and Write legibly and neatlyneatly. . A A messymessy response suggests a response suggests a poorlypoorly

put together answer.put together answer. IF YOU CAN’T READ IT, THE IF YOU CAN’T READ IT, THE

GRADER CAN’T, EITHER!GRADER CAN’T, EITHER!

Scoring GuideScoring GuideThese items are scored in terms of These items are scored in terms of

content.content.

00 means insufficient means insufficient

11 partially insufficient partially insufficient

22 sufficient (THIS IS WHERE WE sufficient (THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE!) WANT TO BE!)

33 exemplary exemplary

This is the skinny…..This is the skinny…..WRITE THIS DOWNWRITE THIS DOWN

RRe-statee-state the questionthe question

AAnswer andnswer and make amake a connection to the connection to the questionquestion

SSupportupport your answer with textual your answer with textual evidence from textevidence from text

SSTOP WritingTOP Writing

TipsTips Students should Students should avoidavoid the use of the use of slang slang

and informal language in their writing.and informal language in their writing.– CuzCuz– GonnaGonna– youyou– &&– Don’t abbreviate any wordsDon’t abbreviate any words