1. Introduction to Short Answer Questions for ELA STAAR
Finding a way to place “out of the box” insights appropriately into a prescribed box…

2. Short Answer Questions (S.A.Q.)
Short Answer Questions are an opportunity for you, the student, to strut your intellectual stuff through the selection of prime text evidence and weaving that textual support with your own commentary.
Part A - Like all short answer questions, the first step is to answer the question in your own words simply and directly.
Part B - The next important step is to find two direct quotes from the text that directly support your answer and embed them in your own writing.
Part C - The final, ultimate step is to use your own words to explain how the direct text quotes support your answer.

3. Short Answer Questions (S.A.Q.)
When writing S.A.Q.s, you will be asked to use two different systems of organization as you brainstorm and pre-write. The first organizational system is a planning grid to be used during brainstorming.
Part C
Part C
Part B Part B
Part B Part B
Part A
Part C
Part C

4. Short Answer Questions (S.A.Q.)
After completing the planning grid for brainstorming, you will then use the prewriting organizational system found below:
A) – Answer
B) – Best Embedded Text Quotes
(2 needed)
C) – Commentary (connect the quotes to your answer)

5. Short Answer Questions (S.A.Q.)
You will need to complete both the brainstorming and the prewriting process before you place your final, polished answer in the ELA STAAR box.

6. Short Answer Questions (S.A.Q.)
Important Considerations:
Make sure that all of your words fit on the lines inside the provided final answer box (no doubling lines or writing vertically or horizontally along the border of the answer box).
Both text selections and student commentary need to reflect insightfulness. Do not just provide a literal, superficial response. Do not merely echo or paraphrase text evidence in your connecting and concluding commentary.
When crafting your commentary, do not go beyond the concepts contained in the text evidence. If you provide new information, you must have textual support to defend it.
Your scores on the S.A.Q.s on the STAAR exam for English will factor 33% of your overall EOC score.

7. S.A.Q. Practice - Question
Let’s practice together as a class:
Question: In “The Most Dangerous Game,” what is one significant internal change that Rainsford experiences due to his stay on Ship Trap Island?
Text:
(From the beginning of the story)
“ ‘Don’t talk rot, Whitney,’ said Rainsford. ‘You’re a big game hunter, not a
philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels?’
‘Perhaps the jaguar does,’ observed Whitney.
‘Bah! They’ve no understanding…This hot weather is making you soft, Whitney.
Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes – the hunters and huntees.
Luckily, you and I are hunters.’”
(During the hunt with Zaroff…)
“Then he ran for his life. The hounds raised their voices as they hit the fresh
scent. Rainsford knew now how an animal at bay feels.”

8. S.A.Q. Practice – Planning Grid
C) But after being hunted by Zaroff, Rainsford directly realizes that the hunted experience a keen terror.
(Before/After)
B) “Rainsford knew now how an animal at bay feels.”
B) ‘Who cares how a jaguar feels?”
A) Rainsford learns to empathize with the fear of hunted animals.
B) “Bah! They’ve no under-standing…”
B) “Then
he ran for his life.”
C) Before arriving at Ship Trap Island, Rainsford does not believe hunted animals have any awareness.

9. S.A.Q. Practice – Prewriting
A) – In Richard Connell’s short story “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford experiences a significant internal transformation when he learns to empathize with the fear of hunted animals.
B) – Before arriving at Ship Trap Island, Rainsford does not believe hunted animals have any awareness, “Bah! They’ve no understanding.” But after being hunted by Zaroff his perspective shifts, “Rainsford knew now how an animal at bay feels.”
C) – After his stay on this eerie island, Rainsford directly realizes that the hunted do indeed experience a keen and comprehending terror.

10. S.A.Q. Practice – Final Answer
In Richard Connell’s short story “The Most Dangerous Game”, Rainsford experiences a significant internal transformation when he learns to empathize with the fear of hunted animals. Before arriving at Ship Trap Island, Rainsford does not believe hunted animals have any awareness, “Bah! They’ve no understanding.” But after being hunted by Zaroff his perspective shifts, “Rainsford knew now how an animal at bay feels.” After his stay on this eerie island, Rainsford directly realizes that the hunted do indeed experience a keen and comprehending terror.