How to Answer a Short Answer/ Open-Ended Response (OER) Question

Steps for answering (ACE)… A= Answer Directly answer the question immediately (1st sentence or 2) in your own words Example (Question): Where does Mockingbird take place? How is this place like your hometown? Discuss some of the characters in this town. Answer: Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb County, Alabama during the 1930s and can be compared to Pequannock in terms of the characteristics of any small town USA.

ACE… 2) C= Cite Give evidence from the text/movie to support your assertions Example: Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb County, Alabama during the 1930s and can be compared to Pequannock in terms of the characteristics of any small town USA. Toward the middle of the novel, the narrator, Scout, explains her town is a place where… (YOU NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC IF THIS IS AN ACTIVITY WHERE YOU MAY USE YOUR BOOK!)

ACE Step 2 continued… *If the question also quotes the text, you must reference that specific quote and state its significance. EX: Where does Mockingbird take place? How is this place like your hometown? Discuss some of the characters in this town. “Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I knew it.” -Scout p. 6 Answer: You must include this quote in your answer and talk about why Scout might have talked about her town like this; does this make sense with what you are saying about small towns?

ACE… 3) E= Explain How does your evidence from the novel explain the point you are trying to make? Give your opinion on the topic by linking it to your life and your experiences. Use phrases like the following: “This proves that” “This shows that” “My opinion is relevant because”

Basic Format for ACE… 1st paragraph Answer the question (ALL of them may be too much for 1 paragraph) Cite the direct quote or indirect info from the text to help you answer the question Explain your reasoning for feeling this way and using this info 2nd paragraph (optional) Answer any other parts of the question, so that all parts are covered thoroughly Repeat the ACE process for this question

Rubric for grading an OER.. 4= ALL parts of ACE are covered on a literal and symbolic level- extends beyond just the text (what makes an answer interesting) 3= ALL parts of ACE are covered, but it is short and does not give enough explanation to extend beyond the text 2= The A and C are covered, but there really isn’t any explanation for why your examples are relevant 1= Only 1 question is answered with no support 0= incomplete, blank, did not answer the question asked