Strategies for Success on Answering Open-Ended Questions

Open-Ended Response  Tests your READING ability  This is NOT about you  DO NOT include your opinion  Keep it simple and to the point Example: I think… My opinion is…. ( do not include opinion unless it is asked for!) X

Step 1: Read the Questions FIRST  Read the question carefully (before you read the passage).  Underline key words.  For example: What is one conflict that Newt and Catharine face in the selection a “Long Walk to Forever”?

Step 2: Re-state the Question in your Answer  Make sure the opening of your response directly addresses the question.  Re-state the question  For example: In “Long Walk to Forever” a conflict Catherine and Newt face is……

Step 3: Answer the Question Step 3: Answer the Question  Explain in your own words  Keep it simple and to the point  DO NOT ECHO your quote Example: A conflict in “Walk to Forever” is that Catharine is getting married in a week. “The wedding is only a week away.”

Step 4: Support your Answer  Use textual evidence from the selection to support your response.  Your evidence could be a direct quotation.  Make sure you have quoted the words exactly.  Properly quote your textual evidence with “quotation marks.”

Step 4: Support your Answer (Continued) For example: One conflict faced by Newt and Catharine in “Long Walk to Forever” is that Newt loves Catharine, but she is about to get married to someone else. Newt told her, “Remember how much I love you.” She said, “What a crazy time to tell me you love me…My wedding is in one week.”

Step 4: STOP WRITING  DO NOT mention a new idea without textual evidence.  Your score will be a “O” if you do this!

Presentation of Responses  Read over your response.  Is it clear and easy to follow?  Do you need to clarify information?  Write legibly and neatly.  A messy response suggests a poorly put together answer.  IF YOU CAN’T READ IT, THE GRADER CAN’T, EITHER!

Scoring Guide These items are scored in terms of content.  0 means insufficient  1 partially insufficient  2 sufficient (THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE!)  3 exemplary

This is the skinny….. WRITE THIS DOWN  R e-state the question  A nswer and make a connection to the question  S upport your answer with textual evidence from text  S TOP Writing

Tips  Students should avoid the use of slang and informal language in their writing. –Cuz –Gonna –you –& –Don’t abbreviate any words