1. Short Answer Responses

2. Short Answer Response Overview
SAR (Short Answer Response) questions ask you to respond to texts in your STAAR EOC exam
You are required to answer using an analytical paragraph.
There are 2-3 SAR questions on your STAAR exam- they are a part of the “reading” portion of your test. They are worth around 32% of your total score!

3. Short Answer Response Box
For each SAR, you will have a box like the one to the right that allows you ten (10) lines for your answer. You cannot write outside of the box, and you cannot “double line” in order to squeeze more writing in the box.

4. Scoring SARs are NOT scored like your compositions! You can get a 0-3
Score point 0: Unlike compositions, 0’s aren’t as impossible to get. You get a 0 if you get the answer to the question wrong, even if you do everything else right!
Score point 1: Not passing. If your answer is unclear or vague, you’ll get a 1. You can also get a 1 if your answer is correct, but you fail to provide text evidence and/or commentary. Hint: You can only get a passing score if you complete step 1,2, AND 3!
Score point 2: Basic passing score. (But you still lose a point for not getting a 3…) You must answer the question correctly, provide text evidence, and explain using commentary.
Score point 3: Excellent score! You did it! This is the score to shoot for– you went above and beyond, and clearly understand your answer, provided excellent text evidence, and articulated your commentary to perfection!

5. SAR Formula 1) Answer the question
2) Supply the evidence (a quote from the text!)
3) Comment on the quotation
While the formula is a three step process, your response may have more than three sentences. The formula above provides you with the minimum required to craft a sufficient response.

6. Step One: Answer the question
Answer the question! (Hint: You can use the words in the question they give you!)
Be insightful! Do not just provide a literal, superficial response to the question.
Do NOT include your quote within your answer! The answer and textual evidence should be two distinct sentences.
Example Question: Why does the princess choose the 3rd prince?
(Good Answer) The princess chooses the 3rd prince because she’s greedy and wants to use his gift to get even more precious jewels throughout the years.
(Bad Answer) She chooses it because she likes it the most.
(Bad Answer) She likes it the best.
(Bad Answer) IDK

7. Step Two: Supply the Evidence
Find the BEST quote to answer the question.
Introduce the quotation: name the speaker/narrator and explaining briefly the situation/context of the quotation
Quote: a word, phrase, line or lines from a text or source (should support the answer and be included in the same sentence as its introduction)

8. Using Quotations Effectively
Verbs are all in present tense when speaking of events in literature.
Past tense: In “The Princess and the Tin Box”, the princess chose the 3rd prince because she was greedy.
Present tense: In “The Princess and the Tin Box”, the princess chooses the 3rd prince because she is greedy.

9. Quote blending: Blend the text as if the words were already a natural part of the sentence
Not Blended Quote: “It is a very large and expensive box and when I am married, I will meet many admirers who will give me precious gems with which to fill it to the top”.
Blended Quote: The princess shows her selfishness through her explanation that “…many admirers…will give [her] precious gems with which to fill it to the top”.
Example Question: Why does the princess choose the 3rd prince?
The princess chooses the 3rd prince because she’s greedy and wants to use his gift to get even more precious jewels throughout the years. She shows her selfishness through her explanation that “…many admirers…will give [her] precious gems with which to fill it to the top”.
Common question: DO YOU NEED TO CITE THE QUOTE IN A SAR???
The answer: NO!!!!!!
You DO need to cite a quote virtually ANY OTHER TIME IN YOUR LIFE!!! But citing in a SAR just wastes precious room on your STAAR exam!

10. [Brackets]
Brackets: Brackets are used to insert text not in the original quote.
Original Quote: “It is a very large and expensive box, and when I am married, I will meet many admirers who will give me precious gems with which to fill it to the top”.
Quote with Brackets: ““…many admirers…will give [her] precious gems with which to fill it to the top”.

11. Ellipses…
Ellipses: Ellipses are used when a writer wants to leave out part of the quotation to show that some text has been omitted.
Original Quote: “It is a very large and expensive box, and when I am married, I will meet many admirers who will give me precious gems with which to fill it to the top”.
Quote with Ellipses: “…many admirers…will give [her] precious gems with which to fill it to the top”.

12. Comment on the quotation
DO NOT END YOUR ANSWER WITH A QUOTE!!! Always provide commentary after the quote.
You are adding commentary to your answer – you are not:
Re-stating your answer
Summarizing the quote(s) you provided
However when crafting your commentary, do not go beyond the concepts contained in the text evidence. If you provide new information, you must have textual evidence to defend it.
This is where you answer the “so what?”- You are explaining how the quote proves your answer without saying, “this proves my answer because…”

13. Put it all together
Example Question: Why does the princess choose the 3rd prince?
The princess chooses the 3rd prince because she’s greedy and wants to use his gift to get even more precious jewels throughout the years. She shows her selfishness through her explanation that “…many admirers…will give [her] precious gems with which to fill it to the top”. The princess only wants the 3rd prince’s gift because it’s valuable and can hold even more valuable items in the future. This shows her greed for expensive jewels, while also displaying her selfishness for wanting to continue to collect gifts and attention from admirers other than her future husband.

14. Final Reminders
Remember that there are three parts to your SAR response:
Answer the question! (one sentence that answers the question)
Evidence (must be blended, and prove your answer)
Commentary (can be more than one sentence, explains HOW the quote proves your answer)
Fill up the box, but do not go outside the lines or make your own lines! Don't be afraid to have more than one sentence of commentary. [Some of you will need to learn to write small!] Do not always blend your quotes the same way. You can use more than one piece of evidence. Never end in a quote.

15. GIVE IT A TRY
After your quiz tomorrow, you will pick up a SAR Question with a 10 line box. You will complete the question using ONLY “The Most Dangerous Game”.
Your question: Why does General Zaroff hunt humans? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.