1. Open Response Writing Workshop for Non-Fiction Readings
Say: Today we will be learning how to read actively and write better responses to open-ended questions. The key to your success will be to carefully and thoughtfully follow each step in a process that will help you to become a better reader and writer.

2. Consistency and Perseverance -
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Consistency and Perseverance -
We are creating intellectual habits and routines.

3. Active Reading and Open Response Why are we here?
To train you to develop the skills you will need to help you succeed in your classes, in college, and in your careers;
To improve your performance on state and national assessments including STAAR, AP, SAT, and ACT;
Most importantly, to teach you to think clearly and to articulate your thoughts to an audience.
Reading is the Gateway to Continuous Learning. Writing is Making That Learning Visible!
Say: Please read this slide

4. Our Agenda Teach Active Reading Strategies
Teach Steps in Open Response Writing
Train in Use of the Rubric
Say: Here is our agenda for today’s Literacy Workshop.

5. Active Reading
The first step in writing an open response well is to actively read the question so you determine a purpose for reading.
Say: You need to read for a purpose, not just read to finish. You need to have a specific comprehension goal before you begin reading.

6. Open Response Writing Steps for Non-Fiction Passages
SKIM PASSAGE AND IDENTIFY UNKNOWN VOCABULARY WORDS. DISCUSS OR LOOK UP MEANING BEFORE READING.
ACTIVELY READ QUESTION BY  CIRCLING AND UNDERLINING KEY WORDS.
RESTATE QUESTION AS THESIS  (LEAVING BLANKS).
ACTIVELY READ PASSAGE BY CIRCLING, UNDERLINING, AND ANNOTATING OR NOTE-TAKING.
MAP OUT YOUR ANSWER BY PARAGRAPH. EACH PARAGRAPH MUST HAVE A TOPIC SENTENCE.
WRITE YOUR RESPONSE CAREFULLY,  USING YOUR MAP AS A GUIDE.
STRATEGICALLY REPEAT KEY WORDS FROM  THESIS IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR END SENTENCE.
8. REREAD (OR HAVE PEER READ) AND REVISE AND EDIT YOUR RESPONSE. REPEAT.
The first 4 steps of this writing process are actually reading comprehension strategies to develop your active reading skills.
Reading to find answers to a specific question and actively marking and taking notes while reading increases comprehension and retention.
Step 5 helps you organize the information you have gathered into paragraphs prior to committing your ideas to paper.
Step 7 assists you in maintaining the focus of your writing on your thesis.
Step 8 is essential. You MUST revise and edit your paper AT LEAST once.
Say: Notice that the first 4 steps will help you create active reading habits. Now please take two minutes and read this slide about the process.

7. Let’s take a look at our reading and go through steps 1 and 2 -
Skim through the article and look for vocabulary that might cause you difficulty in understanding the passage. After you do this look up or discuss with other students the words you did not know and develop a working definition of the words used in this context.
Read the question and circle the verbs telling you what you will do with the information gathered from the reading.
Underline important information in the question stem that helps clarify your writing task.
Say: The first 4 steps help you to set a focus for your reading. They help you clear up any vocabulary issues PRIOR to reading, and then clarify what you are being asked to get out of the reading. Here are steps 1&2.
Then read the slide and give 1 1/2 minutes to scan vocabulary and 1 ½ minutes to read question, circle verbs, and underline information in the question.
Say: Many open response questions will be written under timed circumstances. We will set time limits to help you keep moving through the steps.

8. Now let’s do step 3 -
Look at the verb you circled in the question stem. Discuss with at least one other person and restate in your own words what the question is asking you to do.
Discuss what you should be looking for as you read based on this question.
Talk about “flipping the question”; how could you use the words in the question to help write a statement that will become your thesis.
Say: Please read the slide. (Give 1 minute). Before we continue, let’s look at some examples of what “flipping the question” to make a thesis statement.

9. Here are some examples of flipping the question:
If the question was, “Compare and contrast the Star Wars films with the Star Trek films. Determine which franchise is better and defend your answer.” you could begin with “Although both the Star Wars and Star Trek films both have ___________ and ___________, the _______________ movies are superior because ________________.
If the question was, “According to the article, various dietary plans have very specific health benefits. Which plan would best suit you and why?”, you could flip this to begin with, “Since _________ and ____________ both run in my family, the _____________ dietary plan would best suit me because __________________.”
Say: Please look over these examples of flipping the question. Now take 2 minutes and either flip the question or state the question in your own words to guide your reading. You should focus on finding the answer to your restated question or filling in the blanks on your flipped question as you read.

10. Now it is time to actively read the text – step 4
Please actively read the text while making annotations (underline, circle, notes in the margins) focusing on the response to the question you have been given OR make notes on a separate sheet of paper if marking the text is not an option. Underline the thesis (usually in the introductory paragraph) and the topic sentence or main idea in each paragraph. By focusing on thesis and topic sentences you are creating an outline for the passage. Circle key words, like transition words and terms that indicate the author’s tone (how does the author feel about a topic - positive, negative, or neutral). By circling transition words you are focusing on the logic of the author’s argument, and identifying tone helps you to determine the purpose of the passage and the author’s appeals to emotion. Make notes in the margins or on a separate sheet of paper of any details that you may want to include in your response to the question you restated in your own words.
Say: Now it is time to actively read the text. Take about 2 minutes to underline the thesis of the article, and then identify the topic sentence or the main idea in EACH paragraph. (Time 2 minutes)
Now, take 2 minutes to circle any transition words or tone words as you read. (Time 2 minutes)
Say: Now reread your rephrased question or flipped question. You should now read through the passage and annotate (or take notes on a separate sheet) of any topics or examples you want to include in your response. You should also mark any textual evidence you want to use to support your statements. Take another 7 minutes to read the article and complete these tasks.
Time: 7 minutes

11. Now it’s time to create your map of your response – step 5
Body Paragraph 1
Body Paragraph 2
Body Paragraph 3
In this reading ….. (look at the flipped question and restate by filling in the blanks)
Transition from Intro
Topic Sentence
Supporting evidence
Explanation connecting to thesis
Logical Transition
Topic Sentence Supporting Evidence
Concluding Paragraph - connect to thesis -
Summarize analysis and connect to broader context.
Give out the blank graphic organizer and transitions & connectives
Say: Now we move to the planning phase. Using the blank organizer to plan your essay. You already have the top box ready to fill in, using the flipped question or your answer to your rephrased question as your thesis. Organize the information you gathered in the boxes for body paragraphs. Be sure to include a topic sentence and supporting textual evidence for each paragraph. Choose transitions or connectives that express the correct logic for you to guide your reader to your conclusion. You should also explain how the evidence you cited supports your thesis. Take about 10 minutes to organize for writing. You WILL receive a grade for this portion of the essay. You will receive one point for the thesis, one point each for each of the 4 items in each paragraph box, and 1 for the summary of the analysis for a total of 14 points.