1. How to Write a Constructed Response
7th Grade Reading

2. What is a constructed response, anyway?
A response that requires you to apply your knowledge and understanding of a text in a short written answer.

3. Steps for writing a constructed response:
I. Plan * Read the entire prompt * Identify and underline key words in the question/prompt, such as: explain, elaborate, illustrate * Restate the question/prompt in your own words (to be sure that you understand it) * List items that you should identify in your answer * List facts and examples that will support your answer

4. Steps for writing a constructed response:
II. Write * Use the acronym R.A.C.E. to write your response Reword Answer Cite Evidence/Examples Explain

5. Reword Reword the question/prompt and make it into a statement.
* Example Question/Prompt: Explain why Sally’s point of view differs from that of Tom’s.
* Example of Rewording the Question/Prompt: Sally’s point of view differs from Tom’s

6. answer Show how you arrived at your Answer with general reasons.
The R. and the A. can be in the same sentence.
* Example Question/Prompt: Explain why Sally’s point of view differs from that of Tom’s.
* Example of Rewording the Question/Prompt: Sally’s point of view differs from Tom’s…
* Example of Answering the Question/Prompt:
…because Sally has information that Tom does not.

7. Cite evidence/examples
Use the facts and examples that you listed when planning to support the R. and the A. in your response.
Cite at least 3 pieces of evidence/examples.
You can do this in a few ways:
1) With a direct quotation – The passage states, “…”
2)With a paraphrase – As the passage says, … (in your own words)

8. more on Cite evidence/examples
1) With a direct quotation – The passage states, “…” * When you give a direct quotation from the passage to support your ideas, you must place the text in quotation marks! * Words/phrases to use to set up a direct quote: • According to the text, “…” • The author states, “…” • According to the passage, “…”

9. Even more on Cite evidence/examples
2) With a paraphrase – As the passage says… (in your own words) * You may summarize or condense a few lines or ideas from the passage in your own words as long as you make it clear that you are doing so. * Words/phrases to use to set up a paraphrase: • In the text… (put information into your own words) • The author introduces the idea that… (put information into your own words) • According to the story… (put information into your own words)

10. Final Notes on Cite evidence/examples
* Example of Rewording and Answering the Prompt/Question: Sally’s point of view differs from that of Tom’s because Sally has information that Tom does not. * Example of Citing Evidence/Examples: According to the story, Sally saw the text message that Beth sent, and Tom did not. Also, Sally knows that Beth has been acting different lately because she’s stressed out. (This is due to her parents’ impending divorce.) Finally, Sally knows that Beth is planning a hot air balloon ride with Tom for his birthday, so there’s no way she is planning on dumping him.

11. Explain the answer
Explain the evidence/examples that you introduced in C.
* Examples of R., A., and C.: Sally’s point of view differs from that of Tom’s because Sally has information that Tom does not. According to the story, Sally saw the text that Beth sent, and Tom did not. Also, Sally knows that Beth has been acting different lately because she’s stressed out. (This is due to her parents’ impending divorce.) Finally, Sally knows that Beth is planning a hot air balloon ride with Tom for his birthday, so there is no way she is planning on dumping him.
* Example of E.:
It is obvious that Sally’s point of view is going to differ from Tom’s because Tom doesn’t have all the information that Sally does. Tom is basing his information about the text message off hearsay from one of their other friends. He also is not privy to the information that Beth’s parents are going to finalize a divorce soon, nor that Beth is planning on surprising him on his birthday. If he knew all the information that Sally knows, he would be confident that Beth is not planning on dumping him. Obviously, his lack of information makes his point of view different from Sally’s.