1. SAQ-Short Answer Question
A-Answer
P-Prove
E-Explain
We give you this acronym to help you remember that when you answer SAQs, you should always answer in that order.

2. Sentence Stems

3. A: Answer
Answer the question by taking out the question words (ex: who, what, when, where, why, etc.) and restating it as an answer.
Example:
Question: What is the JMS mascot?
Take out the question words: What is the JMS mascot?
Answer: The JMS mascot is a Maverick.

4. P: Prove Prove your answer by supporting it with direct text evidence.
Example:
According to the text, “insert quote here.”
Advanced Example:
This is made evident when (explain an event in the text). According to the text, “insert quote here.”

5. E: Explain
Explain how your text evidence “Prove” directly supports your Answer.
Example:
This quote supports my answer because/by...

6. Practice

7. SAQ-Short Answer Question
What is the theme of “Pandora’s Box?”

8. Brainstorm next to the question
Theme: The overarching idea of a story; often the lesson learned; a phrase that applies to life outside the story
Potential Themes in “Pandora’s Box:”
1.)
2.)
3.)
(Decide which of your ideas is best supported in the text)

9. A-Answer
Your answer should typically be one sentence that directly answers the given question.
For example, let’s take the question-What is the theme of “Pandora’s Box”?
I would start with:
The theme of “Pandora’s Box” is hope outlasts all evil.

10. P-Prove
You must prove your answer with text evidence. You have to use a direct quote with correct punctuation, including quotation marks and page/line numbers. You also have to embed your quote.
Example: The theme of ‘Pandora’s Box’ is hope outlasts all evil. This is made evident when Epimetheus asks Pandora if she thinks hope will live. According to the text, Pandora replies, “I am sure it will. Somehow I know that it will outlive War and Sickness and all the other evils” (479).

11. E-Explain
This is where you explain how your quote proves your answer. You are essentially tying things together. This has to be at least two sentences.
Example: The theme of ‘Pandora’s Box’ is hope outlasts all evil. This is made evident when Epimetheus asks Pandora if she thinks hope will live. According to the text, Pandora replies, “I am sure it will. Somehow I know that it will outlive War and Sickness and all the other evils” (479). This quote shows that even after all the different evils are released from the box, Pandora believes that hope will be able to overcome all. The text describes her as being “no longer downhearted” after hope is released into the world, furthering the point that hope is a force to be reckoned with against evil.

12. Sentence Stems
Sentence stems are to help you! You may write down the entire sentence stem to help you answer the question. You just have to answer each part.
It it says (quote)...that doesn’t mean you write down the word “quote.” You choose your own!

13. Spelling/Grammar
-Always put the text in quotation marks and include your page number.
-Capitalize titles!
-Spell correctly...especially if it is something you took straight from the story.