1. R.A.C.E. Response = Better Answers
How to Sound Smart Answering Constructed Response Questions

2. to think about the most important steps in answering a question!
Restate, Answer,
Cite evidence, Explain
4-part strategy that
TRAINS YOUR BRAIN
to think about the most important steps in answering a question!

3. Restate
Answer
Cite evidence
Explain

4. Think Aloud
Think about the story of the Three Little Pigs. Respond to this question using R.A.C.E.:
The wolf in The Three Little Pigs says that everyone is wrong about him. Do you agree that everyone has the wrong perception of him? Use evidence to support your response.

5. Before Beginning: Read the entire question.
Identify and underline key words in the question, such as: explain, name, provide examples.
Define any key terms needed for understanding

6. Beginning your RACE response:
Don’t start your answer off with “Yes,” “No,” “I believe,” or “I think.”
Don’t use the words They, He, She, It, or We in your first sentence.
The response should make sense even WITHOUT the prompt.
The smartest-sounding responses can stand alone!

7. The wolf in The Three Little Pigs says that everyone is wrong about him. Do you agree that everyone has the wrong perception of him? Use evidence to support your response.
Restate
Restate the question as a statement in your own words. Use words from the prompt; use the correct transition words (because, by, to, when).
Typical Answer: No I don’t believe him.
Better Answer: The wolf in The Three Little Pigs believes that he is a nice wolf and everyone has the wrong perception about him.

8. The wolf in The Three Little Pigs says that everyone is wrong about him. Do you agree that everyone has the wrong perception of him? Use evidence to support your response.
Answer
Answer the question (main idea but no details yet, just like a topic sentence of a paragraph)
Typical Answer: No, I don’t believe him. He’s a hot mess.
Better Answer: The wolf in The Three Little Pigs believes that he is a nice wolf and everyone has the wrong perception about him. In fact, he is best described as aggressive and mean.

9. Cite Evidence from the Text
The wolf in The Three Little Pigs says that everyone is wrong about him. Do you agree that everyone has the wrong perception of him? Use evidence to support your response.
Cite Evidence from the Text
Provide evidence to support your answer with details from the text.
Typical Answer: No, I don’t believe him. He’s a hot mess. The way he had those pigs so scared.
Better Answer: The wolf in The Three Little Pigs believes that he is a nice wolf and everyone has the wrong perception about him. In fact, he is best described as aggressive and mean because he kept trying to eat the three innocent pigs. For example, he chased them from house to house and made them run for their lives. He also destroyed two of the pigs’ homes in the process.

10. Explain Evidence and how it relates to text
The wolf in The Three Little Pigs says that everyone is wrong about him. Do you agree that everyone has the wrong perception of him? Use evidence to support your response.
Explain Evidence and how it relates to text
Explain how your evidence from the text supports your answer
Typical Answer: Students usually leave this part out! 
Better Answer: The wolf in The Three Little Pigs believes that he is a nice wolf and everyone has the wrong perception about him. In fact, he is best described as aggressive and mean because he kept trying to eat the three innocent pigs. For example, he chased them from house to house and made them run for their lives. He also destroyed two of the pigs’ homes in the process. While the wolf might think his behavior is nice, most people would agree that based on his actions, he is not a nice wolf.

11. Click to read some student work. Highlight the RACE components.

12. Restate This Question
Read the story 'Scrambled Eggs' and answer the following question. Explain what the innkeeper probably learns from his experience. In your response, use details and examples from the story that support your explanation.

13. Answer the question
Read the story 'Scrambled Eggs' and answer the following question. Explain what the innkeeper probably learns from his experience. In your response, use details and examples from the story that support your explanation.

14. Cite your evidence
Read the story 'Scrambled Eggs' and answer the following question. Explain what the innkeeper probably learns from his experience. In your response, use details and examples from the story that support your explanation.

15. Explain how the evidence supports your thinking
Read the story 'Scrambled Eggs' and answer the following question. Explain what the innkeeper probably learns from his experience. In your response, use details and examples from the story that support your explanation.

16. Read the article 'A Lifeline for Lions' and answer the following question.
Explain whether the title helps a reader understand an important idea of this article. In your response, use information from the article that supports your explanation.
R.A.C.E.

17. Explain whether or not the use of words and phrases in "Bard of Avon" makes the theater in Shakespeare's London sound interesting. In your response, use information from the article that supports your explanation. Write your answer on your answer document.
R.A.C.E.

18. Explain what information could have been added to "Bard of Avon" to help a reader better understand an important idea in the article. In your response, use information from the article that supports your explanation. Write your answer on your answer document.
R.A.C.E.

19. What text feature could have been added to "Bard of Avon" to make the article easier to understand? In your response, use information from the article that supports your answer. Write your answer on your answer document.
R.A.C.E.