1. SLAMS To write a good answer to a question, SLAM it!!

2. SLAMS SENTENCES: Write in complete sentences! SENTENCES: Write in complete sentences! LINES on the paper tell you how long your answer should be. About a ½ to ¾ of a page will provide enough room for a complete answer LINES on the paper tell you how long your answer should be. About a ½ to ¾ of a page will provide enough room for a complete answer ANSWER what the question asks! ANSWER what the question asks! MECHANICS: Fix up – punctuation, capitalization, spelling, grammar, and usage. MECHANICS: Fix up – punctuation, capitalization, spelling, grammar, and usage. SUPPORT your answer with details from the selection. SUPPORT your answer with details from the selection.

3. Rule 1: Answers to open-ended questions should always be written in complete sentences! Exceptions: when you fill out a chart or other graphic organizer when you fill out a chart or other graphic organizer Directions say to list Directions say to list

4. Rule 2: The number of lines on the test is a rough guide to how long your answer should be. An ordinary sentence takes up about one and a half lines if you have big handwriting. If you write small, an average sentence fills up a line. An ordinary sentence takes up about one and a half lines if you have big handwriting. If you write small, an average sentence fills up a line. So, if you’re given 4 or 5 lines to write your answer on, you should probably write about 3 or 4 sentences. So, if you’re given 4 or 5 lines to write your answer on, you should probably write about 3 or 4 sentences.

5. Rule 3: Answer the question that the test asks! This may seem easy to do, but you must also be careful. Don’t give lots of information about other things if they don’t help answer the question. This may seem easy to do, but you must also be careful. Don’t give lots of information about other things if they don’t help answer the question. Use information from the selection to answer the question. Use information from the selection to answer the question.

6. Rule 4: Mechanics means spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Grammar and correct word usage may be included, too. You won’t get a low score if you have a few minor spelling or usage mistakes, but if you get careless and have several errors your answer will be difficult to read and you may lose points. You won’t get a low score if you have a few minor spelling or usage mistakes, but if you get careless and have several errors your answer will be difficult to read and you may lose points.

7. Rule 5: Support your answer with details from the selection! This may be the most important rule in answering questions. Some students don’t pay enough attention to this rule. This may be the most important rule in answering questions. Some students don’t pay enough attention to this rule. The word support means to add information that explains or gives more information about your answer. The word support means to add information that explains or gives more information about your answer. Some or all of the support must come from the selection you are reading. It’s OK to add your opinions, but you MUST include information from the selection! Some or all of the support must come from the selection you are reading. It’s OK to add your opinions, but you MUST include information from the selection!

8. The Dog Ate My Homework Don’t forget to SLAM it! Don’t forget to SLAM it! S  I wrote in complete sentences L  My answers fill up most of the lines. A  I answered the question that was asked. M  I checked for mechanics. S  I supported my answers with details from the story.

9. The Dog Ate My Homework Why was Kim on restriction in the story? Kim was on restriction because she had not done her homework all week and her teacher had called her mother. She had to stay home all weekend and get all her homework done.

10. The Dog Ate My Homework What could Kim be doing if she wasn’t in her room doing last week’s homework? Before she got in trouble, Kim had planned to meet her friends to play ball at the park, and then go to Jiffy Burger for lunch. Before she got in trouble, Kim had planned to meet her friends to play ball at the park, and then go to Jiffy Burger for lunch.

11. The Dog Ate My Homework Why do you think Mr. Hobbs waited until Friday to call Kim’s mother? Mr. Hobbs was probably hoping that Kim would take responsibility for her homework on her own. By Friday, he realized that it wasn’t going to happen. Mr. Hobbs was probably hoping that Kim would take responsibility for her homework on her own. By Friday, he realized that it wasn’t going to happen.

12. SLAMS Let’s review: When writing answers to open-ended questions, we must SLAM it! S – SENTENCES: Write in complete sentences! L –LINES on the paper tell you how long your answer should be. A – ANSWER what the question asks! M – MECHANICS: Fix up – punctuation, capitalization, spelling, grammar, and usage. S – SUPPORT your answer with details from theselection.