How to Use S.A.F. Strong Answer Format…

Your Teacher Asks You This: Answer the following question about the text: What is your theme from your research, and how is this evident/shown/supported? Give examples from the text to support your answer. Here’s how you should answer questions that ask for text evidence:

Use… The S.A.F. method! Claim Data/Evidence Warrant Conclusion

1st: Claim -- ONLY ONE SENTENCE Make a claim (hook) by incorporating the prompt (if one is given). Racial Bias is ….(Do not give a definition) Hacking is…. Cyberbullying is… Example: CyberBullying is seen across the board as a problem (epidemic) affecting millions of individuals. This CLAIM MUST BE as follows: argumentative (making a case) controversial (not EVERYONE will agree with it) Specific (detailed)

2nd: Data/Evidence -- can be several sentences if needed Cite/provide specific quotes from the text. (With practice, you will incorporate them into a sentence rather than having them stand alone.) Quote with author and page number: “The girl looked very happy after her test” (Smith 495). Quote with just the author: “The girl looked very happy after her test” (Fuhrman). Use transitions to show your second and/or third examples (for example, for instance, additionally, likewise, similarly, on the other hand, furthermore….. )

3rd: Warrant/Explanation-- can be two or more good sentences Explain your answer in detail. Don’t just LIST an example! You are connecting your data to your claim in this explanation. Explain what your quote means and shows (Explain the HOW IS IT SHOWN and the WHY of its importance).

For S.A.F. paragraphs: Repeat steps #2 and #3 each with a different piece of evidence to support your warrant (your thesis statement) Make sure all of your examples do not leave the reader wondering or looking for clarification due to lack of evidence or explanation.

4th: Conclusion Make sure your thesis statement is reworded to remind the reader Sum up everything (your argument) you’ve written. Add a concluding sentence that draws ther reader to see your point and make it applicable to them and the world.. The BIG PICTURE. Do not ever use In Conclusion, To summarize, In summation ever is a written work.

NO contractions (can’t, won’t, doesn’t, etc.)! Other Reminders: NO contractions (can’t, won’t, doesn’t, etc.)! NO first- or second-person pronouns (I, we, our, my, you, your)! NO informal language (‘cause, ur, etc.)! REREAD your response to make sure it makes sense!

GOOD Example of a Well-Written Response: The theme of “The Sniper” is war forces people to make tragic choices between compassion and survival (claim). This is shown when O’Flaherty describes the main character as “bitten by remorse” (O’Flaherty 214). (data/evidence) The sniper had to kill the enemy sniper in order to survive, but he is now clearly upset with his decision. (warrant) The theme was also displayed when the sniper encountered “an informer” and is forced to shoot her (O’Flaherty 213). (data/evidence) Because the woman had revealed his position, the sniper has to kill her as well as the soldiers she had told in order to prevent his own death. (warrant) In conclusion, the theme of “The Sniper” is the experience of difficult choices during war as shown by the deaths of the enemy sniper and informer at the hands of the main character. (conclusion)