Where's the beef?

What does your writing look like?

This?

This?

How 'bout this?

Read the question twice Read the question twice.Make sure you reword the question and give a hint of the answer. 1. Detail, proof, or specific example. 2. Quotes from the text. 3. Make sure you support your topic sentence. Reword your points in a concise manner.

Fluffy Bun Answer, more bun than beef. This response uses some words, but gives very little support or details from the text. The answer may say the same thing different ways three or four times.

TMI This response includes so much information that the reader has trouble finding the answer. Can you even find the beef?

The Balanced Hamburger See the beef? Nicely nestled in pickles, cheese, lettuce, ketchup, onions, and special sauce. It would be perfect with one more patty.

Other writing hints

Imperative Verbs

Imperative Verbs The imperative form of the verb gives instructions or commands. It is the base form of the verb, like the infinitive. be Don’t be afraid. play Play quietly. talk Talk to me! put Put three eggs in a bowl. The subject of the imperative isn’t stated, but it is understood to be "you".

Now let’s use imperative verbs to help us compose better extended responses. Let’s look at a possible OAA extended response.

Read the question twice. Find the imperative verbs. Describe your attitude toward Dad at the beginning of the selection and then at the end. Support your change in attitude with specific details from the selection. Read the question twice. Find the imperative verbs. Circle them.

Describe and support are the imperative verbs. Describe your attitude toward Dad at the beginning of the selection and then at the end. Support your change in attitude with specific details from the selection. Describe and support are the imperative verbs. Read, find, and circle are imperative verbs, also.

Describe means Support means to tell or depict in written or spoken words; give an account of: He described the accident very carefully. When talking about objects, Support means . to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for. 2. to sustain \or withstand (weight, pressure, strain, etc.) without giving way; serve as a prop for.

To support your opinion means to prove what you are stating is valid by using specific examples and details from the text.

Honestly, it doesn’t necessarily need to be your personal opinion. You just need to be able to prove it from the text.

Next you need to underline what you are being asked to do. Describe your attitude toward crows at the beginning of the selection and then at the end. Support your change in attitude with specific details from the selection. Next you need to underline what you are being asked to do.

Describe your attitude toward Dad at the beginning of the selection and then at the end. Support your change in attitude with specific details from the selection. Like this.

Find the imperative verbs. Let's look at another sample test question. Predict whether or not you think Crowbar will ever return. Support your prediction with specific details from the selection. Find the imperative verbs.

Predict what you think will happen next Predict what you think will happen next. Support your prediction with specific details from the selection. Predict and support are the imperative verbs.

Predict means to declare or tell in advance; Prediction in literature must be more than a guess. It is based on foreshadowing and clues in the story that you combine with what you know to be true so that you can come to a logical conclusion.

Predict what you think will happen next Predict what you think will happen next. Support your prediction with specific details from the selection. What are you supposed to do? Observe what is underlined.

Answering an extended response can be

Just take the skills and use them. It's not a trick. Just take the skills and use them.

It's not just a TEST skill. It's a life skill!