MCAS Open Response Review

Creating an Answer for the Open Response Read the question and think about the big picture- what is being asked? Remember that this is a READING COMPREHENSION evaluation; therefore, the answer must lie within the text Find support details from the text that support your claim, and make sure you can explain HOW they prove your answer. (As you read, HIGHLIGHT pieces that you may be able to use in your response!) Remember, there is NOT one right answer- the important thing is to support your answer with examples!!!! Read the question and think about the big picture- what is being asked? Remember that this is a READING COMPREHENSION evaluation; therefore, the answer must lie within the text Find support details from the text that support your claim, and make sure you can explain HOW they prove your answer. (As you read, HIGHLIGHT pieces that you may be able to use in your response!) Remember, there is NOT one right answer- the important thing is to support your answer with examples!!!!

Examples Example of introducing evidence from the text (setting up the quote): When Burn Sanderson asks Mama about having a dog, she says “’A big yeller dog?’ ….looking somber and worried.” Example of explanation of the quote and why it supports your point: The fact that Mama’s faces looks worried suggests that Burn Sanderson’s visit makes her fret about losing Old Yeller. OPEN RESPONSE PROMPT: In the excerpt, Burn Sanderson's arrival affects Mama, Travis, and Little Arliss differently. Describe how EACH character reacts to Burn Sanderson's visit. Support your answer with important and specific information from the text. This is information from the story that sets up the quote!

Score Point 1: The response is a MINIMAL explanation of the question (ex. What the character learns). The response includes LITTLE or NO information from the passage and may include misinterpretations. “Mama is worried that Burn Sanderson is going to take Old Yeller away. Travis hates Bud Searcy because he told Burn about their family having the dog. Little Arliss is mad and sad that Burn is going to take Old Yeller away.” How could this response be improved?

Score Point 2: The response is a partial explanation. The response includes LIMITED information from the passage and may include misinterpretations. Every character reacts to Burn Sanderson’s character differently. Mama reacts to it by looking “somber and worried.” She is also truthful and honest because she tells Burn Sanderson where Old Yeller is instead of lying to him and keeping Old Yeller. Travis reacts to his visit by being worried and “mad at Bud Searcy.” Little Arliss reacts by “he grabbed a bunch of rocks and went throwing them at Burn Sanderson.” What is noteworthy about this response? What is noteworthy about this response?

Score point 3 The response is a MOSTLY clear, COMPLETE, and ACCURATE explanation. The response includes relevant (related) but often GENERAL information from the passage Score point 3: The response is a MOSTLY clear, COMPLETE, and ACCURATE explanation. The response includes relevant (related) but often GENERAL information from the passage. In the excerpt, Burn Sanderson tries to take the dog, Old Yeller, and affects Mama, Travis, and Little Arliss. Although Mama was hurt by the fact that Burn Sanderson was going to take the old dog, she reacted truthfully and honestly by letting him take Old Yeller. In the excerpt, Burn Sanderson tries to take the dog, Old Yeller, and affects Mama, Travis, and Little Arliss. Although Mama was hurt by the fact that Burn Sanderson was going to take the old dog, she reacted truthfully and honestly by letting him take Old Yeller. Little Arliss, on the other hand, reacted by throwing a huge fit at Burn Sanderson: “He screamed and he hollered. He grabbed a bunch of rocks and went to throwing them at Burn Sanderson.” Alriss did this in hopes of being able to keep Old Yeller. Little Arliss, on the other hand, reacted by throwing a huge fit at Burn Sanderson: “He screamed and he hollered. He grabbed a bunch of rocks and went to throwing them at Burn Sanderson.” Alriss did this in hopes of being able to keep Old Yeller. Travis’ reaction was not as overwhelming as Little Arliss’, but he was still hurt. He tried to talk Mama about of letting Burn take Old Yeller: “But Mama!...We can’t do without Old Yeller!” Travis becomes upset because he realizes quickly that Old Yeller is leaving. Later, when he finds out Bud Searcy told Burn where the dog was, he grows angry at him. Travis’ reaction was not as overwhelming as Little Arliss’, but he was still hurt. He tried to talk Mama about of letting Burn take Old Yeller: “But Mama!...We can’t do without Old Yeller!” Travis becomes upset because he realizes quickly that Old Yeller is leaving. Later, when he finds out Bud Searcy told Burn where the dog was, he grows angry at him. What is noteworthy about this response? What is noteworthy about this response? How can it be improved? How can it be improved?

Score point 4: The response is a CLEAR, COMPLETE, and ACCURATE explanation. The response include relevant and specific information from the passage. While Burn Sanderson was talking to the family about taking Old Yeller back, Mama, Travis, and Little Arliss all reacted differently to the situation. First, Mama expressed her sorrow by facial expression. She looked “somber and worried” (Gipson, paragraph 2). She stayed calm on the outside, but on the inside, it tore her apart. On the other hand, Little Arliss chose a different route. He showed his emotions by word of mouth. “He threw a wall-eyed fit. He screamed and hollered” (Gipson, paragraph 15). He couldn’t keep the emotions inside like Mama did. Finally, Travis showed his reaction by both facial expression and word of mouth. At first, he “stood frozen in my tracks- I was so full of panic” (Gipson, paragraph 5). However, when he walked to get Little Arliss, he began to talk to himself and blame other people. The family members all reacted differently, but the outcome changed because their emotions clearly showed they loved the dog and that persuaded Burn to let them keep him.