Writing the Crossover SAR for English 1

The Short Answer Response tests your ability to think deeply about a reading selection and communicate those thoughts through writing. You need to be able to Answer the question clearly. Provide evidence from the text to support your answer. Explain your how your evidence proves your answer.

There are TWO types of SAR- the single selection and the crossover. The crossover asks you to connect TWO different reading selections through ONE question. It is testing your ability to make connections between texts and clearly communicate your thoughts through writing. You need to be able to Answer the question clearly. Provide evidence from BOTH texts to support your answer. Explain how your evidence proves your answer and how the texts relate or connect.

When writing the crossover SAR, you still use PIE! Point- answer the question thoughtfully Illustration- provide textual evidence that supports your answer Explanation- explain how that textual evidence supports your answer TRANSITION- connect the two reading selections Illustration- provide textual evidence from the other selection Explanation – explain how that textual evidence supports your answer

In order to help the reader understand your train of thought, you need to use transition words that show the relationship between the two passages. When the passages are similar: Likewise… Just like in the reading selection TITLE, in TITLE… Just as… Similarly… When the passages are different: Unlike in TITLE, in TITLE… In contrast…

We will work more in depth with transition words at a later date, but keep them in mind!

The rubric for the crossover SAR is a little different than the single selection. The biggest difference is the emphasis on BOTH selections. You are expected to provide an answer, examples, and explanations that reflect a thoughtfulness on BOTH passages. If you discuss both passages but only provide text evidence from one passage, the HIGHEST you can score is a score point 1. If you only discuss one passage, the HIGHEST you can score is a score point 0.

Let’s take a look at each score point and some examples from each.

Crossover SAR Question What message do you think the speaker in “Sunday Morning Early” and the narrator of “I Wish I Was a Poet” are trying to convey? Explain your answer rand support it with evidence from both selections.

Score Point 0- example 1

Example 1- scoring explanation The student does not answer the question asked because he does not present a message conveyed in either selection. Instead, the student presents an incorrect idea followed by a statement of what each selection is generally about.

Score Point 0- example 2

Example 2- scoring explanation The student presents a reasonable idea for “I Wish I Was a Poet” and supports the idea with relevant textual evidence. However, the response contains neither an idea nor textual evidence for “Sunday Morning Early.” Because both selections are not addressed, this response indicates a very limited reading performance.

Score Point 1- example 5

Example 5- scoring explanation The student offers the idea that the speaker and the narrator are trying to tell or say something and supports it with textual evidence. However, the idea needs more explanation to be considered reasonable. Therefore, this response represents a basic reading performance.

Score Point 1- Example 6

Example 6- scoring explanation The student presents the reasonable idea that the speaker and the narrator convey the message that human emotions can be so strong that words cannot describe them. Although the analysis is clear and reasonable, the student provides no textual support, making this response only partially sufficient.

Score Point 2- example 9

Example 9- scoring explanation The student offers a reasonable idea for each selection: for “Sunday Morning Early,” the message is that life goes by fast, and for “I Wish I Was a Poet,” the message is that even poor people can be in love. Relevant textual evidence is provided from both selections, making this a sufficient response.

Score Point 2- Example 10

Example 10- scoring explanation The student offers the idea that both the speaker and the narrator wish they had the right words to express how they felt in each circumstance. The idea is specific and reasonable and demonstrates the student’s ability to make appropriate connections across the selections. The student also supports this idea with a direct quotation from each selection. This response represents a satisfactory reading performance.

Score Point 3- Example 13

Example 13- scoring explanation In this exemplary response, the student offers the perceptive idea that sometimes it is difficult to find the right words when you feel passionate about something. Specific, well-chosen textual evidence is provided to strongly support the validity of the idea, reflecting the student’s deep understanding of the selections.

Score Point 3- Example 14

Example 14- scoring explanation The student presents the reasonable idea that both the speaker and the narrator convey the message that sometimes things can be hard to say. Additional analysis extends the idea and demonstrates the student’s ability to make discerning connections across the selections. Well- chosen textual evidence strongly supports the validity of the idea.

For the Crossover SAR, just remember to think about and write about BOTH selections! Now take some time to read the other three examples in your packet and score each one, using your rubric to guide your decision. Use the words from the rubric to explain why you gave each score.