How to write a short answer response in 4 basic steps Lesson prepared by: Laurie Humphries, Cedar Valley Middle School Andy Esquivel, Cedar Ridge High School

How to write a short answer response in 4 basic steps In “Seventh Grade,” what kind of person is Victor? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from the text. To effectively respond to this question, you will do four things: 1.Answer the key phrase 2.Summarize your answer in your own words 3.Provide an example (text evidence) 4. Add a conclusion

How to write a short answer response in 4 basic steps In “Seventh Grade,” [what kind of person is Victor]? [Explain your answer] and [support it with evidence from the text] Find the key phrase and answer it Summarize in your own wordsQuote from the story Add a conclusion

Step Change the key phrase from a question into the 1 st part of your answer. Victor is a lucky person In “Seventh Grade,” [what kind of person is Victor]? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from the text

Step (continued) After you answer the question (that is your main point), then ADD the necessary connecting word. This will allow you to explain your answer. EXAMPLES of connecting words: Because That By Who Victor is a lucky person because In “Seventh Grade,” [what kind of person is Victor]? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from the text

Step Complete the sentence by adding your thought. This should explain the answer to the question. Victor is a lucky person because he doesn’t plan things well but he is still successful. In “Seventh Grade,” what kind of person is Victor? [Explain your answer] and support it with evidence from the text

Step Find and add one or two short lines that prove your thought. Victor is a lucky person because he doesn’t plan well but he is still successful. When school begins, he simply claims “Teresa is going to be my girl this year.” He makes a fool of himself in French class, but Teresa still asks him to “help her with her French” in the end. In “Seventh Grade,” what kind of person is Victor? Explain your answer and [support it with evidence from the text]

Step Add a closing sentence or two that summarizes, or restates, your analysis. Your last sentence is a restatement of your first sentence. Victor is a lucky person because he doesn’t plan well but he is still successful. When school begins, he simply claims “Teresa is going to be my girl this year.” He makes a fool of himself in French class, but Teresa still asks him to “help her with her French” in the end. People like Victor who stumble towards their goals and still succeed obviously have luck on their side. In “Seventh Grade,” what kind of person is Victor? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from the text

[Victor is a lucky person because] [he doesn’t plan well but he is still successful.] [When school begins, he simply claims “Teresa is going to be my girl this year.” He makes a fool of himself in French class, but Teresa still asks him to “help her with her French” in the end.] [People like Victor who stumble towards their goals and still succeed obviously have luck on their side.] In “Seventh Grade,” what kind of person is Victor? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from the text Find the key phraseSummarize Quote from the story Add a conclusion