How to Answer Constructed Response or Short Answer Questions using RACE Writing Practice

Constructed Response or Short Answer Questions: They ask you to apply your knowledge and understanding in a short written answer. Difference between a constructed response and short answer: A constructed response will always have a document to analyze with the question. A short answer may or may not have a document to analyze with the question so they are very similar. 

How To Write A Constructed Response PLANNING: Read the entire question. Identify and underline key words in the question, such as: explain, elaborate, illustrate. Restate the prompt in your own words to be sure that you understand it. List items you should identify in your answer List facts & examples to support your answer

R.A.C.E. Restate Answer Cite Evidence Explain or expand

R.A.C.E Example: Question - "What color is the sky?" WRITING: Restate: restate the question and make it into a statement as a part of the answer you provide. Example: Question - "What color is the sky?" Correct written answer - “The color of the sky is usually blue," or words to that effect.

R.A.C.E ANSWER: show how you arrived at your answer with general reasons. Usually R & A in R.A.C.E. are in the same sentence. Example: “What color is the sky?” REWORD: The color of the sky is usually blue, … ANSWER: because of how we see light waves and the weather conditions.

R.A.C.E Cite Evidence/Examples: Use the facts or examples to support the R & A in R.A.C.E At least 3 Evidence or Examples EXAMPLE: The Sky is usually blue because of how we see light waves and the weather conditions. According to scientist, humans see a blue sky based on what kinds of light waves are visualized in the eye, how sunny the day is and the direction of the sunlight.

R.A.C.E EXPLAIN THE ANSWER: Elaborate on the evidence and examples you cited in C. EXAMPLE: The Sky is usually blue because of how we see light waves and the weather conditions. According to scientist, humans see blue sky based on what kinds of light waves are visualized in the eye, how sunny the day is and the direction of the sunlight. On a clear, sunny day, the sun is directly shinning on us. Because the molecules in the air reflect the scattered blue light waves more than red or orange when it bounces off the direct sunlight, we see blue. As the sun sets, the direction of its light goes away from us so the molecules reflect the red or orange waves of light that we see at sunsets.

RUBRIC Category: Constructed Response Checklist R=1 A very strong restated sentence is evident. The student understands the prompt and correctly restates the sentence using the correct subject and predicate.   A=1 An answer within a restated sentence is evident. C=1 The student correctly cites evidence from the text using text based support prompts and supports the answer given in the restated sentence. E=1 The student explains or expands on the citation given from the text to support and clarify the answer given. Correct answer = 1 The student correctly answers the writing prompt. Minimum one paragraph = 1 The student writes a full paragraph with 4-6 complete sentences. Category: Constructed Response Checklist R=1 A very strong restated sentence is evident. The student understands the prompt and correctly restates the sentence using the correct subject and predicate.   A=1 An answer within a restated sentence is evident. C=1 The student correctly cites evidence from the text using text based support prompts and supports the answer given in the restated sentence. E=1 The student explains or expands on the citation given from the text to support and clarify the answer given. Correct answer = 1 The student correctly answers the writing prompt. Minimum one paragraph = 1 The student writes a full paragraph with 4-6 complete sentences.

YOUR TURN Read the given text and respond to the question. Remember: Restate Answer Cite Evidence Explain or expand Question - Explain how Maria’s character changed from the beginning of the story to the end.