1. R.A.C.E. Response = Better Answers
How to Sound Smart Answering Constructed Response Questions

2. to think about the most important steps in answering a question!
Restate, Answer,
Cite evidence, Explain
Summarize
5-part strategy that
TRAINS YOUR BRAIN
to think about the most important steps in answering a question!

3. Restate
Answer
Cite evidence
Explain
Sum it up

4. Think Aloud
Think about the story of the Three Little Pigs. Respond to this question using RACE:
The wolf in The Three Little Pigs says that everyone is wrong about him. Do you agree that everyone has the wrong perception of him? Use evidence to support your response.

5. Before Beginning: Read the entire question.
Identify and underline key words in the question, such as: explain, name, provide examples.
Define any key terms needed for understanding

9. Restate
Restate the question as a statement in your own words. Use words from the prompt; use the correct transition words (because, by, to, when).
Typical Answer: No I don’t believe him.
Better Answer: The wolf in The Three Little Pigs believes that he is a nice wolf and everyone has the wrong perception about him.

10. Beginning your RACE response:
Don’t start your answer off with “Yes,” “No,” “I believe,” or “I think.”
Don’t use the words They, He, She, It, or We in your first sentence.
The response should make sense even WITHOUT the prompt.
The smartest-sounding responses can stand alone!

11. Answer
Answer the question (main idea but no details yet, just like a topic sentence of a paragraph)
Typical Answer: No, I don’t believe him. He’s a hot mess.
Better Answer: The wolf in The Three Little Pigs believes that he is a nice wolf and everyone has the wrong perception about him, however I feel he is best described as aggressive and mean.

12. Cite Evidence from the Text
Provide evidence to support your answer with details from the text.
Typical Answer: No, I don’t believe him. He’s a hot mess. The way he had those pigs so scared.
Better Answer: The wolf in The Three Little Pigs believes that he is a nice wolf and everyone has the wrong perception about him. In fact, he is best described as aggressive and mean because he kept trying to eat the three innocent pigs. For example, he chased them from house to house and made them run for their lives. He also destroyed two of the pigs’ homes in the process.

13. Explain Evidence and how it relates to text
Explain how your evidence from the text supports your answer
Typical Answer: Students usually leave this part out! 
Better Answer: The wolf in The Three Little Pigs believes that he is a nice wolf and everyone has the wrong perception about him. In fact, he is best described as aggressive and mean because he kept trying to eat the three innocent pigs. For example, he chased them from house to house and made them run for their lives. He also destroyed two of the pigs’ homes in the process. This means that the wolf is the one with the wrong perception about things. While the wolf might think his behavior is nice, most people would agree that based on his actions, he is not a nice wolf.

14. Sum it up Explain how your evidence from the text supports your answer
Typical Answer: Students usually leave this part out! 
Better Answer: The wolf in The Three Little Pigs believes that he is a nice wolf and everyone has the wrong perception about him. In fact, he is best described as aggressive and mean because he kept trying to eat the three innocent pigs. For example, he chased them from house to house and made them run for their lives. He also destroyed two of the pigs’ homes in the process. While the wolf might think his behavior is nice, most people would agree that based on his actions, he is not a nice wolf. Basically, the wolf
felt he wasn’t the bad guy everyone made him out to
be, but rather he was just misunderstood.