1. Answering Extended Responses
Writing Better Answers

2. What is the question asking you to do?
Check the verbs!
How many parts does the question have?
How many pieces of information are expected?

3. Structure of response TTQA Gist statement Details to support gist
Concluding statement

4. Turn That Question Around
Question: What did you do last night when you got home from school?

5. Turn That Question Around
Open: Last night when I got home from school I…
Closed: Last night when I got home I did several things.

6. What is a Gist Statement?
A general answer, a big idea, that does not contain important details.
Example: Last night when I got home from school I had fun. (What do you mean? How did you have fun?)

7. Details to support Gist statement
A Gist statement should raise questions that you should answer with appropriate details.

8. Details to support Gist statement
Last night when I got home from school I had fun.
I took my dog for a walk.
My best friend Matt and I rode bikes.
My family made homemade pizzas for dinner.

9. Brings all the ideas together and points back to the main topic.
Concluding Statement
Brings all the ideas together and points back to the main topic.
After sharing an afternoon and evening with my friends and family, I went to bed tired and happy.

10. Mnemonic Device
1. Restate the question and write the general, gist answer.
2. Give details to make gist clear. (If someone hasn’t read…..)
3. Make concluding statement: summary and “so what”?

11. Answer Organizer: Easy as 1,2,3
1. TTQA + Gist 2. Details for evidence and support 3. Concluding statement

12. The Better Answer Scale
Minimal Partially Completely TTQA Gist Details Conclusion Stays on topic Writes neatly Standard conventions

13. Let’s practice
Explain why it is ironic that Kenny treats Rufus the way he does when they first meet. What does Kenny learn from this incident?