1. An easy introduction to the R. A. C. E
An easy introduction to the R.A.C.E. method of constructed response using fairy tales.
Restate question
Answer completely
Cite evidence
Explain

2. To answer questions about what you have read:
RACE:
Restate the question in a topic sentence to begin your answer.
ANSWER:
State the idea you had about the text.
Make sure you answer ALL PARTS of the question!
CITE:
Cite what in the text led you to answer.
Give supporting evidence from the text.
Direct Quote
Paraphrase
EXPLAIN:
Explain how the quote(s) or paraphrased evidence support your idea.
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3. First Step: Restate
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4. Restate the question!
Start your answer by restating the question in your topic sentence.
You may want to highlight key words in the question that should be included in your answer.
Sample question: Describe the differences and similarities between Snow White and Cinderella using two examples from the text to support your answer.
Restate: Snow White and Cinderella have many similarities, but there are important differences as well.
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5. Practice restating the following prompts, creating a topic sentence for each. You don’t need to know the answer to the questions to restate them:
1.Explain how a gloomy mood is established in the tale, “Hansel and Gretel?”
The gloomy mood of “Hansel and Gretel” is established in the following ways.
2.Compare and contrast the point of view in “Three Little Pigs” and John Sciezka’s version, “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.”
The original version of “Three Little Pigs” and Sciezka’s updated version have some things in common, but they are also quite different.
3.How does the author illustrate the importance of brains and brawn in the tale, “Billy Goats Gruff?”
Brains and brawn work well together in the tale, “Billy Goats Gruff.
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6. Next step: Answer
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7. Provide your answer! Be clear and concise.
Answer ALL parts of the question.
Sample Task: Compare and contrast the queen in the original “Snow White” and the updated version.
Sample Answer: The queen in both fairy tale versions is jealous of Snow White. (only states similarity)
Sample Answer: The queen in both versions is jealous of Snow White. However, in the original version of Snow White, the queen is Snow White’s real mother and in the updated version, the queen is Snow White’s stepmother. (includes a difference and a similarity)
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8. Next step: Cite Evidence
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9. Cite Evidence
Cite what in the text led you to your answer. Direct Quote: 1. Use quotation marks. 2. Begin with phrases such as: The author says... The text states… For example, the author says... Paraphrase: Describe what is in the text in your own words. Be sure to describe something specific in the text.
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10. Direct Quote Examples: use quotations marks when you repeat a sentence, phrase, or even unique words from the text.
One word that best describes the wolf in “Three Little Pigs” is threatening. He terrorizes the pigs, saying, “I’ll huff and puff and blow your house down.” One word that best describes Cinderella’s stepsisters is unkind. The author writes that the sisters have “fair faces” but have “dark and evil hearts.”
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11. Use signal words and phrases to introduce direct quotes:
The author says... The text states… For example, the author says... I know that the queen despises Snow White because in the text it says, “whenever she looked at Snow-White her heart turned over inside her body”
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12. Paraphrasing: restate a relevant part of the text in your own words.
One word that best describes the wolf in “Three Little Pigs” is threatening. He terrorizes the three pigs, telling them he plans to destroy their houses. One word that best describes Cinderella’s stepsisters is unkind. When Cinderella asks to borrow a dress for the ball, they laugh at her and insult her appearance.
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13. You try: paraphrase the following lines from Disney’s film versions of “Cinderella” and “Snow White.” Be prepared to share!
“No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.” Cinderella “Remember, you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.” Snow White
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14. Be specific with text evidence!
The queen is evil in “Snow White.” I know this because she keeps trying to kill her stepdaughter throughout the story.
The queen is evil in “Snow White.” I know this because she orders a huntsman to kill her stepdaughter and bring back her heart and liver. Also, she disguises herself and tries to sell her unsuspecting stepdaughter a poisoned comb and later, a poisoned apple.
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15. Your turn:
Read the following excerpt from Han’s Christian Anderson’s “The Emperor’s New Suit.” Find evidence to show how the emperor is selfish. Reocord one direct quote and one paraphrased example in your notebook:
Many many years ago lived an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes that he spent all his money in order to obtain them; his only ambition was to be always well dressed. He did not care for his soldiers, and the theatre did not amuse him; the only thing, in fact, he thought anything of was to drive out and show a new suit of clothes. He had a coat for every hour of the day; and as one would say of a king “He is in his cabinet,” so one could say of him, “The emperor is in his dressing-room.”
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16. Explain
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17. Explain how the quote or paraphrased evidence supports your idea.
Begin with signal phrases such as:
This shows…
. This means…
This reveals…
This illustrates…
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18. Restate+Answer + Evidence + Explanation One word that best describes the wolf in “Three Little Pigs” is threatening. He terrorizes the pigs, saying, “I’ll huff and puff and blow your house down.” This verbal threat demonstrates the wolf’s intent to do harm.
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19. Revisit
What word best describes the emperor in “The Emperor’s New Suit?” Support your answer with two examples from the text.
Many many years ago lived an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes that he spent all his money in order to obtain them; his only ambition was to be always well dressed. He did not care for his soldiers, and the theatre did not amuse him; the only thing, in fact, he thought anything of was to drive out and show a new suit of clothes. He had a coat for every hour of the day; and as one would say of a king “He is in his cabinet,” so one could say of him, “The emperor is in his dressing-room.”
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20. Create a graphic organizer: T Chart
Restate Question: Answer: Cite evidence Explain
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21. Create a graphic organizer: T Chart
Restate Question: One word that best describes the emperor in “The Emperor’s New Suit” is …
Answer: selfish
Cite evidence Explain
-“… only ambition If he only cares about clothes, I can
was to be well-dressed” assume he doesn’t care about his
subjects and his responsibility to them.
-He could always be found in his If he is always obsessing over his
closet clothes, he most likely doesn’t put
time or energy into his role as emperor
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22. Sample Response
One word that best describes the emperor in “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is selfish. In the text it says, the emperor’s “only ambition was to be well-dressed. If he only cares about clothes, it can be assumed that he doesn’t care about his subjects and his responsibility to them. The author states that the emperor can always be found in his closet. This also leads me to infer that his time is spent more on his wardrobe than his role as an emperor. The emperor’s actions are those of a selfish man and not a responsible leader.
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23. Read biography of Hans Christian Andersen
Option 1 Assessment
Read biography of Hans Christian Andersen
Respond to the following prompt:
How did Andersen’s life shape his fairy tales? Provide two specific examples from the text to support your ideas.
Be prepared to share your answer!
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24. Option 2 Assessment
Read the lyrics “Let it go” from the movie Frozen (lyrics available online).
Respond to one of the following prompts:
Choice 1: Describe the theme or message of the song and provide two specific examples from the text to support your answer.
Choice 2: For what is the snowstorm a metaphor? Provide two specific examples from the text to support your answer.
Be prepared to share your answer!
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25. Rubric
1 - Little or no relevant text evidence is provided. 2 -Some evidence is provided, but there may be some irrelevant or inaccurate examples included. Little to no explanation is offered. 3 -The required amount of evidence is provided and properly presented through direct quotes and/or paraphrasing, and some explanation is included to show how evidence supports claim. 4 - The required amount of evidence is provided, properly presented through direct quotes and/or paraphrasing, and a complete explanation shows how evidence supports claim.
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