1. How to Answer Constructed Response Questions Writing Practice Modified by Dr. Williams, 10/7/14 https://teacherweb.com/LA/.../Constructed_Response_Practice.ppt

2. Constructed Response Questions: Ask you to apply your knowledge and understanding in a short written answer. On standardized tests, these short written answers are scored on a scale like 0,1,2,3, or 4 points.

3. Acronym--RACES To understand and answer the constructed response essay question, the easiest way is to memorize the acronym "RACES" - this stands for reword, answer, cite, explain, and summary. If you are able to restate a question, provide an answer using evidence cited from the prompt given, and then explain how that evidence does, in fact, support the answer, you will probably score well on the constructed response essay section of any exam you take.

4. Rewording the Question (the "R" in "RACES") Reword the question means that you are to restate the question and make it into a statement as a part of the answer you provide. If you were to be asked "What color is the sky?", you would not simply answer "blue" - instead, the correct answer would be "The color of the sky is blue," or words to that effect.

5. Answering the Question (the "A" in "RACES") In order to answer the question, you need to understand what you are being asked, and then make sure you provide the answer to that specific question. The answer, as in the example above, may come in the first sentence as you reword the question into a statement, but in an essay question you will then need to show how you arrived at your answer.

6. Citing Evidence (the "C" in "RACES") As the constructed response question is meant to show how well you comprehended and were able to draw inferences from the essay prompt, it is essential that you give examples from the prompt to show how they support your answer.

7. More about Cite Your response must include at least one short direct quotation that is in quotation marks and has a set up. Look at the back of your Notes on Annotating and Citing sheet that should be in the KEEPERS section of your binder. Here you will find Six Ways to Cite the Text.

8. Explaining the Answer (the "E" in "RACES") In addition to the evidence you've cited from the prompt, you will need to supply your own reasoning for why you think your answer is correct. This is probably the most difficult part of the paragraph.

9. Explaining the Summary (the “S" in "RACES") At the end of your paragraph, you’ll need to make sure to have a statement that ties your thinking together. Often, this is a restatement of the R in RACES.

10. Let’s look at some examples: We will start out with simple examples. Question: What are two characteristics of mammals? Give two examples. Two characteristics of mammals are they are warm-blooded and give birth to their young. According to Document A, two examples of mammals are humans and bears. Mammals have characteristics that are unique to them. Is every part of RACES included in this paragraph?

11. Another example: Name two kinds of overhead serves in volleyball. Explain the benefits of using each one. Tip: Identify the four parts of the question. Answer: Two kinds of overhead serves are the top spin and the floater. Top spin would be used for speed projection and the floater for height (“Volleyball for All”). The two kinds of overhead serves are used for different reasons. Tip: Count the four parts of the answer. Is every part of RACES included in this paragraph?

12. Writing Tips for Your Response: Prewriting: Read the entire prompt. 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. Make a list of the items you are supposed to identify in your answer. Make a list of reasons that will support your answer.

13. Writing: Use the question to form your topic sentence. (Use the same terms in the question for the first sentence of your paragraph answer!) Make sure you include all FIVE parts of the question in your answer. Remember, you get a point for each part you answer correctly! As you see, these are “short answer questions” and are not meant to be answered as an essay. Identify exactly what the question asks, then make sure that your response answers each of the five parts of RACES. On the Milestones, no answer at all gets 0 points! When trying to figure out how long your response should be, look at the question AND the space provided for clues.

14. Another example: “The Sky is Low” THE sky is low, the clouds are mean, A travelling flake of snow Across a barn or through a rut Debates if it will go. A narrow wind complains all day How some one treated him; Nature, like us, is sometimes caught Without her diadem. – Emily Dickinson Question: How does the word "person" give you a clue as to the meaning of personification? Why do you think a writer would want to use personification in a poem? List two examples of personification found in the poem at left.

15. Answer: In the poem by Dickinson, the word “person” lets me know that personification means that some object in the poem has qualities or actions like a person. A poet might use personification to help us feel a relationship to the object. “The clouds are mean” and “narrow wind complains” are both examples of personification. Emily Dickinson used personification in her poetry.

16. Resources https://teacherweb.com/LA/.../Constructed_R esponse_Practice.ppt https://teacherweb.com/LA/.../Constructed_R esponse_Practice.ppt http://www.acadia.k12.la.us/RHS/6635- CRQ.html http://www.acadia.k12.la.us/RHS/6635- CRQ.html YouTube Video Explaining RACE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPnt9AF aTdc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPnt9AF aTdc www.hopees.u69.k12.me.us/HES/htmlfiles/re sources/.../Richappt.ppt www.hopees.u69.k12.me.us/HES/htmlfiles/re sources/.../Richappt.ppt