1. Constructed Response Responding to Reading

2. Why we write? Within 2-4 sentences, you must provide essential information. Responses should demonstrate deeper thinking.

3. STEP 1: Understand the prompt. Most constructed-response prompts include three basic parts. Background Knowledge Petition Proof

4. Background Knowledge Typically the first sentence establishes a little context or offers a quick reminder of the passage.

5. Petition Each prompt includes a task or request for the reader to accomplish. This may be written as a command or a question. This facet communicates what you must do to complete this required element. Look for words like explain, analyze, compare, etc.

6. Proof The last sentence in the prompt often specifies that students must include multiple details from the text.

7. STEP 2: Restate the question. Your responses are read. Teachers/Scorers don't read the original prompt. Constructed responses have to provide context and make sense all by themselves. Restate the question by rearranging the words in the original prompt. Avoid pronouns in their responses. Use specific nouns, rather than he, she, it, etc. This helps bring context to the response when the scorer is assessing it.

8. STEP 3: Provide a general answer. The first sentence should include a restatement of the prompt and a general answer with no details. This sentence serves as a topic sentence to the specific details and examples that will follow. Students often give too many details in their opening sentence. “No where for your thinking to go!” Slow down your thinking!!!

9. STEP 4: Skim the text. You can’t write about the text if you don’t remember specific details. When it’s time for proof, know what you’re looking for in the text. This requires skimming. Skimming is not plowing through the paragraphs or rereading the entire text.

10. STEP 5: Cite multiple author details. The proof must come in multiple examples. If you provide only one detail, then you aren't fulfilling the prompt requirement of "Use details from the reading." Notice "details" is plural. The expectation is that you find two or more examples.

11. Sentence Starters The text states... For example... According to the passage... A second example from the text... The author also states... On page __, it stated... -

12. STEP 6: End with why the evidence fits. At this point, the scorer is thinking...So what? What do the details prove? Wrap up a response by explaining or interpreting your evidence. Use these concluding sentence starters: This shows... This demonstrates... I believe... Now I know... This proves...

13. STEP 7: Reread only your response. The response should make sense all by itself.