1. How to Answer a Short Answer Question Tony Cordell – Marist School A very Simple System based on …

2. “…Three “S”…..” The “S”….. Statement This answers the Question in the most Simple form Support This demonstrates that you understand the material Summary Pulls the answer together….”finalizes” your answer

3. Statement This is the answer to the Question. Construct a sentence that formally answers the question while at the same time creates a tone of an “introduction”

4. Support “The Rule of Three”…. Always be able to give at least three points that supports the Statement. Three points of “data”. This indicates that you understand the Statement by pulling in facts that are related to the Statement

5. Summary Just what the word indicates. Summarize or draw a conclusion showing that you fully understand the argument being presented

6. Here is An Example Question: Question: “What were the reasons for the failure of the Articles of Confederation?” “What were the reasons for the failure of the Articles of Confederation?”

7. The Statement The Articles of Confederation was the first model of government in the United States. After only a few years, the Confederation government collapsed. The failure of the Articles of Confederation was due to a lack of funding (taxes), the lack of a workable commerce system, and an ineffective method of amending the articles.

8. Significance the new states were concerned about a central tax system. This had been a concern that caused the Revolution. Since states were basically thirteen separate nations each created their own trade deals with other countries and other states, this competition created an unstable economy. Since it took all thirteen states to amend the Articles, the likelihood of agreement on issues such as taxes and trade was unlikely.

9. Summary Even though the thirteen states longed for independence from each other and a central government, the needs of the nation changed, the Articles could not be changed very easily. It became obvious that these Articles could not adapt to those changing needs”

10. Complete Answer The failure of the Articles of Confederation failed due to a lack of funding of revenue, the lack of a workable commerce system, and an ineffective method of amending the articles. the new states were concerned about a central tax system. This had been a concern that caused the Revolution. Since states were basically thirteen separate states that created their own trade deals with other countries and other states, this competition created an unstable economy. Since it took all thirteen states to amend the Articles, the likelihood of agreement on issues such as taxes and trade was unlikely. Even though the thirteen states longed for independence from each other, the needs of the nation changed, the Articles could not be changed very easily. It became obvious that these Articles could not adapt to those changing needs…”

11. Basically…. “…mini- five paragraph essay….” Statement – Thesis Support – Body Summary - Conclusion