How to Answer Short Answer/Constructed Response Questions using the “ R.A.C.E. ” Acronym

1. On a half sheet of paper, answer the following questions. You have 4 minutes to complete this assignment. Make a list of five to ten tips or strategies for completing a constructed response or short answer question

2. How to Answer Short Answer/Constructed Response Questions using the “R.A.C.E.” Acronym

3. R.A.C.E. • Restate • Answer • Cite Evidence • Explain

4. Restate: restate the question and make it into a statement as a part of the answer you provide. • Example: • Question - "What color is the sky?" • Correct written answer - “The color of the sky is usually blue," or words to that effect. R.A.C.E

5. R.A.C.E • ANSWER: show how you arrived at your answer with general reasons. Usually R & A in R.A.C.E. are in the same sentence. Example: “What color is the sky?” • RESTATE: The color of the sky is usually blue, … • ANSWER: because of how we see light waves and the weather conditions.

6. R.A.C.E • Cite Evidence/Examples: Use the facts or examples to support the R & A in R.A.C.E • At least 3 Evidence or Examples • EXAMPLE: • The Sky is usually blue because of how we see light waves and the weather conditions. According to scientists, humans see blue sky based on what kinds of light waves are visualized in the eye, how sunny the day is and the direction of the sunlight.

7. R.A.C.E • EXPLAIN THE ANSWER: Elaborate on the evidence and examples you cited in C. • EXAMPLE: • The Sky is usually blue because of how we see light waves and the weather conditions. According to scientist, humans see blue sky based on what kinds of light waves are visualized in the eye, how sunny the day is and the direction of the sunlight. On a clear, sunny day, the sun is directly shinning on us. Because the molecules in the air reflect the scattered blue light waves more than red or orange when it bounces off the direct sunlight, we see blue. As the sun sets, the direction of its light goes away from us so the molecules reflect the red or orange waves of light that we see at sunsets.

8. YOUR TURN • What kind of King and person is Claudius? How do we see this in Act One? • Remember: • Restate • Answer • Cite • Explain

9. Example Answer • Claudius is a manipulative and strict King. Claudius becomes King by marrying Gertrude after the death of his brother. Claudius uses the marriage to try and make the people of Denmark forget about the questionable death of his brother, the former King. In Act One, Claudius refuses to allow Hamlet to return to School and asks that he call him and treat him as his father. He also demands that he stop mourning his father immediately. These show that he is manipulative and strict because he is demanding people do what he says instead of allowing them to make their own decisions.

10. Example Answer • Claudius is a manipulative and strict King. Claudius becomes King by marrying Gertrude after the death of his brother. Claudius uses the marriage to try and make the people of Denmark forget about the questionable death of his brother, the former King. In Act One, Claudius refuses to allow Hamlet to return to School and asks that he call him and treat him as his father. He also demands that he stop mourning his father immediately. These show that he is manipulative and strict because he is demanding people do what he says instead of allowing them to make their own decisions. • RESTATE THE QUESTION

11. Example Answer • Claudius is a manipulative and strict King. Claudius becomes King by marrying Gertrude after the death of his brother. Claudius uses the marriage to try and make the people of Denmark forget about the questionable death of his brother, the former King. In Act One, Claudius refuses to allow Hamlet to return to School and asks that he call him and treat him as his father. He also demands that he stop mourning his father immediately. These show that he is manipulative and strict because he is demanding people do what he says instead of allowing them to make their own decisions. • ANSWER THE QUESTION(S)

12. Example Answer • Claudius is a manipulative and strict King. Claudius becomes King by marrying Gertrude after the death of his brother. Claudius uses the marriage to try and make the people of Denmark forget about the questionable death of his brother, the former King. In Act One, Claudius refuses to allow Hamlet to return to School and asks that he call him and treat him as his father. He also demands that he stop mourning his father immediately. These show that he is manipulative and strict because he is demanding people do what he says instead of allowing them to make their own decisions. • CITE EVIDENCE

13. Example Answer • Claudius is a manipulative and strict King. Claudius becomes King by marrying Gertrude after the death of his brother. Claudius uses the marriage to try and make the people of Denmark forget about the questionable death of his brother, the former King. In Act One, Claudius refuses to allow Hamlet to return to School and asks that he call him and treat him as his father. He also demands that he stop mourning his father immediately. These show that he is manipulative and strict because he is demanding people do what he says instead of allowing them to make their own decisions. • EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER

14. Practice On a blank sheet of paper, answer the following short answer questions from Act One of Hamlet. Make sure you follow the RACE model and complete all four parts of the answer: 1) Laertes clearly does not trust Hamlet and tells Ophelia that they shouldn’t be together. Why does he not have trust for Hamlet and what reasons does he provide for Ophelia? 2) Hamlet chooses to go with the ghost when the ghost asks him to follow him. Does Hamlet believe that the ghost is his father? Why does Hamlet decide to follow the mysterious apparition?