Read and Respond…

1. Read and Respond… Ms. Walsh’s guide to: How to Answer Open Response Questions! Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

2. What IS an Open Response Question? • An open response question is a question that asks you to explain your answer in writing. • It’s not a one word answer • It’s not a one sentence answer • It states your answer and REASONS for your answer. • It shows what you know and why you know. • Oftentimes, it must “fit” into a certain box or space on a test. Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

3. When Answering an Open Response Question…Just Remember the TRIPLE EEE! ECHO EVIDENCE ENDING Echo the question in your answer. Evidence must prove your answer End by restating your answer. It’s really THAT simple! Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

4. When Answering an Open Response… Don’t forget your REASONS! • Read the question carefully. (What is being asked?) • ECHO the question in an “answer statement.” (What is my answer?) • Add support, evidence, facts and details. (Where is and what is my PROOF?) • Sum it up in a conclusion. (Restate your answer) • Outwit with words! (use sophisticated vocabulary!) • Nail the basics! (Neatness, Spelling, Punctuation and Capitalization!) • Scan your work! Say it out-loud! READ IT! Let’s take a closer look….STEP BY STEP! Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

5. REASONS… R is for Read! • Read the question carefully. • What is being asked? • Oftentimes, more than one thing is being asked. • Watch for numbers. Some questions ask for “two examples” or “three reasons.” Some questions don’t tell you how many. It’s a good idea to use at least two or three reasons to support your answers. • Underline key words, such as describe or explain. These words tell you what you’ll need to do. Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

6. REASONS… E is for ECHO! • An echo is a repetition of a sound • When you answer a question, you should “echo” the question in your answer. • Question: What color is the sun? • Echo: The color of the sun is… • Answer: yellow. • CORRECT: The color of the sun is yellow. Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

7. REASONS… A is for Add Support! • After you know the answer for the question, you must add support for that answer. • Give details, support and evidence for your answer. • Where is and what is my support? • You get this support from the reading. • You must prove why you know what you know. Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

8. REASONS… A is for Add Support! • Part of “adding support” is telling where you got your support. • When answering an open response question, you want to cite (or give credit to) the name of the reading and the author. • For example: In the poem, “A Road Less Traveled” by Robert Frost, the author shows the reader that the sun is yellow by stating… Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

9. REASONS… S is for Sum it up! • “Sum it up” means add an ending.” • A concluding sentence is how you sum it up! • Your ending sentence restates your answer. Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

10. REASONS… O is for Outwit! • Outwit means “to be smarter than.” • Show your reader that you are intelligent. • Use meaningful vocabulary to get your point across. • Use “content” words • If you are answering an LA question, use LA words Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

11. REASONS… N is for Nail It! • Nail it means “get it right!” • You know all your English rules…now don’t forget them! • Proper capitalization • Proper spelling • Proper punctuation • Neatness! • Indent paragraphs Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

12. REASONS… S is for Scan It! • Scan it means “look it over” • Say it out loud to yourself. • READ IT! READ IT AGAIN! • What did you miss? • Did you leave out a word? • Does it make sense? • Did you answer all the questions? Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

13. What I Need in My Answer: • Introductory Sentence – gives your answer as an “ECHO” to the question. • One “credit” sentence - citing where you are getting your evidence. Give credit to the reading and the author. • Three+ supporting sentences – PROVES why you believe what you believe. Gives evidence! • Closing sentence – restates your answer in an ending sentence Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

14. Example Answer: Question: Read the poem, “A New Day” by Emily Smith. What color is the sun? Support your answer with three reasons. Answer: The color of the sun is yellow. In the poem, “A New Day” by Emily Smith, the author shows the reader that the sun is yellow in three different ways. First, the author used a simile to compare the sun to a golden daisy. The word golden is a synonym for yellow. The second way the author shows the audience that the sun is yellow is when she compares it to a “bright and lovely daffodil.” Daffodils are often yellow. The final way the author shows that the sun is yellow is that she writes “the sun smiled down on me.” This is an example of personification and it could compare the sun to a smiley face, which are many times yellow. In this poem, the reader can clearly make an inference that the sun is yellow. Walsh Publishing Co. 2011

15. Now You Try It! • Your teacher will give you a reading selection and ask you to answer an open response question. • You will be given a graphic organizer and a checklist to help you. • Construct a proper open response answer to turn in for a grade. • May the Force be with You! Walsh Publishing Co. 2011