How to ACE an extended response question or essay

GIVE ME… an A – ANSWER the question that

is being asked. Reread and restate the question, using your answer to write your topic sentence.

a C – CITE evidence from the text. Use examples and evidence from the text to support your answer.

an E – EXTEND your answer. Explain your answer using your own prior knowledge and examples from your personal experience.

…and ACE a constructed response!

Do you think all the events in Eva’s story really happened, or were they the result of Eva’s imagination? Explain your answer. I think that it all happened. The part

of the boy dropping the ball, the pigeons swooping down, the pizza man crashing, the cat stuck in the tree, and the neighbors creating a restaurant could have all happened.

ACE!

Do you think all the events in Eva’s story really happened, or were they the result of Eva’s imagination? Explain your answer. I think the things that happened

were true but it could have been stretched a little.

Not an ACE!

How does Mrs. Gomez encourage the students at McAuliffe Middle School to take the bicycle safety class? Give at least two details from the passage to

support your answer.

Mrs. Gomez encourages the students to take the bicycle safety class by having Officer Fernando teach the students the rules of the road. She also explains to the students that they will go through a safety check of their own bikes.

ACE!

How does Mrs. Gomez encourage the students at McAuliffe Middle School to take the bicycle safety class? Give at least two details from the passage to

support your answer.

She told the kids the class would be fun and informational.

Not an ACE!

How does Mrs. Gomez encourage the students at McAuliffe Middle School to take the bicycle safety class? Give at least two details from the passage to

support your answer.

Helmets will be adjusted. Be a good role model.

Not an ACE!

How does Mrs. Gomez encourage the students at McAuliffe Middle School to take the bicycle safety class? Give at least two details from the passage to

support your answer.

The students helmets will be adjusted and they will be role models for the other children.

Not an ACE!

How does Mrs. Gomez encourage the students at McAuliffe Middle School to take the bicycle safety class? Give at least two details from the passage to

support your answer.

Mrs. Gomez encourages the students to take the class by explaining their helmets will be adjusted and they will be role models for the other children.

ACE!

REMEMBER…

A – AnswerC – CiteE – Extend…and ACE a constructed

response!

Why do you think the boy was so eager to help Bingham find

the ruins?

I think the boy was eager to help Bingham find the ruins because the boy wants to know what is in the black box.

ACE!

Why do you think the boy was so eager to help Bingham find

the ruins?

The boy was eager to help Bingham find the ruins because Bingham could help him afterwards.

Not an ACE

Why do you think the boy was so eager to help Bingham find

the ruins?

The boy thought Bingham was going to hurt him so he showed Bingham the ruins.

Not an ACE

Why do you think the boy was so eager to help Bingham find

the ruins?

I think the boy is eager to help Bingham find the ruins because he had a dream about him.

ACE!

How do you think Bingham feels about the boy? What

evidence from the text shows this?

Bingham likes the boy because he let him use his camera thing.

Not an ACE

How do you think Bingham feels about the boy? What

evidence from the text shows this?

Bingham feels the boy is extra special because he speaks a different language and wears different outfits.

Not an ACE

How do you think Bingham feels about the boy? What

evidence from the text shows this?

I think Bingham feels good and likes the boy because the boy is leading him up to the ruins of Machu Picchu.

ACE!

How do you think Bingham feels about the boy? What

evidence from the text shows this?

I think he feels grateful toward the boy because the boy showed Bingham the ruins of Machu Picchu.

ACE!

How do you think Bingham feels about the boy? What

evidence from the text shows this?

Bingham feels loving toward the boy because he is looking for him. Bingham is making sure he doesn’t get hurt.

Not an ACE

How do you think Bingham feels about the boy? What

evidence from the text shows this?

I think Bingham likes the boy because Bingham took the first picture of him.

ACE!

REMEMBER…

A – AnswerC – CiteE – Extend…and ACE a constructed

response!