HOW TO WRITE HOW TO WRITE CONSTRUCTED CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE RESPONSE ANSWERS…ANSWERS…

……and earn an “A!”and earn an “A!”

What are constructed What are constructed responseresponsequestions? questions?

Some people call them essay questions.Some people call them essay questions. They require you to write about one They require you to write about one

page .page . You must use evidence from the story You must use evidence from the story

in your constructed response. in your constructed response. You must explain the evidence from the You must explain the evidence from the

story in your constructed response.story in your constructed response.

How can you recognize a How can you recognize a constructed response constructed response question?question?

Carefully read the question.Carefully read the question.

Look for words like Look for words like EXPLAINEXPLAIN DESCRIBE DESCRIBE

COMPARE COMPARE CONTRASTCONTRASTDISCUSSDISCUSS

Danger! Danger!Danger! Danger!NeverNever make a list for an make a list for an answer to a constructed answer to a constructed

response question!response question!

So how do you write a good So how do you write a good constructed response constructed response answer?answer?

Check out the following slides for Check out the following slides for some good ideas!some good ideas!

STEP 1STEP 1 READ THE QUESTION SLOWLY AND READ THE QUESTION SLOWLY AND

CAREFULLY.CAREFULLY.

READ THE QUESTION SLOWLY AND READ THE QUESTION SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY.CAREFULLY.

READ THE QUESTION SLOWLY AND READ THE QUESTION SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY.CAREFULLY.

STEP 2STEP 2Now you’re ready to begin your answer.Now you’re ready to begin your answer.

Your first sentence should restate the Your first sentence should restate the question, question, but not answer it.but not answer it.

Example: Why do students get excited Example: Why do students get excited about vacation?about vacation?

How would you answer this question?How would you answer this question?

BAD EXAMPLEBAD EXAMPLESTUDENTS GET EXCITED ABOUT STUDENTS GET EXCITED ABOUT

VACATION BECAUSE THEY LIKE FREE VACATION BECAUSE THEY LIKE FREE TIME AND SLEEPING LATE.TIME AND SLEEPING LATE.

You’ve answered so much in your first You’ve answered so much in your first sentence, that you have nowhere to go. sentence, that you have nowhere to go. It’s hard to add more ideas, when It’s hard to add more ideas, when you’ve said so much in your first you’ve said so much in your first sentence.sentence.

GOOD EXAMPLEGOOD EXAMPLESTUDENTS GET EXCITED ABOUT STUDENTS GET EXCITED ABOUT

VACATION FOR SEVERAL REASONS.VACATION FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

Now you’ve gotten started, and you Now you’ve gotten started, and you also know how to keep going by also know how to keep going by adding more details in the rest of adding more details in the rest of your sentences.your sentences.

STEP 3STEP 3 Add evidence from the story; then Add evidence from the story; then

explainexplain the evidence. the evidence. Add more evidence; then Add more evidence; then explainexplain it. it. And add more evidence, then And add more evidence, then

explainexplain it, too! it, too!

This part is really pretty easy!This part is really pretty easy!

Good idea…Good idea…It’s a very good idea to use the following It’s a very good idea to use the following

words to make your constructed response words to make your constructed response go together better:go together better:

FirstFirst SecondSecond For instanceFor instanceOn one hand…on the other handOn one hand…on the other handIn the first place…in the second place…In the first place…in the second place…ThenThen NowNow NextNextHoweverHowever AfterwardAfterward FinallyFinally

STEP 4STEP 4Write an ending sentence. You can Write an ending sentence. You can

start your last sentence by using start your last sentence by using these words:these words:

In conclusionIn conclusion As a resultAs a resultConsequentlyConsequently ThereforeTherefore

STEP 5STEP 5Read your answer. Fix any mistakes Read your answer. Fix any mistakes

in spelling, capitalization, in spelling, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. Make grammar, and punctuation. Make sure all the letters in all the words sure all the letters in all the words are written clearly.are written clearly.

STEP 6STEP 6Read your answer one more time.Read your answer one more time.

Does it answer the question?Does it answer the question?

Does it make sense?Does it make sense?

Does it say what you mean?Does it say what you mean?

HERE’S A SUMMARY OF ALL 6 HERE’S A SUMMARY OF ALL 6 STEPS:STEPS:

1.1. Read the question slowly and carefully.Read the question slowly and carefully.2.2. Your first sentence should restate the Your first sentence should restate the

question, but not answer it.question, but not answer it.3.3. Add evidence from the story and explain it.Add evidence from the story and explain it. (do this 3 times)(do this 3 times)1.1. Write an ending sentence.Write an ending sentence.2.2. Read your answer and fix all mechanical Read your answer and fix all mechanical

errors.errors.3.3. Read your answer for meaning.Read your answer for meaning.

Now it is time to practice Now it is time to practice writing a constructed writing a constructed responseresponse

Mrs. Dunleavy has a question for Mrs. Dunleavy has a question for you to answer about the short you to answer about the short story “Thank You, Ma’m.”story “Thank You, Ma’m.”