Using R.A.C.E. to Construct Short-Answer Responses

Using R.A.C.E. to Construct Short-Answer Responses

What are the key ingredients?

When writing a short-answer response, you need to:

• Restate the question in your answer

• Answer the question

• Cite text evidence to support your idea

• Explain

• R.A.C.E.

Poll

DId you have a teacher last year that taught you to use R.A.C.E. for writing answers?

• Yes

• I think so?

• No

• I'm not sure

Restate

• Use part of the question to start your answer.

• Example: Which part of the story is the climax?

• I believe the climax is...

• The climax in the story happens when...

Multiple Choice

When you restate, you:

• Use part of the question in your answer

• Write a few sentences about states

Answer

• Answer the question in your restatement.

• Example: Which part of the story is the climax?

• I believe the climax is when Mr. Bueller could embarrass Victor in front of Teresa but chooses not to.

• 
  

Multiple Choice

In your first sentence, you should:

• Cite evidence

• Give a yes or no and stop writing

• Restate part of the question and also begin to answer the question

Cite text evidence

• Use information from the text to prove your answer is correct.

• I believe the climax is when Mr. Bueller could embarrass Victor in front of Teresa but chooses not to. Victor is pleading in his mind for Mr. Bueller not to tell Teresa that he doesn't actually know French.

Multiple Choice

What's the purpose of citing text evidence?

• Use text evidence to prove your answer is incorrect.

• Use text evidence to prove your answer is correct.

• Text evidence shows you read the story.

Explain

• How does your evidence prove your answer?

• Connect your evidence back to the question.

• How would the teacher know you understand the skill?

• I believe the climax is when Mr. Bueller could embarrass Victor in front of Teresa but chooses not to. Victor is pleading in his mind for Mr. Bueller not to tell Teresa that he doesn't actually know French. This is the most suspenseful part of the story and is also a turning point because the conflict is resolved since Victor is closer to making Teresa "his girl." After this, everything changes and the suspense is eased as Victor and Teresa make plans to study together.

Multiple Select

Why is important to explain your evidence? Select the best three options.

• It connects your evidence to the skill

• It provides reasons your evidence answers the question/is correct

• It connects your evidence back to the question

• You don't need to explain your evidence

Open Ended

What is something you learned about writing short-answer responses? Write your answer in a complete sentence. This will count toward your effort score!