Constructed Response in 7 Steps

Constructed Response in 7 Steps

Show your understanding and demonstrate deeper thinking.

Step 1: Understand the Prompt

• Most prompts (questions) include some basic parts

Step 1: Understand the Prompt

• Background knowledge: Usually the first sentence gives context or a reminder of the passage

• Petition: the task or request for the reader to accomplish. Tells you what you must do to complete the task.

• Proof: The last sentence usually tells you what kind of details or proof you need to provide from the text.

Multiple Choice

What is the background of the following prompt? The earthquake in "Aftershock" causes a big conflict for the main characters. Compare and contrast how Katie, her mom, and her dad cope with the disaster. Use text evidence to support your ideas.

• The earthquake in "Aftershock" causes a big conflict for the main characters.

• Compare and contrast how Katie, her mom, and her dad cope with the disaster.

• Use text evidence to support your ideas.

Step 2: Restate the Question

• Question in the answer: most times, the person reading or scoring your answer doesn’t read the original question. Your answer needs to make sense all on its own.

• Avoid pronouns like he, she it, etc. and use proper nouns (names)

Open Ended

Write a question in the answer stem for the following question: Why is Katie so excited that her mom's desk is messy?

Step 3: Provide a general answer

• The first sentence of your response should give a general answer with NO DETAILS.

• Don’t give too many details in your opening sentence

• Can’t use “because”

Multiple Choice

Which is the better general answer for the following question: Do you think Katie and her parents became stronger or grew in some way as a result of the earthquake?

• Overall, I think Katie's parents grew over the course of the story and became a much stronger family.

• Overall, Katie's parents grew and became stronger because they went through hard times and overcame their troubles.

Step 4: Skim the text

• Find details in the text that support your answer

• Look for keywords

Step 5: Cite multiple author details

• Prove your general answer is correct. 

• Give multiple examples 

• Look at the prompt - do you need to give multiple examples?

Step 5: Cite multiple author details

• Use sentence starters: The text states… For example… According to the passage… A second example from the text… The author also states… On page ___, it says…

Step 6: End with how the evidence fits into your answer

• So what? What do your details prove?

• Explain or interpret your evidence.

• Use sentence starters: This shows… This demonstrates… I believe… Now I know… This proves…

Step 7: Reread only your response

• Your response should make sense all on its own

Open Ended

Now, it's your turn: Answer the following question using a constructed response answer - Constructed responses show a deeper understanding of learning. What is an important step to take when writing a constructed response answer? Use specific details from your notes.