Distractor Detective Unit - Day 1

​Distractor
Detective
Strategies

Essential Question: "How does unmasking 'Impostor' answers help a reader prove what is true in a text?"

What is a distractor?

On a test, a distractor is a wrong answer that is similar to the correct answer. Its purpose is to see whether the person being tested can notice the difference.

Poll

Why do you think it is important to detect distractors on a test?

• It helps you know that your "right" answer is right!

• It helps you from falling into a "trap" of picking the wrong answer!

​This answer uses a word or phrase directly from the text/problem, but it doesn't actually answer the question. It’s there to distract students who are just "word matching."

Shiny Object

​This answer is 50% correct, but has one tiny detail that makes it 100% wrong.

​​Half-Truth

This is the answer you’d get if you missed a "NOT" or "EXCEPT" in the question. It’s the perfect answer to the wrong question.

​​Polar Opposite

​​Alien

​The Four Common Distractors

This answer is totally "out of this world" and has nothing to do with the topic. It’s usually the easiest to spot.

Detecting Distractors

​Fluffy chased a speedy squirrel all the way up the giant oak tree in the backyard. Now she is too scared to climb back down and is meowing loudly from a very high branch. Mrs. Hill is on the phone calling the fire department to come rescue her.

​Cause and Effect: The cause is that Fluffy chased a squirrel up a tree. The effect is that she is too scared to climb down.

Multiple Choice

What happened to the cat in the story?

Let's find the Shiny Object!

Remember: The Shiny Object uses exact words from the text but doesn't answer the question.

• Mrs. Hill is calling the fire department for help right now.

• Fluffy chased a squirrel up a tree and got stuck on a high branch.

• Fluffy is studying to become the first feline astronaut at NASA.

• Fluffy is safely on the ground playing with a squirrel in the backyard.

• Fluffy chased a speedy squirrel up the oak tree and then jumped down easily.

Multiple Choice

What happened to the cat in the story?

Let's find the Half-Truth!

Remember: The Half-Truth is 50% correct but has one tiny detail that makes it 100% wrong.

• Mrs. Hill is calling the fire department for help right now.

• Fluffy chased a squirrel up a tree and got stuck on a high branch.

• Fluffy is studying to become the first feline astronaut at NASA.

• Fluffy is safely on the ground playing with a squirrel in the backyard.

• Fluffy chased a speedy squirrel up the oak tree and then jumped down easily.

Multiple Choice

What happened to the cat in the story?

Let's find the Polar Opposite!

Remember: The Polar Opposite is the perfect answer to the wrong question.

• Mrs. Hill is calling the fire department for help right now.

• Fluffy chased a squirrel up a tree and got stuck on a high branch.

• Fluffy is studying to become the first feline astronaut at NASA.

• Fluffy is safely on the ground playing with a squirrel in the backyard.

• Fluffy chased a speedy squirrel up the oak tree and then jumped down easily.

Multiple Choice

What happened to the cat in the story?

Let's find the Alien!

Remember: The Alien is totally "out of this world" and has nothing to do with the topic. It’s usually the easiest to spot.

• Mrs. Hill is calling the fire department for help right now.

• Fluffy chased a squirrel up a tree and got stuck on a high branch.

• Fluffy is studying to become the first feline astronaut at NASA.

• Fluffy is safely on the ground playing with a squirrel in the backyard.

• Fluffy chased a speedy squirrel up the oak tree and then jumped down easily.

Multiple Choice

What happened to the cat in the story?

Let's find the Correct Answer!

Remember: The correct answer should closely match the main idea.

• Mrs. Hill is calling the fire department for help right now.

• Fluffy chased a squirrel up a tree and got stuck on a high branch.

• Fluffy is studying to become the first feline astronaut at NASA.

• Fluffy is safely on the ground playing with a squirrel in the backyard.

• Fluffy chased a speedy squirrel up the oak tree and then jumped down easily.

Detecting Distractors

During recess, Charles was excited to play kickball. He kicked the ball so hard that it flew over the fence and landed in the tall grass. Charles felt frustrated because the game had to stop while Mrs. McAuliffe went to retrieve the ball.

Cause and Effect: The cause is that Charles kicked the ball over the fence while playing kickball.  The effect is that he became upset because the game was stopped while Mrs. McAuliffe went to get the ball.

Multiple Choice

How did Charles feel when the ball went over the fence?

A: "Charles was excited to play kickball with his friends."

What type of distractor is this answer option?

• Shiny Object

• Half-Truth

• Polar Opposite

• Alien

Multiple Choice

How did Charles feel when the ball went over the fence?

B: "Charles felt frustrated and kicked the teacher."

What type of distractor is this answer option?

• Shiny Object

• Half-Truth

• Polar Opposite

• Alien

Multiple Choice

How did Charles feel when the ball went over the fence?

C: "Charles was very happy and started laughing."

What type of distractor is this answer option?

• Shiny Object

• Half-Truth

• Polar Opposite

• Alien

Multiple Choice

How did Charles feel when the ball went over the fence?

D: "A giant eagle flew down and grabbed the kickball."

What type of distractor is this answer option?

• Shiny Object

• Half-Truth

• Polar Opposite

• Alien