Remember to be as careful
as you have been with the Short Answer prompts.
This is similar, just a little longer because
the question requires a bit more thought, explanation,
analysis, and examples from the text. As
suggested before, review the Extended Response
section of the Rubrics by using the top navigation
bar.
Summary
of the Tips:
First, skim the questions before you read the
passage.
This helps anchor key
words or ideas in your brain so when you
read them in the passage, a bell of recognition
goes off. It is like giving yourself clues
to look for as you read. It helps you become
actively involved with the reading because
you have detective work to do: figure out
the answer!
After reading the passage, read the question
or prompt carefully. Read the question again
until you feel you understand exactly what is
asked in the prompt.
Look for key
words. They are
found in every essay question. Think
about what the question is asking and the key
words will help you figure out what kind of
thinking and writing are needed to answer the
question completely.
Key words might be: analyze, different, compare/contrast,
number of examples required, explain how, describe
similarity / difference, main arguments, point
of view, analyze arguments, writer's ideas, how
could you use, evaluate, explain why or why not,
reasonable conclusion, and always ...
Use evidence from the selection to support
your answer.