Since you have practiced Short Answer Responses several times,
here is an example of an Extended Response Question and
Answer.
Short answers and extended answers are similar. The
skills used for a short answer apply to an extended answer
as well. They both require an analysis of an element from
the text, strong thinking, detecting of clues, and supporting
of answers with evidence from the text. A prompt for an extended
answer may require more examples than a short answer, or more
information or analysis to write a complete answer and can
earn up to 4 points instead of 2 for a short answer. See the
Rubrics section of the course and look at the example
of an extended answer if you want further review.
Concentrate on helping this student get
the highest score possible, a full four points.
Explaining connections between two written passages
requires strong thinking skills. In this extended
answer example, your best friend has a homework
assignment and he asks for your help. Read the
article and the poem, both about the Octopus,
looking for specific information to help your
friend. See how much you already know and what
is new to you!
Both the poem and the article are linked to the
book icons on the right.
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Octopus
(article)
Octopus
(poem)
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Extended Response Prompt:
Both the poem and the article titled
"The Octopus" give you a picture of the
appearance and behavior of an octopus. Show how the poem
and the article give information on the appearance and
behavior of an octopus.
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Think:
Remember from the rubrics section we learned
to figure out what key elements needed to be answered
in a complete response. For this extended answer, and
for a complete 4 point score, what four
elements need to be included in an answer?
- Explain information from the article
about the appearance of the octopus
- Explain information from the article about
the behavior of the octopus
- Explain information from the poem
about the appearance of the octopus
- Explain information from the poem
about the behavior of the octopus
Your friend asks you to review his writing. You decide
to number the sentences to make it easier to see if
every needed element is included.
It looks like if he leaves his response as it is, it
would score a three. But why settle for a three when he
can add the last bit of information and earn a four? You
suggest three revisions:
-
adding a sentence about the behavior
of the octopus from the poem;
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moving the sentence about the behavior
of the octopus from the article so it is with the
other information from the article;
-
adding an introductory sentence.
Student 2 Answer (revised
with your help!):
The article and poem described
the octopus as very different. (new
intro sentence)
The author says the octopuses
head is bag-like. The article supports
this answer by saying how it can hold
water for oxygen inside itself. The
article describes it as shy and curious
and able to shoot ink. (moved
sentence)
In the poem it says the octopus
uses all eight feet to eat and "grabbed
his victim." (new
sentence about behavior of octopus from
article) It also describes
the tenticles like elephant trunks and
the suction cups are very powerful and
shaped like disks. The poem also describes
the octopus as having a beak.
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Now that's a full four point answer
for sure! Thanks for your help!
Remember: It's so important to keep in mind the key
elements needed in an answer, and then after you are finished
writing, to go back and read the prompt again. Identify
where, in your response, you address each part of the
prompt.
Let's score one more extended response question before
going on to the practice items!
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Example
3 >>
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