Answering Short Answer Questions using “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker
Answering short answer questions is not just for English and state testing. Answering short answer questions is a vital part of life – conversations with friends, parents, teachers, lawmakers. You need to be able to answer a question that has multiple answer choices with the best answer as well as the best format possible.
The following format can be used on any question for any subject matter, even trying to convince your parents to allow you to _______ (fill in the blank) .
A – answer to question
T – textual evidence
E – explain your ideas, connect the answer to the textual evidence
Step One: Ask yourself if you ATE? (The grammar doesn’t sound right, but you remember it better this way.)
Step Two: Write out the letters under the question you’ve been asked.
Step Three: Fill in each portion of the acronym with the information needed. If you are missing a part, you’ll know that your answer is incomplete. With “T,” direct quotations are always best but not required
unless directed by a teacher.
Step Four: Create a set of sentences that answers the question asked.
Practice ATE with
Questions to Ponder about “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker
1.
What is the purpose of the setting in the short story?
2.
What is the importance of the word “hopeless” when describing Maggie?
3.
Describe Maggie. How does this description help advance the plot of the story?
4.
Describe the change that Dee/“Wangero” seems to have undergone.
5.
How has Dee/“Wangero’s” view of family changed through the course of the story?
6.
What is the purpose of Mama’s flashback to the fire?
7.
Why is the narrator Mama and not Dee, Maggie, or even an omniscient narrator?
8.
What is the role of Maggie’s onomatopoeia in the piece?
9.
How is the concept of preservation in the story?
10.
How is the final conversation with Mama and Dee ironic?

Questions to Ponder about “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker using the ATE method for short answer questions
1.
What is the purpose of the setting in the short story?
2.
What is the importance of the word “hopeless” when describing Maggie?
3.
Describe Maggie. How does this description help advance the plot of the story?
4.
Describe the change that Dee/“Wangero” seems to have undergone.
5.
How has Dee/“Wangero’s” view of family changed through the course of the story?
6.
What is the purpose of Mama’s flashback to the fire?
7.
Why is the narrator Mama and not Dee, Maggie, or even an omniscient narrator?
8.
What is the role of Maggie’s onomatopoeia in the piece?
9.
How is the concept of preservation in the story?
10.
How is the final conversation with Mama and Dee ironic?
Questions to Ponder about “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker using the ATE method for short answer questions
1.
What is the purpose of the setting in the short story?
2.
What is the importance of the word “hopeless” when describing Maggie?
3.
Describe Maggie. How does this description help advance the plot of the story?
4.
Describe the change that Dee/“Wangero” seems to have undergone.
5.
How has Dee/“Wangero’s” view of family changed through the course of the story?
6.
What is the purpose of Mama’s flashback to the fire?
7.
Why is the narrator Mama and not Dee, Maggie, or even an omniscient narrator?
8.
What is the role of Maggie’s onomatopoeia in the piece?
9.
How is the concept of preservation in the story?
10.
How is the final conversation with Mama and Dee ironic?
Questions to Ponder about “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker using the ATE method for short answer questions
1.
What is the purpose of the setting in the short story?
2.
What is the importance of the word “hopeless” when describing Maggie?
3.
Describe Maggie. How does this description help advance the plot of the story?
4.
Describe the change that Dee/“Wangero” seems to have undergone.
5.
How has Dee/“Wangero’s” view of family changed through the course of the story?
6.
What is the purpose of Mama’s flashback to the fire?
7.
Why is the narrator Mama and not Dee, Maggie, or even an omniscient narrator?
8.
What is the role of Maggie’s onomatopoeia in the piece?
9.
How is the concept of preservation in the story?
10.
How is the final conversation with Mama and Dee ironic?