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Sample Short/Extended
Response Prompts and
Graphic Organizer
GRADE 4
POUGHKEEPSIE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 2014/2015
Poughkeepsie City School District
Grade 4
Introduction:
The following short and extended response prompts were compiled for the Poughkeepsie City
School District Staff. They are aligned to various Common Core standards, and were retrieved
from Engage NY assessment sample items, as well as PARCC, Smarter Balanced, and
Massachusetts’ MCAS sample items.
According to NY State Department of Education, “The released questions do not represent the
full spectrum of standards assessed on the State tests, nor do they represent the full spectrum
of how the Common Core should be taught and assessed in the classroom.” Utilizing prompts
from multiple locations provides educators the opportunity to see various representations of the
Common Core standards.
The original resource packets titled, “Poughkeepsie City Elementary Schools Literacy Plan
Active Reading & Writing Strategies Open-ended & Extended Response Prompts” have some
limitations as the resource can be quickly exhausted. With that understanding, the following
prompts create a sustainable resource that an educator can use because it can align to
authentic work.
Educators can simply copy and paste any prompt into any document or program. The prompts
were left in their original format to provide insight into cognitive demand, yet, have components
underlined that may be changed to suit the authentic work being done in each class.
Example 1: Grade 4 class reads “Animal Behavior: Animal Defenses.” Students answer
questions and summarize texts about animal defense mechanisms. The original sample
prompt is noted below. It can simply be changed to authentically address the needs.
Sample Prompt CCSS 4.1

According to the text, what are some things that we must find on a planet in order for it to
be inhabited? Use at least two details from the passage in your answer.
Prompt Changed to Address Authentic Work CCSS 4.1

According to the text, who is usually poisonous, the predator or the prey? Use at least
two details from the passage in your answer.
Example 1: Grade 4 class reads a text as part of an assessment “Hearing Sounds
through the Ground.” Students answer questions and summarize texts about animal
defense mechanisms. The original sample prompt is noted below. It can simply be
changed to authentically address the needs.
Sample Prompt CCSS 4.2

How do paragraphs 5-6 contribute to the readers overall understanding of the text? Use
two details to support your response.
Prompt Changed to Address Authentic Work CCSS 4.2

How does paragraph 3 contribute to the readers overall understanding of the text? Use
two details to support your response.
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Poughkeepsie City School District
Grade 4
Sample Short and Extended Response Prompts
Short Constructed Response Prompts
Grade 4
CCSS 4.1
What did Measuring Worm do differently from the others that made her able to save the
three bears? Use two details from the story to support your response.
According to the text, what are some things that we must find on a planet in order for it
to be inhabited? Use at least two details from the passage in your answer.
Based on the passage, explain the most likely reason the author states that “Rabbit was
the strongest of all.” Support your answer with important details from the folktale.
CCSS 4.2
What has Manuelo’s gift taught Carla about discovering new things? Use two details
from the story to support your response.
How does paragraph 6 contribute to the theme of the story? Use two details to support
your response.
How does paragraph 2 contribute to the main idea of the selection? Use two details to
support your response.
How do paragraphs 5-6 contribute to the readers overall understanding of the text? Use
two details to support your response.
CCSS 4.3
Why is the setting of “The Cave of the Oilbird” important? Use two details from the story
to support your response.
Why are there challenges to caring for zoo animals in the winter? Use two details from
the article to support your response.
Why is the setting important to this story? Use two details from the story to support your
response.
Describe how the boys are feeling in this text. Use two details from the text to show how
they are feeling.
Describe the setting of this story. When did it take place? Where did it take place? Use
details from the text to support your answer.
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Poughkeepsie City School District
Grade 4
Describe why Alice is curious about the rabbit. Use two details from the text to support
your answer. Write your answer in complete sentences.
Describe how the mood of Alice changes throughout the selection. Use two details from
the text to support your answer. Write your answer in complete sentences
Describe how Yeshi changes from the beginning to the end of the story. Support your
answer with important details from the story.
Based on the article, explain what climbers can learn from practicing at indoor gyms.
Support your answer with important information from the article.
CCSS 4.5
Why is paragraph 1 of “Elephants Don’t Wear Boots” an effective introduction? Use two
details from the article to support your response.
CCSS 4.8
How do the zookeepers use food to improve the lives of animals? Use two details from
the article to support your response.
What is the author’s purpose for writing this passage? Use details from the passage in
your answer.
CCSS 4.9 Paired Passage Short Response
Both “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “Are the Planets Inhabited?” demonstrate
human curiosity. How is human curiosity shown in each story? Use details from both
passages in your answer.
“Tom Sawyer” and “The Cloud” are both literature. What are two things that are different
between them? Use details from both texts in your answer.
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Poughkeepsie City School District
Grade 4
Extended Response Prompts Paired Passage
Grade 4
How are the topics of “Call of the Wild” and “Elephants Don’t Wear Boots” similar? How
are the topics of both articles different? Use details from both articles to support your
response.
In your response, be sure to



explain how the topics of “Call of the Wild” and “Elephants Don’t Wear Boots” are
similar
explain how the topics of both articles are different
use details from both articles to support your response
The narrator’s relationship with her grandmother develops during her visit. How does
their relationship develop? How do they communicate even though they do not speak
the same language? Use details from the story to support your response.
In your response, be sure to



explain how their relationship develops
explain how they communicate
use details from the story to support your response
Think about the passage “Are the Planets Inhabited?” and the poem “The Cloud”. Both
the passage and the poem talk about human characteristics. What are the human
characteristics discussed in the reading passage? How does the cloud show these
characteristics in the poem? Use details from both the passage and the poem in your
answer.
In your answer be sure to include



Discuss the human characteristics mentioned in the reading passage
Discuss how cloud shows these characteristics in the poem
Use details from both the story and the poem in your answer
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Poughkeepsie City School District
Grade 4
Name _____________________________________________ Date_______________________
Active Strategies for Answering Extended Response Prompts/Tasks
Stage
Unpack
(look in the task)
Unpack
(look in the task)
Unpack
(look in the task)
Unpack
(look in the task)
Directive
2. Circle key direction words.
3. Underline important information.
4. Restate the prompt/task in your own words.
(use all direction and important words)
Read, Annotate, Write
(look in the text)
5. Read and annotate/underline the evidence in the passage. (only
underline evidence that applies to important information, step 3)
Read, Annotate, Write
(look in the text)
6. Invert prompt/task as a topic sentence. (refer to your restated
prompt/task)
Read, Annotate, Write
(look in the text)
Actual prompt/Task:
Accountability
1. Read the prompt/task.
7. Write a response and support with your annotated/underlined
evidence. Use some of your own words.
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Restated prompt/task: (Create a focus target by using most of the circled and underlined words and use as little
words as possible)
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Final response:
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