STAAR Short Answer Questions
(SAQs)
SAQ
0
No idea present; Idea not based on text; Idea does
not answer the question asked; Idea is too general,
vague, or unclear; Idea “echoes” text evidence;
Response contains only text evidence.
1
Idea needs more explanation or specificity;
Represents literal reading of the text; No text evidence
or flawed text evidence; Evidence generally references
the text; Evidence too partial to support idea; Weak
link to idea; Wrongly manipulates meaning of text;
Evidence does not provide adequate support for idea.
2
Idea is reasonable and goes beyond literal reading of
text; Makes appropriate connections and valid
conclusions; Text evidence is accurate and relevant;
Idea and evidence clearly linked; Demonstrates good
understanding of text.
3
Idea is perceptive and reflects awareness of the
complexities of the text; Coherent explanation; Text
evidence is well chosen for BOTH selections;
Evidence strongly supports validity of the idea;
Demonstrates a deep understanding of the text.
Not Considered
Passing
Considered
Passing
Overall Description
For each SAQ, you will have a box like the one above that
allows you 10 lines for your answer. Please note that the 10th
line is the dark bottom edge of the box, and you cannot write
below this point. Also, you may not “double line” in order to
squeeze more writing in the box.
Example Prompt: In this excerpt of The Old Man and the Sea,
how does personification help to explain Santiago’s relationship
to the sea? Support your answer with evidence from the selection.
Example Response:
He always thought of the sea as la mar which is what people
call her. “He always thought of the sea as la mar which is
what people call her in Spanish when they love her.” This is
trying to explain how other people see her.
Score Point 0: Insufficient
The student repeats verbatim the text.
Example Prompt: In this excerpt of The Old Man and the Sea,
how does personification help to explain Santiago’s relationship
to the sea? Support your answer with evidence from the selection.
Example Response:
Santiago calls the sea “la mar” which means love because he
see’s the sea as a woman. He always refers to her as
“feminine” and of something that withheld “great favors.” So
thinking of the sea as a woman is personification.
Score Point 1: Partially Sufficient
The idea is reasonable, but only a general text reference is
used to support the idea.
Example Prompt: In this excerpt of The Old Man and the Sea,
how does personification help to explain Santiago’s relationship
to the sea? Support your answer with evidence from the selection.
Example Response:
Personification explains the relationship between the old
man and the sea because he thought of the sea as a real
woman and doing things a real woman would do. The old
man thought of the sea “as feminine and as something that
gave or withheld great favors.” Thinking of it as a person
makes him seem closer to the sea.
Score Point 2: Sufficient
The idea is reasonable and goes beyond literal (“makes him
seem closer”). The evidence is relevant.
Example Prompt: In this excerpt of The Old Man and the Sea,
how does personification help to explain Santiago’s relationship
to the sea? Support your answer with evidence from the selection.
Example Response:
Hemingway uses personification to explain that Santiago
thinks “of the sea as la mar which is what people call her in
Spanish when they love her.” He is referring to the sea as a
woman and he takes her side by not blaming her for the
“wild or wicked things.” So he is defending the sea as if she
had life, just like a man would do for a woman.
Score Point 3: Exemplary
The idea (“he is defending the sea as if she had life”) is
perceptive and reflects awareness of the complexities of the
text. The evidence (a combination of paraphrase and direct
quote) is specific and well chosen.
Your turn
• From “The Custom of the Country,” how
would you describe Paul?
• At your table, score the SAQ responses.
Practice
• Read the passage and answer the following
question:
• What do you think Mrs. Patterson really
means beyond the surface of what she
actually says? Use textual evidence to support
your answer.
STAAR Crossover SAQs
You will have one SAQ over two thematically linked
selections, and you will need to address BOTH
adequately in your response.
Crossover SAQ
Overall Description
0
Incorrect or vague; For one or both selections does not
answer question asked; idea is not based on one or
both selections; No idea present; Sometimes contains
only text evidence; “Echoes” the text evidence.
1
Has a reasonable idea but needs more explanation or
specificity; Literal reading of text; Idea contains an
inaccuracy; Weak connection between idea and
support; No text evidence or flawed evidence; Text
evidence is only a general reference to the text or is too
partial to support the idea; Wrongly manipulates the
meaning of the text.
2
Idea is reasonable and beyond literal reading of text
for both selections; Specific enough to allow
appropriate connections and valid conclusions; Text
evidence is accurate and relevant; Demonstrates a
good understanding of the text.
3
Idea is perceptive and reflects awareness of the
complexities of the text; Coherent explanation; Text
evidence is well chosen for BOTH selections;
Evidence strongly supports validity of the idea;
Demonstrates a deep understanding of the text.
Not Considered
Passing
Considered
Passing
For each SAQ, you will have a box like the one above
that allows you 10 lines for your answer. Please note that
the 10th line is the bottom edge of the box, and you
cannot write below this point. Also, you may not “double
line” and attempt to squeeze more writing in the box.
Example Prompt: What is one similarity between the narrator of
“A Handful” and Curtis in “Writin’ on the Line”? Explain your
answer and support it with evidence from both selections.
Example Response:
The narrator in “A Handful” talks in first person and the
narrator in “Writin’ on the Line” third person. In “A
Handful” the narrator constantly uses possessives like my
and I and also has things like “I remember it” and “In a way
I do”. However, in “Writin’ on the Line” the narrator talks
using he’s and avoids possessives and talks like “his first
bank” and “he’s now in demand for personal appearances”.
Score Point 0: Insufficient
The response does not answer the prompt, quotations
provided are not relevant to the prompt, no reasonable idea
or relevant textual evidence is provided.
Example Prompt: What is one similarity between the narrator of
“A Handful” and Curtis in “Writin’ on the Line”? Explain your
answer and support it with evidence from both selections.
Example Response:
Both the narrator of “A Handful” and Curtis had assistance
from a close friend or relative. Kevin saved the narrator of
“A Handful”’s life, as well as help him get over his fear of
bridges. Kaysandra helped Curtis become an author as well.
Score Point 1: Partially Sufficient
This response offers a reasonable idea (assistance from a
close friend or relative). The idea is not supported by
relevant direct quotations from either story.
Example Prompt: What is one similarity between the narrator of
“A Handful” and Curtis in “Writin’ on the Line”? Explain your
answer and support it with evidence from both selections.
Example Response:
Both selections deal with a problem where a loved one helps another
loved one out. In “A Handful” Kevin helps the narrator overcome his
fear of bridges. “The only person who could calm me down was the
person who saved me”. In “Writin’ on the Line” Kaysandra helps
Curtis achieve his dreams of becoming a writer. “Fortunately,
Kaysandra believed in those handwritten words”. With her support,
Curtis was successful.
Score Point 2: Sufficient
The response offers a reasonable idea for each selection (Kevin helping
narrator to overcome the fear of bridges; Kaysandra helping Curtis
achieve his dreams of becoming a writer). Direct quotations support the
ideas from both selections.
Example Prompt: What is one similarity between the narrator of
“A Handful” and Curtis in “Writin’ on the Line”? Explain your
answer and support it with evidence from both selections.
Example Response:
One similarity between the narrator and Curtis is that they were both helped by their
loved one in an hour of need to finally attain success whether it be in the form of
career or triumph over emotional turmoil. Curtis “would be the first [to admit] that
without [Kaysandra’s support] his dream [would never have been realized]”. Despite
the years that have gone by, even when the narrator’s parents thought the story was
getting old, “Kevin just ignored them. [Instead], his face wouldn’t change, and…his
voice only got softer” indicating that Kevin was there for the narrator regardless of
what other people thought.
Score Point 3: Exemplary
The response offers the reasonable idea that both were helped by their loved one in
an hour of need to finally attain success whether it be in the form of career or
triumph over emotional turmoil. Quotations demonstrate a strong connection
between textual evidence and the idea. Incorporated relevant commentary into their
response.