R.A.C.E.S.
R.A.C.E.S.
And we’re off….
RACES is a writing strategy that will help you to
write better answers to open-ended questions.
When asked an open-ended question based on a
text, it’s not ok to simply give a one-word answer.
Instead, you should give an answer which is
complete (meaning more than one sentence) and
can be found in the text. Then cite evidence or
PROVE that the answer is in the text!
RACES is an ACRONYM
R- Restate
A- Answer
C- Cite Evidence
E- Explain
S- Sum it up!
R=Restate The Question
Q: Which character is the most heroic in Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer’s Stone?
Restate the question to make it a statement or topic
sentence like….
“Hermoine is the most heroic character because……”
OR
“The most heroic character is_____ for the reasons being
that…….”
A=Answer the Question
This should be short and concise, brief and to
the point. It could be your opinion, or it could
come directly from the text.
EX:_____ the biggest hero in Harry Potter and
the Sorcerer’s Stone is Harry.
C=Cite Evidence
Use exact words and specific examples FROM THE TEXT to support
your answer.
Prove it! Identify where the answer is found. Use quotes if you use
EXACT words from the text. If you paraphrase, you do NOT need to use
quotes.
Be sure to choose evidence that best supports your answer.
On page thirty-four, Harry confronts Professor Snape....
In chapter four,…
In the poem,….
In the video,…
In the novel, the author states….
E=Explain
Explain your own PERSONAL understanding of this
information and how it supports your answer.
Use background knowledge, personal experience examples,
and connections to build on the answer.
Make a connection: text to self, text to world, text to text.
This shows that Harry is willing to stand up for what she
believes even though she will have to face the consequences.
OR
In my experience, knowing that there is someone who believes
in you, makes you feel like you can do anything.
OR
Just like in the story of…..
S=Sum it UP!
Create a summary statement to provide closure for your paragraph.
Keep it simple!
Remind the reader what question you were answering by restating your topic
sentence.
So, as you can see, Harry is the perfect choice for hero In the novel Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
OR
Again, Harry is clearly the best example of a hero in the novel.
Or
To sum it up….
Or
In conclusion,….
READ THIS PASSAGE FROM CHAPTER 3
“it’s not just money. Part of it is, but not all. You greasers have a different set of values. You’re
more emotional. Were sophisticated- cool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is real
with us. You know, sometimes I’ll catch myself talking to a girl-friend and realize I don’t mean half
of what I’m saying. I don’t really think a beer blast on the river bottom is super-cool, but I’ll rave
about one to a girl-friend just to be saying something.” she smiled at me. “I never told anyone
that. I think you’re the first person I’ve ever really gotten through to.”
she was coming through to me all right, probably because I was a greaser, and
younger; she didn’t have to keep her guard up with me. “Rat race is a perfect name for it,” she
said. “we’re always going and going and going, and never asking where. Did you ever hear of
having more than you wanted? So that you couldn’t want anything else and then started looking
for something else to want? It seems like we’re always searing for something to satisfy us, and
never finding it. Maybe if we could lose our cool, we could.”
That was the truth. Socs were always behind the wall of aloofness, careful not to let their real
selves show through. I had seen a social-club rumble once. The socs even fought coldly and
practically and impersonally. “That’s why we’re separated. I said. “it’s not money, it’s feeling- you
don’t feel anything, and we feel too violently.”
Chapter 3 page 38
According to Cherry Valance, what
separates the Socials from the
Greasers?
R/AC
E
S
PRACTICE HERE
ANSWERS
R/A- “According to Cherry, what separates the Socials, and the
Greasers is emotions.”
C- “on page 38 Cherry specifically states, “ You Greasers have a
different set of values. You’re more emotional, we’re
sophisticated- cool to the point of not feeling anything.”
E- “Cherry’s explanation is correct because imagine having
everything you’ve ever wanted and not have to work for it. You
wouldn't have to think in ways like the Greasers have to.”
S- “To sum it up, Cherry’s Idea that the Greasers are more
emotional than the Socs helps bring a better understanding to
the differences between the two gangs.”
THEY SAY
Introducing Direct Quotes
“In the article, _____X Y Z states, “……”
Explaining Text
X acknowledges
X demonstrates
X emphasizes
X insists
X observes
X questions
X reminds us
X suggests
X urges us to
X states
X declares
X reports
X defines
According to X, “….”
X himself writes, “…”
In his/her book, ……, X maintains that, “…”
Basically, X is saying ______.
In other words, X believes ____.
Ways to disagree with the Author
-
I think X is mistaken because she overlooks_____.
I disagree with X’s view that_____ because, as recent research has shown,
_____.
X contradicts herself/cannot have it both ways. One on hand, she argues
______. But on the other hand, she also says ________.
By focusing on ________, X overlooks the deeper problem of _____.
Ways to agree with the Author
-
-
I agree that _______ because my experience ________ confirms it.
X’s theory of _____ is extremely useful because it sheds insight on the difficult
problem of _____.
I agree that ______, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people
believe _____.
Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested to know that is
basically boils down to _____.
Anyone familiar with ____ should agree that ____.