INTRODUCTION TO SHORT ANSWER
QUESTIONS FOR ELA STAAR
FINDING A WAY TO PLACE “OUT OF THE BOX”
INSIGHTS APPROPRIATELY INTO A PRESCRIBED BOX…
The STAAR test
requires analytical
reading with deep
understanding
presented in a formal
academic way!
2
0
In the clouds
1
Just the tip of the iceberg
2
Good literal (surface)
interpretation
3
Analysis: Explanation that
goes beyond what a
character says, does, or
learns. You’ve shown
that you know there is
more going on than what
meets the eye.
3
WHAT TO ANALYZE…
• THEME IS THE "BIG IDEA" IN THE AUTHOR'S MESSAGE SUCH
AS: AMBITION, CHOICES, COURAGE, FREEDOM, GROWTH,
BEAUTY, IDENTITY, RELATIONSHIPS, ETC. A THEME
STATEMENT WILL BE WHAT THE AUTHOR FEELS OR BELIEVES
ABOUT THAT BIG IDEA OR WHAT A CHARACTER OR
PERSON LEARNS ABOUT HIMSELF/HERSELF, ABOUT OTHERS,
OR ABOUT LIFE.
• CONFLICT IS THE PROBLEM OR STRUGGLE IN THE STORY.
• CHARACTERIZATION IS THE METHOD THE AUTHOR USES
TO SHOW US THE CHARACTERS IN A STORY. TO LET THE
READER KNOW ABOUT A CHARACTER, THE AUTHOR MAY
USE DIRECT DESCRIPTION, CALLED DIRECT
CHARACTERIZATION, OR MAY USE DIALOGUE, ACTIONS
OR COMMENTS FROM OTHERS, CALLED INDIRECT
CHARACTERIZATION.
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WHAT STAAR SHORT ANSWER ITEMS
REQUIRE…
READ WELL.
THINK DEEPLY.
WRITE FORMAL
LITERARY
ANALYSIS
PARAGRAPHS.
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STUDENT FRIENDLY SA RUBRIC
Score Point 0 – Oops! Stop! Do over!
Idea is not an answer to the question asked
Idea is too general, vague, or unclear
Idea is incorrect - not based on the text
No idea is present
Score Point 1 – Almost there-Caution!
Idea is reasonable, but no evidence is used
Idea is reasonable, but evidence chosen
does not support
Idea needs more explanation
Idea represents only a literal meaning
Score Point 2 – Good to go!
Answer + Proof (supporting
quote)+Explanation
Score Point 3 – Wow!
Answer + Quotes + Explanation which
shows insightful analysis
6
HOW WILL I ANSWER SAQS? I WILL
ACE THEM.
• ANSWER THE QUESTIONS DIRECTLY USING THE SAME WORDING FROM
THE QUESTION.
• CITE EVIDENCE FROM THE SELECTION TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER AND
EMBED THEM IN YOUR OWN WRITING. (CONCRETE DETAIL)
• EXPLAIN AND EXPAND YOUR EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER.
(COMMENTARY)
• IN ADDITION, IF YOU ARE AIMING FOR COMMENDED PERFORMANCE
(WHICH ALL OF YOU SHOULD BE!) YOU WILL NEED TO ADD A “MORAL
OF THE STORY” OR “LIFE LESSON” TO YOU EXPLANATION.
ANSWER THE QUESTION
PROMPT: HOW DOES THE NARRATOR’S ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS
GRANDFATHER CHANGE OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER?
ANSWER THE QUESTION DIRECTLY USING GOOD WORD CHOICE
AND BY RESTATING WORDS FROM THE QUESTION.
• A: THE NARRATOR’S ATTITUDE CHANGES TOWARD HIS
GRANDFATHER OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER FROM BEING
UNGRATEFUL TO APPRECIATIVE OF HIS FAMILY.
• THIS SENTENCE PROVIDES THE “A” PART OF A.C.E. IT RESTATES
THE QUESTION USING THE SAME WORDS AND DIRECTLY GIVES
AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.
CITE EVIDENCE
CITE EVIDENCE FROM THE SELECTION TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER.
C: HE SAYS, “I HATE HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF GRANDPA” AT THE
BEGINNING. WHEN SUMMER IS OVER HE WRITES IN HIS JOURNAL,
“GRANDPA USED TO BE A BASKETBALL STAR! THAT’S SO COOL THAT
HE CAN TEACH ME!”
THESE TWO SENTENCES PROVIDE THE “C” PART OF A.C.E. IT CITES
EVIDENCE THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE ANSWER.
EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER
EXPLAIN OR EXPAND ON YOUR ANSWER: DIRECTLY TELL YOUR READER
HOW THE EVIDENCE YOU HAVE JUST PROVIDED PROVES YOUR ANSWER.
• YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR “E” WITH PHRASES SUCH AS: “THIS
EMPHASIZES…”, “THIS DEMONSTRATES…”, “THIS SIGNIFIES THAT…”
• E: THIS DEMONSTRATES THE NARRATOR’S ATTITUDE CHANGE AS HE
LEARNS NEW ASPECTS OF HIS GRANDFATHER’S LIFE. BY THE END OF THE
SUMMER, THE NARRATOR REALIZES THAT HIS GRANDFATHER IS NOT JUST A
BURDEN; HE ACTUALLY HAS THE ABILITY TO AFFECT THE NARRATOR’S LIFE IN
A POSITIVE WAY.
THIS SENTENCE EXPLAINS HOW THE QUOTE SUPPORTS THE ANSWER TO
BETTER PROVE THE ANSWER.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (S.A.Q.)
• AFTER COMPLETING THE PLANNING GRID FOR
BRAINSTORMING, YOU WILL THEN USE THE PREWRITING
ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEM FOUND BELOW:
A) – ANSWER
C) – BEST EMBEDDED TEXT QUOTES
E) – COMMENTARY (CONNECT THE QUOTES TO YOUR ANSWER)
SINGLE SELECTION IS ONLY ANALYZING ONE STORY, WHILE
A CROSSOVER QUESTION ON STAAR IS COMPARING TWO
DIFFERENT SELECTIONS.
IN THE CROSSOVER QUESTION, YOU ARE PROVIDED MORE
SPACE (10 LINES AS OPPOSED TO 8)
IT’S IMPORTANT IN THE CROSSOVER QUESTION TO PROVIDE
EVIDENCE FROM BOTH SELECTIONS.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SINGLE
RESPONSE AND CROSS-OVER RESPONSE?
LET’S PRACTICE
• CROSSOVER SAQ PROMPT:
ANALYZE ODYSSEUS’ CHARACTER CHANGE FROM PART 1
TO PART 2. DISCUSS HOW THIS CHANGE CONTRIBUTES TO
HIS ROLE AS AN EPIC HERO. EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER AND
SUPPORT IT WITH EVIDENCE FROM THE SELECTION.
CROSS OVER QUESTIONS (S.A.Q.)
WHEN WRITING S.A.Q.S, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO USE TWO
DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF ORGANIZATION AS YOU BRAINSTORM
AND PRE-WRITE. THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEM IS A
PLANNING GRID TO BE USED DURING BRAINSTORMING.
Part E
Part E
Part C
Part C
Part A
Part C
Part E
Part C
Part E
CROSSOVER – PLANNING GRID
(Before/After)
C) In Part 1, Odysseus’ ego gets
the best of him when he yells out
to Polyphemus that “Odysseus,
raider of cities, took [his] eye”.
A) Odysseus’ character
C) However,
E) The fact that
Odysseus only lets a
few trusted people
know who he is reveals
that he has changed
tremendously since the
beginning of the epic.
changes from Part 1 to Part
2 in that he goes from a
very prideful individual who
wants global fame to a man
who simply wants to go
back to the life he once had.
readers see a
change in
Odysseus in Part 2
when he waits to reveal an
identifying “old scar from the tusk
wound [he] got boar hunting” until
the most opportune moment.
E) Odysseus realizes
that glory and fame
are not the most
important priorities
anymore.
CROSSOVER EXAMPLE
 ANALYZE ODYSSEUS’ CHARACTER CHANGE FROM PART 1 TO PART 2. DISCUSS HOW THIS
CHANGE CONTRIBUTES TO HIS ROLE AS AN EPIC HERO. EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER AND
SUPPORT IT WITH EVIDENCE FROM THE SELECTION.
COMPLETE SHORT ANSWER RESPONSE:
ODYSSEUS’ CHARACTER CHANGES FROM PART 1 TO PART 2 IN THAT HE GOES FROM A VERY
PRIDEFUL INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTS GLOBAL FAME TO A MAN WHO SIMPLY WANTS TO GO
BACK TO THE LIFE HE ONCE HAD. IN PART 1, ODYSSEUS’ EGO GETS THE BEST OF HIM WHEN
HE YELLS OUT TO POLYPHEMUS THAT “ODYSSEUS, RAIDER OF CITIES, TOOK [HIS] EYE”.
HOWEVER, READERS SEE A CHANGE IN ODYSSEUS IN PART 2 WHEN HE WAITS TO REVEAL AN
IDENTIFYING “OLD SCAR FROM THE TUSK WOUND [HE] GOT BOAR HUNTING” UNTIL THE
MOST OPPORTUNE MOMENT. THE FACT THAT ODYSSEUS ONLY LETS A FEW TRUSTED PEOPLE
KNOW WHO HE IS REVEALS THAT HE HAS CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY SINCE THE BEGINNING
OF THE EPIC. ODYSSEUS REALIZES THAT GLORY AND FAME ARE NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT
PRIORITIES ANYMORE.
TIPS AND TRICKS
• IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:
• MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF YOUR WORDS FIT ON THE LINES
INSIDE THE PROVIDED FINAL ANSWER BOX (NO DOUBLING LINES
OR WRITING VERTICALLY OR HORIZONTALLY ALONG THE
BORDER OF THE ANSWER BOX).
• BOTH TEXT SELECTIONS AND STUDENT COMMENTARY NEED TO
REFLECT INSIGHTFULNESS. DO NOT JUST PROVIDE A LITERAL,
SUPERFICIAL RESPONSE. DO NOT MERELY ECHO OR PARAPHRASE
TEXT EVIDENCE IN YOUR CONNECTING AND CONCLUDING
COMMENTARY.
• WHEN CRAFTING YOUR COMMENTARY, DO NOT GO BEYOND
THE CONCEPTS CONTAINED IN THE TEXT EVIDENCE. IF YOU
PROVIDE NEW INFORMATION, YOU MUST HAVE TEXTUAL
SUPPORT TO DEFEND IT.
• YOUR SCORES ON THE S.A.Q.S ON THE STAAR EXAM FOR
ENGLISH WILL FACTOR 33% OF YOUR OVERALL EOC SCORE.
What is not allowed: double lines
The State will count 10 lines and stop grading here.
18
I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS
HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=-PAXGBTWFM4
THE FREE BIRD LEAPS ON THE BACK OF THE WIND AND
FLOATS DOWNSTREAM TILL THE CURRENT ENDS AND
DIPS HIS WINGS IN THE ORANGE SUN RAYS AND
DARES TO CLAIM THE SKY. BUT A BIRD THAT STALKS
DOWN HIS NARROW CAGE CAN SELDOM SEE
THROUGH HIS BARS OF RAGE HIS WINGS ARE CLIPPED
AND HIS FEET ARE TIED SO HE OPENS HIS THROAT TO
SING. THE CAGED BIRD SINGS WITH FEARFUL TRILL OF
THE THINGS UNKNOWN BUT LONGED FOR STILL AND
HIS TUNE IS HEARD ON THE DISTANT HILL FOR THE
CAGED BIRD SINGS OF FREEDOM THE FREE BIRD
THINKS OF ANOTHER BREEZE AND THE TRADE WINDS
SOFT THROUGH THE SIGHING TREES AND THE FAT
WORMS WAITING ON A DAWN-BRIGHT LAWN AND
HE NAMES THE SKY HIS OWN. BUT A CAGED BIRD
STANDS ON THE GRAVE OF DREAMS HIS SHADOW
SHOUTS ON A NIGHTMARE SCREAM HIS WINGS ARE
CLIPPED AND HIS FEET ARE TIED SO HE OPENS HIS
THROAT TO SING THE CAGED BIRD SINGS WITH A
FEARFUL TRILL OF THINGS UNKNOWN BUT LONGED
FOR STILL AND HIS TUNE IS HEARD ON THE DISTANT
HILL FOR THE CAGED BIRD SINGS OF FREEDOM. MAYA ANGELOU
LET FREEDOM REIGN,” DELIVERED BY
NELSON MANDELA IN JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA ON MAY 10, 1994
“
THAT SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL ONENESS
WE ALL SHARE WITH THIS COMMON
HOMELAND EXPLAINS THE DEPTH OF THE
PAIN WE ALL CARRIED IN OUR HEARTS AS
WE SAW OUR COUNTRY TEAR ITSELF APART
IN A TERRIBLE CONFLICT, AND AS WE SAW
IT SPURNED, OUTLAWED AND ISOLATED BY
THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD, PRECISELY
BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME THE UNIVERSAL
BASE OF THE PERNICIOUS IDEOLOGY AND
PRACTICE OF RACISM AND RACIAL
OPPRESSION.
PROMPT: WHAT IS ONE SIMILARITY ABOUT THE IDEA OF CAPTIVITY IN
THE EXCERPT “LET FREEDOM REIGN” AND “I KNOW WHY THE CAGED
BIRD SINGS”? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER AND SUPPORT IT WITH
EVIDENCE FROM BOTH SELECTIONS.
YOU TRY: CROSS OVER
PROMPT: WHAT IS ONE SIMILARITY ABOUT THE IDEA OF
CAPTIVITY IN THE EXCERPT “LET FREEDOM REIGN” AND “I
KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS”? EXPLAIN YOUR
ANSWER AND SUPPORT IT WITH EVIDENCE FROM BOTH
SELECTIONS. Part E
Part E
.
Part C
Part C
Part A
Part C
Part E
Part C
Part E