What is ACE?
ACE is a strategy used for answering short
answer or extended response questions
(essay questions).
The ACE Strategy has 4 parts:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Answer the question
Cite evidence
Explain your answer
Summary
Part 1
1.
Answer the question
a. Answer the question
completely.
b. Use key words from the
question in your responses.
Part 2
2.
Cite evidence from the
text (Tell why!)
a. Include evidence
from your reading
or research to
prove your answer.
Part 3
3.
Explain – extend or expand your
answer (Tell more!)
a. Extend your response by
explaining the connection between
the information you cited in step 2
and your answer in step 1.
b. Make it clear that you know the
answer because of the evidence
and why it is important.
Now let’s practice!
Gorillas in Crisis
By Kathleen Donovan-Snavely
What will you have for supper tonight? Hotdogs? Pizza?
Gorilla? It may surprise you to know that these gentle
creatures of the jungle regularly appear as the featured
entrée at many a meal served near the African rainforest.
For nearly 12 million people, gorilla meat is an important
source of protein. That isn’t the only problem that haunts
gorillas lately. The combined threats posed by hunters and
loggers are eliminating large numbers of gorillas in central
and West Africa. Trophy hunters value gorillas for their
collectible heads and hands. Loggers clear vast areas of
the gorillas’ habitat for the lumber. The future of gorillas in
the wild is at risk.
Here is your question:
What are the factors
threatening gorillas in the
wild?
Step 1: Answer the question
The factors threatening gorillas in the wild
are their value as a food source, trophy
hunters, and lumber companies.
**Notice that I included key words from the
question in my response.
Step 2: Cite evidence
Nearly 12 million people eat gorillas for the
protein they provide. Also, hunters can make
a lot of money by selling the heads and
hands of gorillas to collectors. Finally, lumber
companies are cutting down huge numbers
of trees for the lumber leaving gorillas no
place to live.
**Notice that I included evidence from the
paragraph to support my answer
Step 3: Extend/Explain your
answer
Humans are responsible for the precarious
state of gorillas in the wild and unless we stop
these practices, gorillas are at risk of
extinction.
Here’s what it looks like all
together!! 
The factors threatening gorillas in the wild are their
value as a food source, trophy hunters, and lumber
companies. Nearly 12 million people eat gorillas for the
protein they provide. Also, hunters can make a lot of
money by selling the heads and hands of gorillas to
collectors. Finally, lumber companies are cutting down
huge numbers of trees for the lumber leaving gorillas
no place to live. Humans are responsible for the
precarious state of gorillas in the wild and unless we
stop these practices, gorillas are at risk of extinction.