Writing the Crossover
SAR for English 1
The Short Answer Response tests your ability
to think deeply about a reading selection and
communicate those thoughts through writing.

You need to be able to
 Answer
the question clearly.
 Provide
evidence from the text to support your answer.
 Explain
your how your evidence proves your answer.
There are TWO types of SAR- the single
selection and the crossover.

The crossover asks you to connect TWO different reading
selections through ONE question.

It is testing your ability to make connections between texts and
clearly communicate your thoughts through writing.

You need to be able to
 Answer
the question clearly.
 Provide
evidence from BOTH texts to support your answer.
 Explain
how your evidence proves your answer and how the
texts relate or connect.
When writing the crossover SAR, you
still use PIE!

Point- answer the question thoughtfully

Illustration- provide textual evidence that supports your
answer

Explanation- explain how that textual evidence supports
your answer

TRANSITION- connect the two reading selections

Illustration- provide textual evidence from the other
selection

Explanation – explain how that textual evidence supports
your answer
In order to help the reader understand your
train of thought, you need to use transition
words that show the relationship between
the two passages.


When the passages are similar:

Likewise…

Just like in the reading selection TITLE, in TITLE…

Just as…

Similarly…
When the passages are different:

Unlike in TITLE, in TITLE…

In contrast…
We will work more in depth with transition
words at a later date, but keep them in
mind!
The rubric for the crossover SAR is a
little different than the single selection.
The biggest difference is the emphasis on BOTH
selections.
 You are expected to provide an answer, examples, and
explanations that reflect a thoughtfulness on BOTH
passages.
 If you discuss both passages but only provide text
evidence from one passage, the HIGHEST you can score is
a score point 1.
 If you only discuss one passage, the HIGHEST you can
score is a score point 0.

Let’s take a look at each score point and
some examples from each.
Crossover SAR Question

What message do you think the speaker in
“Sunday Morning Early” and the narrator of “I
Wish I Was a Poet” are trying to convey? Explain
your answer rand support it with evidence from
both selections.
Score Point 0- example 1
Example 1- scoring explanation

The student does not answer the question asked because
he does not present a message conveyed in either
selection. Instead, the student presents an incorrect idea
followed by a statement of what each selection is
generally about.
Score Point 0- example 2
Example 2- scoring explanation

The student presents a reasonable idea for “I Wish I Was a
Poet” and supports the idea with relevant textual
evidence. However, the response contains neither an idea
nor textual evidence for “Sunday Morning Early.” Because
both selections are not addressed, this response indicates
a very limited reading performance.
Score Point 1- example 5
Example 5- scoring explanation

The student offers the idea that the speaker and the
narrator are trying to tell or say something and supports it
with textual evidence. However, the idea needs more
explanation to be considered reasonable. Therefore, this
response represents a basic reading performance.
Score Point 1- Example 6
Example 6- scoring explanation

The student presents the reasonable idea that the speaker
and the narrator convey the message that human
emotions can be so strong that words cannot describe
them. Although the analysis is clear and reasonable, the
student provides no textual support, making this response
only partially sufficient.
Score Point 2- example 9
Example 9- scoring explanation

The student offers a reasonable idea for each selection:
for “Sunday Morning Early,” the message is that life goes
by fast, and for “I Wish I Was a Poet,” the message is that
even poor people can be in love. Relevant textual
evidence is provided from both selections, making this a
sufficient response.
Score Point 2- Example 10
Example 10- scoring explanation

The student offers the idea that both the speaker and the
narrator wish they had the right words to express how
they felt in each circumstance. The idea is specific and
reasonable and demonstrates the student’s ability to
make appropriate connections across the selections. The
student also supports this idea with a direct quotation
from each selection. This response represents a
satisfactory reading performance.
Score Point 3- Example 13
Example 13- scoring explanation

In this exemplary response, the student offers the
perceptive idea that sometimes it is difficult to find the
right words when you feel passionate about something.
Specific, well-chosen textual evidence is provided to
strongly support the validity of the idea, reflecting the
student’s deep understanding of the selections.
Score Point 3- Example 14
Example 14- scoring explanation

The student presents the reasonable idea that both the
speaker and the narrator convey the message that
sometimes things can be hard to say. Additional analysis
extends the idea and demonstrates the student’s ability to
make discerning connections across the selections. Wellchosen textual evidence strongly supports the validity of
the idea.
For the Crossover SAR, just remember to
think about and write about BOTH selections!

Now take some time to read the other three examples in
your packet and score each one, using your rubric to guide
your decision. Use the words from the rubric to explain
why you gave each score.