Better Answers
Formula
Why do I use it?
Who has ever gotten credit off off an
assignment with these comments from
your teacher:





“Add more details!”
“This does not answer the question.”
“You are not staying on topic.”
“This is hard to follow.”
“Watch your GrammarUsageMechanics”
What is it?



The better answer formula is a step-by-step
guide to ensuring a good grade.
Just like you have formulas for math and
science, there are formulas for writing as
well.
In a formula, it is important to follow all the
steps in the correct order.
So what are the steps?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Restate the question
Construct a gist
Use details to support your answer
Check to make sure that your details stayed
on topic
Check to make sure that you used proper
conventions
Step 1- Restating the Question




Underline the words in the question that you
will use in your answer.
Cross out the words you don’t need.
Change words that need to be changed (e.g.
change “you” to “I”).
Avoid pronouns (e.g. he/she/it)- use real
names.
Here’s what it looks like…
What did you do last night when you
got home from school?
 What did you do last night when you I
got home from school?
 Last night when I got home from school
I…
Now you try
*Remember, don’t answer the question yet, just
restate.

How do you have fun on the weekends?

How would you change your school if it were
possible?
Your restatement should look
something like this…

How do you I have fun on the weekends?
 I have fun on the weekends by…

How would you I change your my school if it
were possible?
 If it were possible, I would change my
school by…
Step2- Constructing a Gist
What is a gist anyway?



A gist is the main idea or topic of your
answer.
Gist answers do not include details
They make us want to ask, “What do you
mean?”
Why use a gist anyway?


Gist answers keep us focused on the topic.
They get us to add more details later on
because we are not trying to squeeze our
answer into one sentence.
Examples of Gist Answers



Last night when I got home from school
(restatement) I had fun.
Last night when I got home from school I did
something exciting.
Last night when I got home from school I did
the usual thing.
Examples of Non-gist Answers

Last night when I got home from school I watched
TV, made dinner, and went to bed.
Notice how by using a non-gist answer, I try to cram all of
my details into one sentence so they aren’t very descriptive.

Last night when I got home from school I was so
mad at my kids because they did not start dinner and
I was really hungry. I had not eaten lunch and really
wanted my dinner ready! Kids these days!
Notice how by not using a gist, I get off topic from the
original question.
Now you try

How do you I have fun on the weekends?
 I have fun on the weekends by…

How would you I change your my school if it
were possible?
 If it were possible, I would change my
school by…
Some examples from actual students

I have fun on the weekends by…
–
–
–

doing the unusual thing
getting on my parents’ nerves
hanging out with my friends
If it were possible, I would change my school by…
–
–
–
changing the schedule around
playing with time
making new rules
And now it’s
time!
Step 3- Adding Details


Now is your chance to add all of those juicy details that your
teachers love.
Make sure that your details stay on topic with your gist.
– e.g. If your gist says, “Last night I did something
outrageous.” One of your details should not be “I sat on
the couch and watched TV.”
Now you try



Add details to one of the sentences you
created using your gist.
If you are finding that you don’t have enough
answers to support your gist, change it to fit
your details.
You should add 2-3 sentences of details.
Examples from students

If it were possible, I would change my school
by doing something fun. I would make a
whole class for sleeping. There would be
soft fluffy beds and warm blankets in the
room. I would make this class the first period
of the day. The only kids that could go to this
class would be kids who are very, very
sleepy.
More examples
I have fun on the weekends by hanging out
with my friends. On Friday nights, we like to
have sleepovers. We rent movies, make
popcorn, and stay up talking all night. We
also like to go to the mall on Saturdays. Our
parents drop us off there for two hours and
we get to go shopping and get pizza at the
food court.
Step 4- Check to make sure that you
stayed on topic and answered what the
question was asking.

Your gist needs to match what the question is
asking
and

Your details need to match your gist
Why aren’t these responses staying on
topic?
How do you have fun on the weekends?
On the weekends, I always have so much
homework. I hate school so much. Mrs.
Smith is the worst teacher ever. She gives
homework every night! I bet when she was a
kid, she never had to do homework on the
weekends.
Cont.
How do you have fun on the weekends?
I have fun on the weekends by spending time with my
family. We like to go out to dinner on Friday nights at
our favorite restaurant, Mario’s. I always get
spaghetti and meatballs. On Saturday I have to
clean my room and then I usually do something with
one of my friends. I love sleeping in late on the
weekends too.
Step 5- Checking for conventions




Check that each sentence starts with a
capital and ends with a punctuation mark
Check for spelling
Check for run-on sentences
Check for any words that don’t make sense
or that you forgot to add
Now you’re ready
You now have all the tools you need to be a
successful writer when answering short
response questions. Remember:
Following the Formula=Getting a Good Grade