RESPONDING TO AN OPENENDED QUESTION
Let’s Go To The Races…..
R
Restate
A
C
E
S
Answer
Cite
Extend
Summarize
Tips for Open-Ended Responses
R = Race: Simply restate the question without answering it
A = Answer: Answer all parts of the question.
• If there are two bullets to a question, answer each bullet in a
separate paragraph.
• If the bullet itself has multiple parts, all parts must be answered
C = Cite: Include direct support, quotes, paraphrases or summaries
• In paragraph ____ the author states...“
E = Extension:
Reflect on the question and offer some insight
• text to self ( a personal anecdote), text to text (refer to another
written text) or text to world (connection).
• think "outside the box”
S = Summarize: Restate the prompt/questions and the main ideas
you want people to remember
HOW TO EXTEND (E) WRITING
Text-to-Text – prompts
- What I just read reminds me of ___________________ (story/book/movie/song)
because...
- The ideas in this text are similar to the ideas in ___________________
because….
- The ideas in this text are different than the ideas in ___________________
because….
Text-to-Self – prompts
- What I just read reminds me of the time when I….
- I agree with/understand what I just read because in my own life...
- I don't agree with what I just read because in my own life...
Text-to-World – prompts
- What I just read makes me think about _________________________ (event
from the past) because……
- What I just read makes me think about _________________________ (event
from today related to my own community, nation or world) because…. What I just
read makes me wonder about the future because….
Open-Ended Question Scoring Rubric
see how RACES will help you…
4
- Clearly demonstrates an understanding of the task (R),
completes all requirements (A), and provides an insightful
explanation or opinion of the text (C), or extends aspects of the
text (E).
3 - Demonstrates an understanding of the task, completes all requirements, and
provides some explanation or opinion using situations or ideas from the text as
support.
2 - May address all of the requirements, but demonstrates only a partial understanding
of the task and uses text incorrectly or with limited success resulting in an
inconsistent or flawed explanation.
1 - Demonstrates minimal understanding of the task, does not complete all
requirements, and provides only a vague reference to, or no use of, the text.
0 - Is completely irrelevant or off-topic.
Remember to…
• Use key words from the question to write a
topic sentence
• Underline key details in the passage that can
be used to support your answer.
• “quote the text”
• Make a relevant text to self, text to text or text
to world connection
Let’s Go to the … RACES!
R = RESTATE the question
Reread and restate the question in your topic sentence
A = ANSWER all parts of the questions being asked
Understand the question being asked, and focus your answer so you don’t go off
topic
C = CITE evidence from the text
Use examples and evidence from the text to support your answer Connections are
made (Text to Text, Text to Self, and Text to World)
E = EXTEND your answer
Explain and expand the relevance of your answer using prior knowledge and
examples from personal experience (This is important because…)
S = SUMMARIZE your response
Restate the prompt to summarize the main ideas