STAAR/EOC Short Answer is a
Literary Analysis Paragraph
Quick Note
• Instruction must emphasize critical inferential
thinking rather than isolated skills.
• We do not teach reading, writing, and grammar
in isolation.
• Students must be able to make connections
between different genres and be able to see
thematic links.
• Good writers are avid readers.
Short Answer Questions
• Short Answer Questions are an opportunity for students,
to strut their intellectual stuff through the selection of
prime textual evidence and weaving that textual
support with their own commentary, literary
techniques, and/or thematic statements
Part A - Like all short answer questions, the first
step is to answer the question in your own words perceptively,
insightfully, and directly. (THESIS)
Part B - The next important step is to provide direct quotes
from the text that specifically support the validity of your answer
and embed them in your own writing. Introduce your textual
evidence with brief explanation.
Part C - The final, ultimate step is to use your own
words to EXPLAIN how the direct textual evidence
supports your answer, demonstrate deep understanding of the
text. Remember thematic statements and literary techniques
SELF TO WORLD CONNECTION- UNIVERSAL THEMES ARE
POWERFUL .
Reading Rubric
0-1-2-3
• Score Point 3 – Exemplary
• These responses have the following characteristics• The idea is perceptive and reflects an awareness of the
complexities of the text. The student is able to develop a
coherent explanation of the idea by making discerning
connections across the text.
• The text evidence is specific, well chosen and strongly
supports the validity of the idea.
• The idea and the text evidence demonstrate a deep
understanding of the text.
Short Answer=Literary Analysis
It’s still WRITING
• SA items should be written as a literary analysis
paragraph. A literary analysis paragraph
contains:
• Thesis statements= Answer and literary
technique
• Evidence= Explanation and specific quote
• Analysis= Commentary/Thematic
Statement
Thesis Statement
• A Thesis statement is a sentence that
answers the question with a thoughtful,
supportable opinion or interpretation.
• A thesis statement is the main idea of your
paragraph and/or essay
What is Textual Evidence
• Evidence means the phrases and
sentences from the text that shows how
you thought of your answer and why it is a
correct interpretation. Never let the
evidence/quote do the talking for you.
Don’t embed a quote within your
answer.
What is Analysis
• Analysis shows a deep understanding of
the text. It is shown through conclusions,
interpretations, or commentary that go
beyond what happened in the story.
• You will most likely analyze
• Theme (Self to World Connection)
• Conflict (Internal and External)
• Characterization (Direct and Indirect)
Short Answer Questions
• After completing the planning grid for brainstorming, you
will then use the prewriting organizational system found
below:
A) – Answer, Assertion= Thesis
B) – Best Embedded textual evidence
Explanation and Quote
C) – Commentary (connect the
evidence to your answer) show deep
understanding by providing a Thematic Statement
The order of your thoughts does not matter as long as
it makes sense.
Short Answer Questions (S.A.Q.)
• Remind students to brainstorm and the prewrite before
placing their final, polished answer in the ELA STAAR
box.
Short Answer Questions
• 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).
– Selections and student commentary need to reflect
insightfulness. Do not just provide a literal, superficial
response. Do not merely echo or paraphrase textual
evidence in your connecting and concluding commentary.
– When crafting your commentary, do not go beyond the
concepts contained in the textual evidence. If you provide
new information, you must have textual support to defend
it.
Practice - Question
Question: In “The Most Dangerous Game,” what is one significant internal
change that Rainsford experiences due to his stay on Ship Trap Island?
Text:
(From the beginning of the story)
“ ‘Don’t talk rot, Whitney,’ said Rainsford. ‘You’re a big game
hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels?’
‘Perhaps the jaguar does,’ observed Whitney.
‘Bah! They’ve no understanding…This hot weather is making you
soft, Whitney.
Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes – the hunters
and huntees.
Luckily, you and I are hunters.’”
(During the hunt with Zaroff…)
“Then he ran for his life. The hounds raised their voices as they hit
the fresh
scent. Rainsford knew now how an animal at bay feels.”
Practice – Planning Grid
C) But after being
(Before/After)
hunted by Zaroff,
Rainsford directly
B)
“Rainsford
B) ‘Who cares
realizes that
knew now how an
how a jaguar
the hunted
animal
at
bay
feels?”
experience a
feels.”
A) As a dynamic
keen terror.
character
Rainsford learns
to empathize with
the fear of hunted
B) “Bah!
animals.
B) “Then
They’ve
C) Before
he ran for
no underarriving at Ship
his life.”
standing…”
Trap Island,
Rainsford does
not believe hunted
animals have any
awareness.
Practice – Prewriting
A) – In Richard Connell’s short story “The Most
Dangerous Game,” as a dynamic character, Rainsford
experiences a significant internal transformation when
he learns to empathize with the fear of hunted animals.
Answer, Assertion, Thesis (character change)
B) – Before arriving at Ship Trap Island, Rainsford does
not believe hunted animals have any awareness, “Bah!
They’ve no understanding.” But after being hunted by
Zaroff his perspective shifts, “Rainsford knew now how
an animal at bay feels.”
C) – After his stay on this eerie island, Rainsford
directly realizes that the hunted do indeed
experience a keen and comprehending terror. Fear
and survival instincts do not discriminate they are the
same for both humans and animals.
THEMATICE STATEMENT- SELF TO WORLD
CONNECTION
In Richard Connell’s short story “The Most
Dangerous Game,” as a dynamic character,
Rainsford experiences a significant internal
transformation when he learns to empathize
with the fear of hunted animals. Before
arriving at Ship Trap Island, Rainsford does
not believe hunted animals have any
awareness, “Bah! They’ve no
understanding.” But after being hunted by
Zaroff his perspective shifts, “Rainsford
knew now how an animal at bay feels.”
After his stay on this eerie island, Rainsford
directly realizes that the hunted do indeed
experience a keen and comprehending terror.
Fear and survival instincts do not
discriminate they are the same for both
humans and animals.