SHORT ANSWERS
What is a Short Answer?
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A short answer question is a question that is meant to
be answered in the form of short paragraph.
The structure and content of a short answer is the
same as the structure for a body paragraphs of an
essay.
In order to be effective, short answers must contain:
A response to the question
 Textual evidence to support that response
 An explanation of your thinking

Ideal Structure of a Short Answer
Sentence 1: Topic Sentence (TS)
Answers/Addresses the question/prompt
Sentence 2: Concrete Detail/Embedded Quote (CD) / (EQ)
Provides evidence to support the topic sentence
Sentence 3: Commentary (CM)
Explains how the contents of the quotation support the topic sentence
Sentence 4: Concrete Detail/Embedded Quote (CD) / (EQ)
Provides evidence to support the topic sentence
Sentence 5: Commentary (CM)
Explains how the contents of the quotation support the topic sentence
Sentence 6: Concluding sentence (CS)
Ties both pieces of evidence together to make a conclusion
Short Answer Scoring
How are short answers scored?

Short answers use a rubric from score 0 to
3. To pass, a student must earn at least
a “2.”
0
= insufficient
 1 = partially sufficient
 2 = sufficient
 3 = exceeds expectations
Example question

The word amoral means having none of
the moral values or scruples that civilized
people share. Is General Zaroff an amoral
person? Support your answer with evidence
from the story.
SHORT ANSWER SCORING SCALE
0 = Insufficient responses indicate a very limited
reading performance.
Your answer is a zero if…
it does not answer the question asked;
 it is not based on the text;
 it is too general, vague, or unclear;
 it does not present an idea;
 it is only a quote;
 it is a summary of the text.

0

General Zaroff was a rich man that lived in a big
scary house.
Why is this a 0?
it does not answer the question asked.
 it is too general, vague, or unclear;
 it does not present an idea.

0

If I were Rainsford, I would not trust General
Zaroff because General Zaroff lies about
hunting when he tells the men that he wants to
go hunting with them. Instead he kills men. I
don’t like General Zaroff.
Why is this a 0?
it does not answer the question asked;
 it is too general, vague, or unclear;
 it is a summary of the text.

SHORT ANSWER SCORING SCALE
1 = Partially sufficient responses indicate a basic
reading performance.
Your answer is a one if…

it reasonably answers the question but contains no text
evidence (quote);

it reasonably answers the question but the quote does not
support the idea.

This happens when the quote is




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is too general
is too short to say anything
is poorly chosen
misinterprets the text
it needs further more explanation to understand your point;
it only provides facts with no analysis.
1

General Zaroff is an amoral person because he
kills people. “Why should I not be serious? I’m
talking of hunting” (70).
Why is this a 1?

it reasonably answers the question but the quote
does not support the idea;

The quote is:


is too general
is poorly chosen

it needs further explanation;

it has no analysis.
SHORT ANSWER SCORING SCALE
2 = Sufficient responses indicate a satisfactory reading
performance.
Your answer is a two if…





it reasonably answers the question AND contains
analysis of the text (not just facts!);
you explain your answer specifically enough to show
that you can make appropriate connections and draw
valid conclusions;
the quotes used to support the idea are accurate and
relevant;
it and the quote used to support it are clearly linked;
it and the quote work together to demonstrate a
good understanding of the text.
2

General Zaroff is an amoral person because he does not seem to find
any value in human life. At one point he states, "I refuse to believe
that so modern and civilized a young man as you seem to harbor
romantic ideas about the value of human life” (70). It is evident from
Zaroff’s words that he does not hold the same values as the rest of
society because most people value human life. He goes on to call the
people that he hunts “the scum of the earth” like they are not even
human (70). Zaroff’s disrespect for the value of human life makes
him an amoral person.
Why is this a 2?


it reasonably answers the question AND contains analysis of the text
(not just facts!);
it is specific enough to show appropriate connections and valid
conclusions;

the quotes used to support the idea is accurate and relevant;

the answer and the quotes used to support it are clearly linked;

the answer and the quotes work together to demonstrate a good
understanding of the text.
SHORT ANSWER SCORING SCALE
3 = Exemplary responses indicate an accomplished
reading performance.
Your answer is a three if…
it contains all of the elements of a two AND…
 it is perceptive and complex;
 it has a coherent explanation that makes
textual connections;
 the quotes are specific and well chosen;
 the evidence strongly supports your answer;
 it and the quotes demonstrate a deep
understanding of the text.

3

General Zaroff is an amoral person because he exhibits a warped sense of what is right
and what is wrong. This is evident when he states that “life is for the strong, to be lived
by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put
here to give the strong pleasure” (70). Most civilized human beings believe that each
person is entitled certain rights and respect, but Zaroff does not share these same
values. This is further shown when Rainsford objects to killing men and Zaroff replies
“That is why I use them. It gives me pleasure” (70). The fact that he derives pleasure
from what most would consider murder indicates that he is a deeply troubled individual
without a sense of societal norms. Not only does Zaroff believe he is above the rules of
society, but the fact that he takes joy in breaking these rules depicts him as truly amoral
person.
Why is this a 3?
it contains all of the elements of a two AND…
 it is perceptive and complex;
 it has a coherent explanation that makes
textual connections;
 the text quote is specific and well chosen;
 the evidence strongly supports the answer;
 it demonstrates a deep understanding of the
text.

Analysis of Structure

General Zaroff is an amoral person because he exhibits a warped sense of what is right
and what is wrong. This is evident when he states that “life is for the strong, to be lived
by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put
here to give the strong pleasure” (70). Most civilized human beings believe that each
person is entitled certain rights and respect, but Zaroff does not share these same
values. This is further shown when Rainsford objects to killing men and Zaroff replies
“That is why I use them. It gives me pleasure” (70). The fact that he derives pleasure
from what most would consider murder indicates that he is a deeply troubled individual
without a sense of societal norms. Not only does Zaroff believe he is above the rules of
society, but the fact that he takes joy in breaking these rules depicts him as truly amoral
person.
Topic Sentence (TS): Answers/Addresses the question/prompt
Concrete Detail/Embedded Quote (CD) / (EQ): Provides evidence to support the topic sentence
Commentary (CM): Explains how the contents of the quotation support the topic sentence
Concluding sentence (CS):Ties both pieces of evidence together to make a conclusion
Analysis of Structure
TS: General Zaroff is an amoral person because he exhibits a
warped sense of what is right and what is wrong.
Does this
quote
prove the
topic
sentence?
CD: This is evident when he states that “life is for the strong, to be
lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak
of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure” (70).
CM: Most civilized human beings believe that each person is entitled
certain rights and respect,
but Zaroff does not share these same
Does this
commentary
values.
explain how
CD: This is further this
shown
quote
when Rainsford
proves the topic
Zaroff replies “That
is why I use them. It
sentence?
objects to killing men and
gives me pleasure” (70).
CM: The fact that he derives pleasure from what most would
consider murder indicates that he is a deeply troubled individual
without a sense of societal norms.
Does this
commentary
CS: Not only does Zaroff believe he is above the rules of society,
explain how
but the factDoes
thatthis
heconcluding
takes joy sentence
in breaking these rules
depicts him as
this quote
proves the topic
connect
the ideas of both quotes
truly amoral
person.
sentence?
together and make a conclusion?
Does this
quote
prove the
topic
sentence?