SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES - A GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPH WRITING
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What is a Short Answer Response?
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 paragraph of an essay.
In order to be effective, short answers must contain:
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A response to the question
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Textual evidence to support that response
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An explanation of your thinking
Ideal Structure of a Short Answer Response Paragraph - The TEAL Method
Topic: What is your paragraph going to explain or prove? If you are responding to a question, this should be your answer. If you are
addressing a prompt, this should be your main idea.
Embedded Evidence: How are you going to support/prove your point? When text evidence is required, you will need a quote or quotes
from the text that directly connect to the point you are trying to prove.
Analysis: You cannot just let the evidence stand by itself. You have to explain the significance of the evidence and its relevance to your
point. Imagine for a second if a trial lawyer just placed a gun in an evidence bag on the table and said to the jury, “You see!” without
explaining that the defendant’s finger prints were all over the gun and the gun was dropped at the scene of the crime. Evidence needs
explanation.
Lesson: What lesson do you want your reader to understand by the end of the paragraph? What conclusions do you want them to come
to? Your closing statement should help get them there.
Short Answer Scoring
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STAAR short answers responses are scored using a rubric. The lowest score is 0 and the highest score is 3.
A student must earn a 2 or 3 in order to be successful.
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0 = insufficient
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1 = partially sufficient
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2 = sufficient
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3 = exceeds expectations
Example Question:
After reading “The Most Dangerous Game,” do you think that General Zaroff’s beliefs are ethical?
Explain and support your answer with evidence from the story.
0 = Insufficient responses indicate a very limited reading performance.
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Your answer is a zero if…
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it does not answer the question asked;
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it does not correctly answer the question;
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it is only a quote;
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it is a just summary of the text.
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Example Answer: General Zaroff was a rich man that lived in a big scary house.
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Example Answer: 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.
1 = Partially sufficient responses indicate a basic reading performance.
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Your answer is a one if…
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it reasonably answers the question but contains no text evidence (quote);
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it reasonably answers the question but the quote does not support your answer;
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it needs further explanation or the explanation is a just summary.
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Example Answer: No, General Zaroff’s beliefs are not ethical because he believes it is okay to kill people. “Why should I not be
serious? I’m talking of hunting” (70).
2 = Sufficient responses indicate a satisfactory reading performance.
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Your answer is a two if…
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it reasonably answers the question ;
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the quote used to support the answer is accurate and relevant;
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the explanation is a true analysis (not a summary) of the quote.
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Example Answer: General Zaroff’s beliefs are not ethical 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 seems to harbor romantic ideas about the
value of human life” (70). Zaroff seems to believe Rainsford’s respect for the lives of people is a joke, which makes it clear that he
does not hold the same values as the rest of society because most people do value human life.
3 = Exemplary responses indicate an accomplished reading performance.
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Your answer is a three if…
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it contains all of the elements of a two AND…
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it is perceptive and complex;
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the answer and the quote demonstrate a deep understanding of the text.
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Example Answer: General Zaroff’s views are highly unethical because he exhibits a warped sense of right and wrong. This is
evident when he is discussing with Rainsford why he kills humans for sport, explaining 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
human beings believe that each person is entitled to certain rights and respect, but Zaroff does not share these same values. The
fact that he derives pleasure from what most would consider murder indicates that he is a deeply troubled individual without a
moral compass. Not only does Zaroff believe he is above the rules of society, but the fact that he takes joy in breaking these rules is
why his beliefs are completely unethical.
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A Note on Embedding Quotes
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Embedding quotations means blending them into your sentences to enhance flow and decrease choppiness.
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When your quotations are embedded properly, your writing sounds SO MUCH better!
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WHAT NOT TO DO
NO EMBEDDING =
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BAD: General Zaroff’s views are highly unethical because he exhibits a warped sense of right and wrong. “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).
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See? It’s choppy.
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WORSE: General Zaroff’s views are highly unethical because he exhibits a warped sense of right and wrong, “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).
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A comma instead of a period fixes nothing.
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It’s still choppy, and now it is also a run-on sentence.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
HE SAID / SHE SAID METHOD =
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ACCEPTABLE: General Zaroff’s views are highly unethical because he exhibits a warped sense of right and wrong.
Zaroff says, “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).
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See? It flows better, and now we know who is talking.
HE SAID / SHE SAID METHOD WITH SYNONYMS FOR SAYS=
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GOOD: General Zaroff’s views are highly unethical because he exhibits a warped sense of right and wrong. At one
point, Zaroff proclaims, “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).
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Now, it flows better, we know who is talking, and it sounds better too.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
HE SAID/SHE SAID + PROVIDING CONTEXT =
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EXCELLENT: General Zaroff’s views are highly unethical because he exhibits a warped sense of right and wrong.
This is evident when he is discussing with Rainsford why he kills humans for sport, explaining 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).
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Need I say more? It flows better; we know who is talking; it sounds more intelligent; and now, we know what is
happening at the time of the quote.