Open Ended Open Ended ResponseResponse

Plan of Attack! Plan of Attack!

While some TAKS graders may mark While some TAKS graders may mark off for “formulaic” writing, I have a off for “formulaic” writing, I have a

secret formula, which will make sure secret formula, which will make sure you cover your bases when writing you cover your bases when writing

your open ended responses. Keep in your open ended responses. Keep in mind, using a structure to formulate mind, using a structure to formulate your responses is not a bad thing as your responses is not a bad thing as long as your ideas are original. See long as your ideas are original. See below for a step by step process. below for a step by step process.

Literary & Expository Open Literary & Expository Open Ended Response Step by Ended Response Step by

StepStep

Step One: Answer the Step One: Answer the Question (Make a Claim, Question (Make a Claim,

Brain Answer)Brain Answer) Step 1: Step 1: Answer the question. A good Answer the question. A good

idea is to rephrase the question in idea is to rephrase the question in the answer. Usually your the answer. Usually your

answer will include a “because.” answer will include a “because.” For example… For example… Chief Magombe in “African Time” is Chief Magombe in “African Time” is

a good leader because…a good leader because… Scout in “To Kill A Mockingbird” is Scout in “To Kill A Mockingbird” is

a “mockingbird because…a “mockingbird because… Sinan is a _____________ person Sinan is a _____________ person

because…because…

Step Two: Embed Your Step Two: Embed Your EvidenceEvidence

(Book Answer)(Book Answer) Insert your evidence. You have two choices. Insert your evidence. You have two choices.

You can embed the quotes into your analysis You can embed the quotes into your analysis or at the very least use one of these…or at the very least use one of these…

In the story, it says “QUOTE” In the story, it says “QUOTE” (AUTHOR’S LAST NAME PARAGRAPH (AUTHOR’S LAST NAME PARAGRAPH #)#)

The author states, “QUOTE” The author states, “QUOTE” (AUTHOR’S LAST NAME PARAGRAPH (AUTHOR’S LAST NAME PARAGRAPH #)#)

In paragraph _______, it says “QUOTE” In paragraph _______, it says “QUOTE” (AUTHOR’S LAST NAME (AUTHOR’S LAST NAME PARAGRAPH #)PARAGRAPH #)

Step Three: Explain HOW Step Three: Explain HOW your evidence proves your your evidence proves your

claimclaim Explain Explain HOWHOW your evidence proves your evidence proves

your your CLAIMCLAIM. .

This quote shows __________________ This quote shows __________________ because ________________. because ________________.

From __________________, the reader From __________________, the reader sees ____________________.sees ____________________.

What does it look like when What does it look like when it’s done?it’s done?

Chief Magombe is a good leader Chief Magombe is a good leader because his people respect him. In because his people respect him. In the story it says, “Whoever passed the story it says, “Whoever passed the bottle store broke from his the bottle store broke from his errand and came up to the chief and errand and came up to the chief and his wife and shook hands and his wife and shook hands and clapped.” (Kenyon 23) From these clapped.” (Kenyon 23) From these gestures of respect, the reader sees gestures of respect, the reader sees that the chief is a good leader.that the chief is a good leader.