APEA Guide to Successful TAKS Short Answers

APEAPE is a guide to help you create a complete TAKS

Short Answer. If you follow this guide you will be successful on this important exam.

You should use the APE on every short answer we do from now until the important test.

A The first step in creating a successful short

answer is to

A - ANSWER THE QUESTION

You should first RESTATE the question & then answer the question CORRECTLY

A – Answer the Question Let’s practice RESTATING the question!

Example: How did Hans & Sophie Scholl exhibit the

trait of courage in their fight against Hitler?

How would you restate this question?Make it a sentence!!

A – Answer the Question How did Hans & Sophie Scholl exhibit the trait

of courage in their fight against Hitler?

Here is one way to RESTATE this question:

Hans & Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of courage in their fight against Hitler

Now it’s your turn!Restate the following questions on your notes

page-

1) How does the monsoon “bring disaster but also sustain life”?

2) Why is “It’s Never too Late” a good title for this passage?

3) Based on the information from this passage, would you rather graduate from a large school or a small school?

4) Do different colors have an effect on people?

5) What was the author’s purpose in writing the newspaper article “Zoo Unveils Hank and Phil”?

Now you have to answer the question CORRECTLY!

Here is what we have so far:Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of courage

in their fight against Hitler …

How do you think Hans and Sophie exhibited the trait of courage?

Finish the sentence…

A – Answer the Question

You could say…

Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of courage in their fight against

Hitlerby standing up for what they believed in no matter what consequences they

faced.

A – Answer the Question

P After RESTATING the question, answering the question CORRECTLY and giving a REASON for

your answer you must then

P – PROVE YOUR ANSWER

You should use a QUOTE from the passage to support your answer.

The QUOTE MUST PROVE your answer.

P – Prove your AnswerRemember our example:

How did Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibit the trait of courage in their fight against Hitler?

Here is the beginning of our answer:Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of

courage in their fight against Hitler by standing up for what they believed in no matter what consequences they faced.

How do I prove that my answer is correct?

P - Prove your AnswerHans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of courage in their

fight against Hitler by standing up for what they believed in no matter what consequences they faced.

Which quote would best support this answer?

A) “Hitler’s promises sounded so appealing that most people supported him and his Nazi party.”

B) “Their goal was to spread the word of Hitler’s crimes against the Jews and so rouse other students to protest.”

C) “She died quietly, with dignity.”

D) “Hans and Sophie knew they risked prison, yet they continued their protests against Hitler.”

P – Prove your AnswerHans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of courage in their

fight against Hitler by standing up for what they believed in no matter what consequences they faced.

Which quote would best support this answer?

A) “Hitler’s promises sounded so appealing that most people supported him and his Nazi party.”

B) “Their goal was to spread the word of Hitler’s crimes against the Jews and so rouse other students to protest.”

C) “She died quietly, with dignity.”

D) “Hans and Sophie knew they risked prison, yet they continued their protests against Hitler.”

P – Prove you Answer

Here is my ANSWER with PROOF

Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of courage in their fight against Hitler by standing up for what they believed in no matter what consequences they faced. “Hans and Sophie knew they risked prison, yet they continued their protests against Hitler.”

E Your final step in writing a TAKS short answer

is to give an EXPLANATION

E – EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER

This statement is simply a restatement of your answer. Do NOT introduce any new ideas.

E – Explain your AnswerHere are some ways you could begin an

EXPLANATION:

This shows that…

This is the reason…

That is why…

In conclusion…

E – Explain your AnswerOur Example:

How did Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibit the trait of courage in their fight against Hitler?

Here was my ANSWER and PROOF Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of

courage in their fight against Hitler by standing up for what they believed in no matter what consequences they faced. “Hans and Sophie knew they risked prison, yet they continued their protests against Hitler.”

How could I CONCLUDE this answer?

Which conclusion would best complete my answer?

A) This shows that Hans and Sophie Scholl were courageous because they tried to save the lives of Hitler’s victims.

B) That is the reason Hitler believed that all people were inferior to the Germans.

C) This proves Hans was more courageous than Sophie because he went to prison for his protests.

D) This shows how the two showed courage in their fight against Hitler.

E – Explain your Answer

Which conclusion would best complete my answer?

A) This shows that Hans and Sophie Scholl were courageous because they tried to save the lives of Hitler’s victims.

B) That is the reason Hitler believed that all people were inferior to the Germans.

C) This proves Hans was more courageous than Sophie because he went to prison for his protests.

D) This shows how the two showed courage in their fight against Hitler.

E – Explain your Answer

E – Explain your Answer

Here is one way I could EXPLAIN my answer

Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of courage in their fight against Hitler by standing up for what they believed in no matter what consequences they faced. “Hans and Sophie knew they risked prison, yet they continued to protest against Hitler.” This shows how Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of courage in the fight against Hitler.

Let’s go APE Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait

of courage in their fight against Hitler by standing up for what they believed in no matter what consequences they faced. “Hans and Sophie knew they risked prison, yet they continued to protest against Hitler.” This shows how Hans and Sophie Scholl exhibited the trait of courage in the fight against Hitler.

How does TAKS grade short answer responses?

Score 0 = Answer is ALL wrong, off topic, or did

not answer the question.

Score 1 = Answered the question; no proof given

Score 2 = Answer + Proof (supporting quote) Score 3 = Answer + Quotes + Explanation

which shows insightful analysis