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 Rubric0-1-2-3

• 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

A) As a dynamic character

Rainsford learns to empathize with the fear of hunted

animals.

B) ‘Who cares how a jaguar feels?”

B) “Then he ran for

his life.”

B) “Bah! They’ve no under-standing…”

B) “Rainsford knew now how an

animal at bay feels.”

(Before/After)

C) Before arriving at Ship Trap Island, Rainsford does not believe hunted animals have any awareness.

C) But after being hunted by Zaroff, Rainsford directly

realizes that the hunted

experience a keen terror.

Practice – PrewritingA) – 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.