Box It!!

Your ticket to passing the OAA—and to answering any short or extended response question.

By Joe Fabian / Parma City Schools Modified by Joshua Thornsberry / Lakewood City Schools

1. They tear apart the question

2. They organize their response

3. They double check their work

WHAT DO GOOD OAA WRITERS DO?

Step One:How do I know what to do?

Tear Apart The Question

….But How DoI Tear It Apart?

1. Read the question.

Really read the question—the whole thing! Twice! And then……

2 Points = I need to provide 2 answers.

4 Points = I need to provide 4 answers.

Knowing the points will help us pick the correct box.

2. Circle the Points

Circle Example

3. Underline the Action Word of Words

Action words are the words in the question that tell us what action we need to perform.

Either 1 or 2.They also help us to determine which box to pick by determining parts to the question.

Underline Example

You must know what the action words mean.

If you define instead of describe you will lose credit!

Action Words

Find the Action Words!!DescribeExplainEvaluateDetermineContrastCompareSupportJustifyGive reasonsAnalyze

ShowDrawGive examplesSimplifyDemonstrateComputeConstructStateIdentify

When you are done it should look like this….and you should know what the action words mean.

The charts show some differences in the amount of electricity produced bydifferent methods in the United States and in Ohio. Various constraints, such asgeographic, social or economic factors, influence the method used for electricityproduction in a region.

In your Answer Document, choose one method of electricity production usedin Ohio.

Give two reasons or factors that support using this method in Ohio, and givetwo reasons or factors that can be used to argue against using this methodin Ohio. (4 points)

Tearing it Apart Review

Students now have read the question twice.

Students now have identified how many points/answers they need to provide.

Students now have identified and comprehend the action words or what they need to do with question.

This is so easy…..What’s Next?

Now that we have successfully torn apart the question, we can move on to part 2.

Part 2 involves organizing our thoughts to respond to the question.

We use boxes to accomplish this task.

We have 4 Boxes to Chose From

2 Point 1 Part 4 Point 1 Part

2 Point 2 Part 4 Point 2 Part

4. Pick the Right Box

Use the points you circled to determine if it is a 2 point or a 4

point question.Use the # of action words you underlined to determine if it is a 1

part or a 2 part question.1 action word = 1 part2 actions words = 2 parts

2 Point 2 Part

5. Label your boxes.Top = Verb or Verbs

Predict Support

On the basis of Helen Keller’s experiences by the end of the passage, predict her attitude toward her future lessons.

Support your answer with specific details.

Write your answer in the Answer Document. (2 points)

5. Label your boxes.Side = 90% = Generic Number

Predict Support

On the basis of Helen Keller’s experiences by the end of the passage, predict her attitude toward her future lessons.

Support your answer with specific details.

Write your answer in the Answer Document. (2 points)

1.

5. Label your boxes.Side = 10% = Specific

Identify

Identify 2 causes of the Civil War, one political and one economic. (2 points)

If the question gives you specific directions, you must use specific labels.

This way the grader knows which answer is which.

PE

6. Write an answer summary in the box.

Not a whole sentence, but enough to get credit.

Think of the box as an outline.Action word determines length:

Identify = shortAnalyze = long

Make sure your have each box filled in.

6. Fill in Box Example.

Identify

Identify 2 causes of the Civil War, one political and one economic. (2 points)

PE

Sectionalism

Tariff

Students have chosen a box to fit the question based on points and action words.

Students have labeled the box, thus organizing their thoughts/response to the question thus making answer very grader friendly.

Students have outlined their answer within the box.

Answer Outline Review

Double Checking Our Work.

This is sooooo easy…..what’s

next?

2 Point = 3 Sentences.4 Point = 5 Sentences.Topic Sentence + 1 Sentence for

each box.Topic Sentence = restate the

question.

7. Write the appropriate number of

sentences.

Sentences should be separated and labeled….not in a big paragraph.

This makes it easier for grader to find answers.

The topic sentence is just a rephrasing of the question.

Sentences should go in order of boxes; that’s what the grader is expecting to see.

It should sound simple like Third Grade writing.

It is not a writing test.Beautiful Poetry will only bury our answers.

Do NOT combine boxes.

How to make sentences:

7. Sentence Box Example. Identify

Identify 2 causes of the Civil War, one political and one economic. (2 points)

PE

Sectionalism

Tariff

TS = The Civil War had many causes.P = A political cause was sectionalism.E = An economic cause was tariffs.

This ensures that students go back and double check their work.

No lost points for forgetting one part of the question.

8. Check Off Box After Making

Sentence for It

8. Check Mark Box Example. Identify

Identify 2 causes of the Civil War; one political and one economic. (2 points)

PE

Sectionalism

Tariff

TS = The Civil War had many causes.P = A political cause was sectionalism.E = An economic cause was tariffs.

1. Read question twice.2. Circle Points.3. Underline Action Word of Words.4. Pick Correct Box.5. Label top and left side of box.6. Write your answers summary in box.7. Write correct number of sentences.8. Check off your boxes after writing you

sentences.