Going beyond STAAR ACE SHORT ANSWER RESPONSE WHAT

Going beyond STAAR ACE SHORT ANSWER RESPONSE

WHAT IS ACE? ACE stand for Answer, Cite, Explain. This is the common format for short answer responses. You not only use this format in high school, but you will also employ and use the same format in college.

ANSWER What is it? A- Answer the Question! § Before you can answer the question, you must be able to restate the question within the context of your answer. § Failure to restate the question results in your answer being vague and too specific. § Anyone should be able to read your response. § If referring to a specific text for the short answer, you may want to introduce the text here. Example How did Martin Luther King justify the purpose of nonviolent direct action? In “Letter From Birmingham Jail, ” Martin Luther King seeks to justify non violent actions in Birmingham by demonstrating that non violence brings about exposure and tension which will ultimately lead to action and negotiation.

CITE What is it? C- Cite Your Answer! § Provide evidence, either from a specific text (if applicable) or a specific example that supports your answer. § The evidence MUST be connected to your answer. § The evidence should be in the form of an embedded quote (if applicable). Correct MLA citation should be used. Example In response to a call for “negotiation” by four white clergymen, King responds by stating that the goal of nonviolence is to open up the path for real negotiation. This goal is achieved creating a situation which is filled with crisis and “tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue” (King).

EXPLAIN, EXPAND What is it? E- Explain and Expand upon your answer. § You should be able explain and expand upon how your evidence is connected and proves your answer. § Could be more than one sentence. § Utilize stems if you get stuck: § § § “This shows that…” “This proves…” “This means…” “This illustrates…” This demonstrates…. ” Example This demonstrates that without the strain and tension that the nonviolent protest brings to the community, no action or negotiations to challenge the status quo will occur. Therefore, King shows that nonviolence does purposefully create the tension and sense of urgency needed to bring about action and change that mere calls for negotiation will not accomplish.

ALL TOGETHER Question: How did Martin Luther King justify the purpose of nonviolent direct action? Answer: In “Letter From Birmingham Jail, ” Martin Luther King seeks to justify non violent actions in Birmingham by demonstrating that non violence brings about exposure and tension which will ultimately lead to action and negotiation. In response to a call for “negotiation” by four white clergymen, King responds by stating that the goal of nonviolence is to open up the path for real negotiation. This goal is achieved creating a situation which is filled with crisis and “tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue” (King). This demonstrates that without the strain and tension that the nonviolent protest brings to the community, no action or negotiations to challenge the status quo will occur. Therefore, King shows that nonviolence does purposefully create the tension and sense of urgency needed to bring about action and change that mere calls for negotiation will not accomplish.

Am I addressing and answering the prompt? § Do I restate the prompt in my answer? Am I introducing my source? Am I providing evidence in the form of an embedded (woven) quote? Am I citing my evidence properly? Does my evidence relate to and support my answer? Do I explain how my answer and evidence are connected? Did I spellcheck my response? THINGS TO ASK YOURSELF … Did I do the following?

EXAMPLES What is wrong with the following?

EXAMPLE #1 Question How did Martin Luther King justify the purpose of nonviolent direct action? Answer He told the men that nonviolence was the best way to fight for Civil Rights. As MLK states “ this is the purpose of direct action” (King). This action allows African Americans to fight for their Civil Rights.

DEBRIEF EXAMPLE #1 What is wrong? Question is not restated Vague Evidence does not really substantially support the answer. Explanation paraphrases evidence rather than explains it. Vague Pronoun Reference? A vague pronoun reference is when an author starts a sentence with a pronoun: he, she, it, that, this. § You MUST make sure that you use the antecedent – the noun for which the pronoun stands- when you use a pronoun. § Vague pronoun references make writing vague and hard to follow.

YOUR TURN! Look at the answer given to your group. What, if anything, is wrong with the short answer? How can you make it better? Does it follow all the steps?

HOW DO YOU FIX IT? Question Answer How did Martin Luther King justify the purpose of nonviolent direct action? Martin Luther King told the men that nonviolence was the best way to fight for Civil Rights. “Indeed, this is the purpose of direct action” (King). This direction action was the best way to fight for Civil Rights.

HOW DO YOU FIX IT? Question Answer How did Martin Luther King justify the purpose of nonviolent direct action? Martin Luther King got put in Birmingham Jail. “Indeed, this is the purpose of direct action” (King). When he was in Birmingham Jail, he wrote a letter.

HOW DO YOU FIX IT? Question Answer How did Martin Luther King justify the purpose of nonviolent direct action? Direct action is non violent protest. Martin Luther King uses this to “dramatize the issue” in Birmingham. This leads to the Civil Rights movement and desegregation.

HOW DO YOU FIX IT? Question Example How can we respond when our civil rights are violated? When our Civil Rights, those rights that are given to us by the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, are violated, then we, as citizens of the U. S. have a right to protest. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960 s, Martin Luther King wrote, “we know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. ” Therefore, people must demand their rights if they are oppressed.

HOW DO YOU FIX IT? Question Example How can we respond when our civil rights are violated? When our Civil Rights, those rights that are given to us by the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, are violated, then we, as citizens of the U. S. have a right to protest. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960 s, Martin Luther King urged protest in the form of nonviolence. He justified his decision by stating “nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis…that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue” (King). Nonviolent direct action served as an effective method of protest through most of the Civil Rights struggles in the United States. This action demonstrates the usefulness of nonviolence as a means of protest since the actions will open the door up to negotiation and the restoration of Civil Rights.

HOW DO YOU FIX IT? Question Example How can we respond when our civil rights are violated? People should fight for their rights through protest. “The purpose of the direct action is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation” (King).

HOW DO YOU FIX IT? Question Example How can we respond when our civil rights are violated? Martin Luther King was a Civil Rights leader in the 1960 s. He used nonviolent protest. This helped desegregate the U. S.

This is short answer #1! You will turn it in! NOW, YOU TRY! Directions Question Answer the following question on the notebook paper provided to you. Make sure to complete all steps of ACE. Check you answer against the “Things to Ask Yourself…” How do we, as a society, define an unjust law, and what kinds of strategies and tactics have proven most effective in changing such laws? Use “Letter From Birmingham Jail” to answer!

1. Which of the following is not an example of a pronoun? a. His b. That c. It d. They e. People 2. Which of the following is the correct definition for an antecedent? a. The noun that the pronoun stands for. b. The verb that the pronoun stands for. c. The word that refers to the pronoun. d. The adjective that describes the pronoun. 3. Which of the following is an example of a vague pronoun reference? a. This needs to go in the trash can. b. That dog is horrible. c. Mark went to prom with the most popular girl in the school. d. Megan fell down the stairs yesterday.

1. Which of the following is an example of a vague pronoun reference? A. Jerry and Owen are brothers, but he has always been taller. B. Jerry and Owen are brothers, but Owen has always been taller. C. Jerry and Owen are brothers, but the latter had always been taller. D. Jerry and Owen are brothers, but the former has always been taller. 2. Which of the following sentences is clear and does not contain a vague pronoun? A. She told Lila that she hated Lila's new hair style. B. Ann told Lila, "I hate your new hair style. ” C. Ann told Lila that she hated her new hair style. 3. Which of the following sentences is clear and does not contain a vague pronoun? A. After Smith had fought Jones, he ran around the ring and shouted for joy. B. Jones ran around the ring and shouted for joy after he had fought him. C. After Smith had fought Jones, Smith ran around the ring and shouted for joy.