Short Answer Single Selection Assertion An assertion statement

Short Answer: Single Selection

Assertion • An assertion statement is the very first sentence of your written response. • It answers the prompt. • It has a clear subject (what the prompt is asking you to answer) • It has a clear why (your opinion about the subject) • It is one sentence only. • It is similar to a topic sentence in a paragraph or a thesis statement in an introduction

Evidence • Evidence should be direct quotes from the text that you believe support the assertion statement. • You should try to have two pieces of text evidence. • Evidence should be strong and reliable. • Evidence needs to clearly support your assertion.

Commentary • Commentary is 3 -5 sentences. • It makes the connection between the evidence and the answer. • It must clearly and reasonably link the evidence and assertion together to prove that the prompt has truly been answered.

Prompt • Explain what really causes Doodle’s death.

O response-- Assertion • Doodle is an interesting character and tells great lies. (off topic) • What causes any one to die really. (not based on text) • Cracked pride is bad. (repeats text evidence) • NO ASSERTION (is not present)

1 - response assertion • Doodle’s death is caused by his brother. (minimally answers the question—no why) • Doodle’s death is caused by his brother because the narrator leaves him. (reflects only a literal reading of the text)

2 response--assertion • Doodle’s death is caused when the narrator leaves his brother behind because the narrator’s pride was hurt. • Subject: What causes Doodle’s death • Opinion: because of narrator’s pride Not just a literal reading—shows that the writer understands the character trait of pride and its effects

0 --- Evidence • NONE PRESENT • “What words can solder cracked pride? ”– only thing written down for short answer

1 - Evidence • “pride”– general or vague—too partial to support • “He’s all there. ”– incorrectly manipulates the meaning of the text because you couldn’t use this quote to prove how pride is bad because this quote shows that the narrator is proud that his brother is not mentally handicapped.

2 -- evidence • “pride is…a seed that bears two vines, life and death” • Is accurate and relevant. Could easily be linked to assertion. • “What words can solder cracked pride? ” • Accurate and relevant

0 - Commentary • Not there at all

1 - Commentary • Needs more explanation

2 commentary • Explains the connection between the assertion and the text evidence.

2 Commentary Example A: Doodle’s death is caused when the narrator leaves his brother behind because the narrator’s pride was hurt. E: “cracked pride”; “pride is a seed…” Commentary: The narrator tries to make Doodle into a normal boy but fails. This failure hurts the narrator’s pride so the narrator leaves Doodle behind and he dies. Eventually, the narrator comes to understand that his pride brought about Doodle’s death, but it is too late to change what happened.

2 Short answer Example • Doodle’s death is caused when the narrator leaves his brother behind because the narrator’s pride was hurt. The narrator tries to make Doodle into a normal boy but fails. This failure causes the narrator’s “cracked pride”, so the narrator leaves Doodle behind and he dies. Eventually, the narrator comes to understand that his pride “is a seed” that brought about Doodle’s death, but it is too late to change what happened.

1 example for short answer • Doodle’s death is caused when the narrator leaves his brother behind. “cracked pride”. This quote shows that the narrator’s pride was hurt. So the brother leaves Doodle behind and he dies.

O response • Doodle’s death is caused when the narrator leaves his brother behind.