Using APES to Write Short Answer Responses

STAAR Short Answer ResponseThe short answer response is an analytical paragraph.

It is an idea in response to a question. The idea represents the quality and depth of thinking and understanding of reading.

A successful short answer response goes beyond a literal reading of the text.

In writing your short answer response:“Stay in the story.”Write in present tense.Do not waste space restating the question.Answer the question, but do not “echo” the question.You do not need to include author and title, but include some indicator (character name, etc.).Think beyond the literal reading of the text.Choosing strong text evidence is crucial.You need text evidence in your response, but you do not need text evidence for each idea.Handwriting matters – the graders are only human!

A P E S

AnswerProveExplainSum it Up

What is APES?0 APES is an acronym that

will help you remember the steps to writing a solid Short Answer Response on the STAAR test and in the classroom.

0 Think of APES as a checklist that you can use whenever you are answering a question based on a reading from class.

A is for…

Answer the

question.

A is for…0 According to the rubric for the

Short Answer Responses, if you do not answer the question, you will earn an automatic score of zero out of a possible four.

0 For example, if the question asks why Helios is angry with Odysseus’ men, and your answer is about his threatening to take the sun to the Underworld, then you didn’t answer the question. This is an automatic grade of zero.

P is for…0Proof!

0You can’t make a statement about a text without providing proof to back up your argument.

0When writing about texts, your proof comes in the form of textual evidence (quotations from the text).

P is for… Prove It!Put in a quotation.

Choose the best textual evidence (quotation) to support your answer.

Use TLQ format to embed your quotation in your sentence.

P is for… Prove It!0One of the key goals when you embed a

quotation is to use ONLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART of the quotation as a piece of your own sentence.

0 “Helios threatens to take the sun to ‘light the dead men in the Underworld’ if Zeus does not punish Odysseus’ men for slaughtering his ‘peaceful kine.’”

P is for… Prove It!Put in a quotation.

0 Remember that your quotation MUST relate to your answer.

0 You can’t chose a quotation that has NOTHING to do with what you are writing about.

0 0 Keep this in mind: your

QUOTATION is your PROOF about your ANSWER to the question.

P is for… Prove It! 0 Begin a sentence that has an embedded quotation with your

words first. Then, smoothly incorporate your quote into your sentence.

0 Avoid using phrases in your sentence such as “he says” or “states” or “she says.” This is boring for your reader and shouts “I AM NOT ABOUT TO QUOTE SOMETHING FROM THE TEXT!” It is not sophisticated writing.

0 Make sure your verbs are in present tense.

0 When necessary, change all first person pronouns (I, me, us, we) to third person pronouns (him, he, they) by using brackets.

Examples:

While spending Christmas at Finches Landing, Francis enrages Scout by claiming Atticus is “ruining the family” (87). 

Furthermore, when Jem and Scout are walking home from the pageant, they hear a man “running toward [them] with no child’s steps” (264).

Let’s look at some examples using questions from John Steinbeck’s novella ,The Pearl.

How does Kino feel about the prospect of Coyotito being able to attend school?

A – Answer the question (this is an inference, a conclusion, an idea – beyond the literal)Kino feels a strong sense of pride at the thought of Coyotito being able to attend school.

A is for …P is for…How does Kino feel about the prospect of Coyotito being able to attend school?

Kino feels a strong sense of pride at the thought of Coyotito being able to attend school. When Kino and Juana are sitting in their home after Kino finds the pearl, Kino’s “face shone with prophecy” as he tells everyone how his son will “read and open the books” and “make numbers, and these things will make us free because…he will know and through him we will know.”

A is for …P is for…Starting in chapter four, why does Juana believe that the pearl is evil?

Juana believes that the pearl is evil because it has brought danger to her family. For example, after Kino is attacked outside his hut after failing to sell the pearl, Juana implores Kino to “crush it between two stones” or “throw it back in the sea where it belongs” before the pearl “destroys [them].”

P is for…Juana believes that the pearl is evil because it has brought danger to her family. For example, after Kino is attacked outside his hut after failing to sell the pearl, Juana implores Kino to “crush it between two stones” or “throw it back in the sea where it belongs” before the pearl “destroys [them].”

Why is the pronoun them in brackets?

E is for … EXPLAIN

0In a sentence or two, you will explain how your quotation relates to your answer.

0Remember that your quote must always relate to your answer, the first line in your response.

E is for…Kino feels a strong sense of pride at the thought of Coyotito being able to attend school. When Kino and Juana are sitting in their home after Kino finds the pearl, Kino’s “face shone with prophecy” as he tells everyone how his son will “read and open the books” and “make numbers, and these things will make us free because…he will know and through him we will know.” In spite of Coyotito’s young age, Kino believes that his son has the potential to liberate his people from ignorance and oppression if he is able to attend school.

E is for…Juana believes that the pearl is evil because it has brought danger to her family. For example, after Kino is attacked outside his hut after failing to sell the pearl, Juana implores Kino to “crush it between two stones” or “throw it back in the sea where it belongs” before the pearl “destroys [them].” Juana’s wealth is not associated with material goods or money. For this reason, Juana does not care about the money the pearl may bring since she credits the hazardous and possibly deadly situation for her family to the pearl.

S is for… Special Closing Statement Sum It Up

0This is the last one or two sentences of your answer.

0Wrap up your thoughts and claims that you made in your answer.

0Your goal with the S part of APES is to wrap up all of your ideas into a nice little package of coherent thought.

S is for…WATCH OUT for these closing statement traps:

0Do not use “In conclusion…”

0Do not repeat word-for-word what you have already said.

0Don’t bring up a new idea that you haven’t already addressed.

A P E SKino feels a strong sense of pride at the thought of Coyotito being able to attend school. When Kino and Juana are sitting in their home after Kino finds the pearl, Kino’s “face shone with prophecy” as he tells everyone how his son will “read and open the books” and “make numbers, and these things will make us free because…he will know and through him we will know.” In spite of Coyotito’s young age, Kino believes that his son has the potential to liberate his people from ignorance and oppression if he is able to attend school. For these reasons, Kino places a significant amount of hope reliance on the pearl to offer Coyotito a chance at a better life, and through Coyotito a better life for all of them.

A P E SJuana believes that the pearl is evil because it has brought danger to her family. For example, after Kino is attacked outside his hut after failing to sell the pearl, Juana implores Kino to “crush it between two stones” or “throw it back in the sea where it belongs” before the pearl “destroys [them].” Juana’s wealth is not associated with material goods or money. For this reason, Juana does not care about the money the pearl may bring because she credits the hazardous and possibly deadly situation for her family to the pearl. Despite the life improvements the pearl may bring for her family, particularly Coyotito, Juana is not wiling to risk the life of her family for possible wealth.

TIPS for using APES0Stay on topic!

0Where do you find your topic?

0 Look to your answer to the question.

0Everything should relate back to this.

TIPS for using APES0 “Yes” and “No” answers

are not acceptable. Do not start any of your answers with “yes” or “no.”

0Remember that you are starting your response with an answer to the question.

TIPS for using APES0Avoid first person

pronouns (I, me, we, us…).

0The questions are not asking about you . The question is about the text.

0Stay text focused.

TIPS for using APES0Answer the

question.0Provide proof

(textual evidence).

0Explain your proof in relation to your answer.

0Sum it all up.