SHORT ANSWERS

What is a Short Answer?

A short answer question is a question that is meant to be answered in the form of short paragraph.

The structure and content of a short answer is the same as the structure for a body paragraphs of an essay.

In order to be effective, short answers must contain: A response to the question Textual evidence to support that response An explanation of your thinking

Ideal Structure of a Short Answer

Sentence 1: Topic Sentence (TS)

Answers/Addresses the question/prompt

Sentence 2: Concrete Detail/Embedded Quote (CD) / (EQ)

Provides evidence to support the topic sentence

Sentence 3: Commentary (CM)

Explains how the contents of the quotation support the topic sentence

Sentence 4: Concrete Detail/Embedded Quote (CD) / (EQ)

Provides evidence to support the topic sentence

Sentence 5: Commentary (CM)

Explains how the contents of the quotation support the topic sentence

Sentence 6: Concluding sentence (CS)

Ties both pieces of evidence together to make a conclusion

Short Answer Scoring

How are short answers scored?

Short answers use a rubric from score 0 to 3. To pass, a student must earn at least a “2.”

0 = insufficient 1 = partially sufficient 2 = sufficient 3 = exceeds expectations

Example question

The word amoral means having none of the moral values or scruples that civilized people share. Is General Zaroff an amoral person? Support your answer with evidence from the story.

SHORT ANSWER SCORING SCALE

0 = Insufficient responses indicate a very limited reading performance.

Your answer is a zero if…

it does not answer the question asked;

it is not based on the text; it is too general, vague, or unclear; it does not present an idea; it is only a quote; it is a summary of the text.

0

General Zaroff was a rich man that lived in a big scary house.

Why is this a 0?

it does not answer the question asked.

it is too general, vague, or unclear; it does not present an idea.

0

If I were Rainsford, I would not trust General Zaroff because General Zaroff lies about hunting when he tells the men that he wants to go hunting with them. Instead he kills men. I don’t like General Zaroff.

Why is this a 0?

it does not answer the question asked;

it is too general, vague, or unclear; it is a summary of the text.

SHORT ANSWER SCORING SCALE

1 = Partially sufficient responses indicate a basic reading performance.

Your answer is a one if…

it reasonably answers the question but contains no

text evidence (quote); it reasonably answers the question but the quote

does not support the idea. This happens when the quote is

is too general is too short to say anything is poorly chosen misinterprets the text

it needs further more explanation to understand your point;

it only provides facts with no analysis.

1

General Zaroff is an amoral person because he kills people. “Why should I not be serious? I’m talking of hunting” (70).

Why is this a 1?

it reasonably answers the question but the quote does not support the idea;The quote is:

is too general is poorly chosen

it needs further explanation;

it has no analysis.

SHORT ANSWER SCORING SCALE

2 = Sufficient responses indicate a satisfactory reading performance.

Your answer is a two if…

it reasonably answers the question AND contains analysis of the text (not just facts!);

you explain your answer specifically enough to show that you can make appropriate connections and draw valid conclusions;

the quotes used to support the idea are accurate and relevant;

it and the quote used to support it are clearly linked;

it and the quote work together to demonstrate a good understanding of the text.

2

General Zaroff is an amoral person because he does not seem to find any value in human life. At one point he states, "I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you seem to harbor romantic ideas about the value of human life” (70). It is evident from Zaroff’s words that he does not hold the same values as the rest of society because most people value human life. He goes on to call the people that he hunts “the scum of the earth” like they are not even human (70). Zaroff’s disrespect for the value of human life makes him an amoral person.

Why is this a 2?

it reasonably answers the question AND contains analysis of the text (not just facts!);

it is specific enough to show appropriate connections and valid conclusions;

the quotes used to support the idea is accurate and relevant;

the answer and the quotes used to support it are clearly linked;

the answer and the quotes work together to demonstrate a good understanding of the text.

SHORT ANSWER SCORING SCALE

3 = Exemplary responses indicate an accomplished reading performance.

Your answer is a three if…

it contains all of the elements of a two AND…

it is perceptive and complex; it has a coherent explanation that makes

textual connections; the quotes are specific and well chosen; the evidence strongly supports your

answer; it and the quotes demonstrate a deep

understanding of the text.

3 General Zaroff is an amoral person because he exhibits a warped

sense of what is right and what is wrong. This is evident when he states that “life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure” (70). Most civilized human beings believe that each person is entitled certain rights and respect, but Zaroff does not share these same values. This is further shown when Rainsford objects to killing men and Zaroff replies “That is why I use them. It gives me pleasure” (70). The fact that he derives pleasure from what most would consider murder indicates that he is a deeply troubled individual without a sense of societal norms. Not only does Zaroff believe he is above the rules of society, but the fact that he takes joy in breaking these rules depicts him as truly amoral person.

Why is this a 3?

it contains all of the elements of a two AND…

it is perceptive and complex; it has a coherent explanation that makes

textual connections; the text quote is specific and well chosen; the evidence strongly supports the answer; it demonstrates a deep understanding of

the text.

Analysis of Structure General Zaroff is an amoral person because he exhibits a warped

sense of what is right and what is wrong. This is evident when he states that “life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure” (70). Most civilized human beings believe that each person is entitled certain rights and respect, but Zaroff does not share these same values. This is further shown when Rainsford objects to killing men and Zaroff replies “That is why I use them. It gives me pleasure” (70). The fact that he derives pleasure from what most would consider murder indicates that he is a deeply troubled individual without a sense of societal norms. Not only does Zaroff believe he is above the rules of society, but the fact that he takes joy in breaking these rules depicts him as truly amoral person.

Topic Sentence (TS): Answers/Addresses the question/promptConcrete Detail/Embedded Quote (CD) / (EQ): Provides evidence to support the topic sentenceCommentary (CM): Explains how the contents of the quotation support the topic sentenceConcluding sentence (CS):Ties both pieces of evidence together to make a conclusion

TS: General Zaroff is an amoral person because he exhibits a warped sense of what is right and what is wrong.

CD: This is evident when he states that “life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure” (70).

CM: Most civilized human beings believe that each person is entitled certain rights and respect, but Zaroff does not share these same values.

CD: This is further shown when Rainsford objects to killing men and Zaroff replies “That is why I use them. It gives me pleasure” (70).

CM: The fact that he derives pleasure from what most would consider murder indicates that he is a deeply troubled individual without a sense of societal norms.

CS: Not only does Zaroff believe he is above the rules of society, but the fact that he takes joy in breaking these rules depicts him as truly amoral person.

Analysis of Structure

Does this commentary

explain how this quote proves

the topic sentence?

Does this quote

prove the topic

sentence?

Does this quote

prove the topic

sentence?

Does this commentary

explain how this quote proves

the topic sentence?

Does this concluding sentence connect the ideas of both quotes together and make a conclusion?