9/3/2013

Short Answer Response and Synthesis

(DBQ) Essays
ask you to apply your knowledge and
understanding in an essay format.

How to create a
Short Answer Response or
Synthesis (DBQ) Essay
Writing Practice

Difference between the two?

A constructed response usually is shorter and limited to
one or two documents
A synthesis essay is longer and involved many
documents
Both require you use essay format:
Introduction with thesis
Body with evidence & explanation supporting your thesis
Conclusion summary of your main ideas

How To Write A Short Answer

Response
PLANNING:
1. Read the entire prompt (question).
2. Identify and underline key ACTION words in
the question, such as: explain, elaborate,
illustrate,, defend,, describe,, etc.
3. Rewrite the prompt (question) in your own
words to be sure that you understand it.
4. List items you should identify in your
answer
5. List facts & examples to support your
answer

R.A.C.E
RESTATE:

Write the question as a statement:

Example:
Ques - "What color is the sky?"
Rewritten statement:
The color of the sky is usually blue,"
(or words to that effect)

WRITING:
Use R.A.C.E.
1. Restate the question; include the
2. Answer to the question with 3 reasons
3 Cite Evidence/Examples to support
3.
your answer (#1 & #2) and
4. Explain your evidence/examples

R.A.C.E
ANSWER: show how you arrived at your answer with
general reasons. NOTE: Usually R & A in R.A.C.E.
are in the same sentence.
Example:
p
What color is the sky?
Restate: The color of the sky is usually blue,
ANSWER: because of how we see light waves and
the weather conditions.

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R.A.C.E
Cite Evidence/Examples: Use the facts or
examples to support the R & A in R.A.C.E
At least 3 Evidence or Examples

EXAMPLE:
The Sky is usually blue because of how we see light
waves and the weather conditions. According to
scientist, humans see blue sky based on what kinds of
light waves are visualized in the eye, how sunny the
day is and the direction of the sunlight.

R.A.C.E
EXPLAIN THE ANSWER: Elaborate on the evidence and
examples you cited in C.
EXAMPLE:
The Sky is usually blue because of how we see light waves
and the weather conditions. According
g to scientist,, humans see
blue sky based on what kinds of light waves are visualized in the
eye, how sunny the day is and the direction of the sunlight. On a
clear, sunny day, the sun is directly shinning on us. Because the
molecules in the air reflect the scattered blue light waves more than
red or orange when it bounces off the direct sunlight, we see blue.
As the sun sets, the direction of its light goes away from us so the
molecules reflect the red or orange waves of light that we see at
sunsets.