OERs (Open-Ended Responses) – What are they and how should they be answered?

OERs (Open-Ended Responses) – What are they and how should they

be answered?

• OERs are a type of short-answer question that you will see on STAAR

• The questions are called “open-ended” as there is no one “right” answer

• OERs are also called short answer questions since you should be able to write a response to the question in just a few sentences (no more than six)

The format for answering OEQs is as simple as

A – Answer

P - Prove

E - Explain 10 lines!No doubling up!No writing outside the box!

• Answer the question! This might seem like a “duh,” but you would be surprised at how many students don’t answer the question that is asked.

• There are good ways and bad ways of starting your answer

• Restate the question stem. If the question asks, “How can you tell Robin loves her father,” you could begin by saying “You can tell Robin loves her father by examining…”Another way to begin is “In the story (poem, article, etc.)…”

• “I think…”• “Yes,…”• “No,…”

“I think you can tell Robin loves her father because…”

How can you tell Robin loves her father? “You can tell Robin loves her father by examining the …”

BAD

BAD

GOOD

• The ONLY time you should ever use the word “I” to begin your answer is if the question asks, “Do you agree…” or “Do you believe…”

• You can then say, “I agree” or “I believe” and restate the question. Example: “I agree that Robin loves her father since…”

• You must find a quote from the story that PROVES your answer

• If we continue the previous example, you would be looking for a sentence from the story that PROVES Robin loves her father.

According to the text, Robin “looked at him lovingly” and “hugged him tightly” when he had to leave.

• You need to embed your quote from the story. Embedded quotes are quotes that are contained within a sentence, not left standing alone.

DID JERRY LIKE KATIE?• Example of stand-along quote: Jerry liked Katie.

“Would you go on a date with me?”WHAT!?!? We can’t read your mind!

• Example of an embedded quote: Jerry liked Katie so much he asked her, “Would you go on a date with me?”OH, OKAY. MUCH EASIER TO UNDERSTAND!

• (Name) says, “__________________.”• The author explains, “______________.”• In the story, the author/character

states“____)• According to the text, “________”

• In this section, you must give meaning to your answer

• You should explain how your quote helps prove your answer.

• Great waysto start:

• Bad ways to begin: “In conclusion,” “finally,” “lastly.”

This provesThis showsThis reveals

This illustrateshow…

• DON’T Repeat the answer from Section “A”• DON’T bring in new information not

shown/proved in Section “A” or “P”

• Making these errors will result in a lower score for your answer

• A crossover question is an OER where the test makers ask you to compare and contrast the two readings.

• An example of a crossover question: How is the boy in “Set Free” similar to the father in “Summer of the Raccoons?”

Text #1 Text #2

• When you are answering a crossover question, you must now have two quotes in Section “P” as proof – one from each story

• When you are switching from the quote from the first reading to the quote from the second reading, you must us a transition word or phrase

• Transitions of agreement: “Likewise,” “In the same way, or “similarly”

• Transitions of disagreement: “However, “On the other hand, “ or “In contrast”

• On the test you will have access to a dictionary. The test scorers expect perfect spelling!

• You are also expected to use acceptable grammar, diction, and syntax.

• Let’s Review! What’s the roadmap for success whenanswering an OER?

Read “The Gift” (page 254) and “Those Winter Sundays” (page 256)

What is the significance of the fathers’ hands in both poems? Provide evidence from both selections to support your answer.

10 lines!

The fathers’ hands are significant because they

reveal the way in which the fathers take care oftheir families. In “The Gift,” the father’s hands were“two measures of tenderness” which shows thefather was gentle as he took care of his son’ssplinter. In “Those Winter Sundays,” the fatherhad “cracked hands that ached from labor in theweekday weather,” which shows the father workedhard to take care of his family.

The significance of the fathers’ hands in both poems is

that each father shows love and care for his family No matter what it takes. In “The Gift,” the father places“his hands, two measures of tenderness” on the child’sFace. This reveals that while the father removes the Splinter, he wants his child to feel comforted. In “ThoseWinter Sundays,” the father works hard to keep theHome warm and provide with his “cracked hands.” This Shows that the father will do whatever it takes to care for his family, even in the “blistering cold.”

Read “Friendship’s Meaning” and “Friendships”

What is a common theme from both poems? Support your answer with evidence from both selections.

A common theme from both poems is that important

friendships can have a significant impact on aperson’s life. In “Friendship’s Meaning,” the speakerstates that friendship “melts the shadows of theheart,” which shows that friendship can make aperson feel better. In “Friendship,” the speaker states“our friendship is here to stay Like the sun, the moon,and the stars in the sky,” which reveals that a good friendship can offer consistency and reliability in a person’s life.

AnswerRestate & Answer the QuestionProveProve your Answer with TextExplainProvide a “This Shows” Statement 

Friendship's MeaningFriendship freezes misspoken or misinterpreted words.Friendship melts the shadows of the heart.Friendship's soul swells rolling the emblazoned red carpet at our doorways.Friendship is the bridge binding two islands.Friendship is one fragrant blossom meeting the perfect ground.Friendship is wild laughing by the swishing stream.Friendship is watching leaves turn stunning colours.Friendship is a golden chain with luck charms worn about the neck or wrist.Friendship is the turquoise stone tucked away in the pocket or enveloped under the pillow.Friendship is a frog sitting beside a bold bright yellow rose on a Sunday morning in August.Friendship extends its magical arms for it is not the receiving but the giving.Friendship is creating a mood positive and light.Our friendship is the air, fire, earth, and water of the universe! Michelle Kafka

FriendshipFriendship is like a diamondIt is preciousFriendship is like a fine wineIt matures over timeFriendship is for lifeUntil the endFriendship is not just the name of a feelingIt is a feeling of understanding, honesty and trustBetween two people

Friendships can come and they can goLike day and night, hot and coldBut you and I are something elseOur friendship is here to stayLike the sun, the moon, and the stars in the skyThat will never go away

That is friendship Anthony Acquah