OPEN ENDED RESPONSES

1. OPEN ENDED RESPONSES THE HEART OF TEXT ANALYSIS

2. What is an Open Ended response? • The open ended response is a question designed to test you understanding of a reading passage. • It is a response of multiple paragraphs. • A successful response will support the answer using evidence from the text. • Both the HSPA and the new PARCC test are centered around open ended responses.

3. HSPA/PARCC/MS. Tanier’s Response format • Response must be at least three paragraphs long. • Response must make direct references to the text. • Response must have be on topic.

4. Responses are graded on a 1-4 scale. • 4 =all parts of the response are correct and supported by evidence from the text and connected to the real world. • 3=all parts of the response are correct and some are supported by evidence from the text and connected to the real world. • 2= some parts of the response are correct and are supported by evidence from the text and connected to the real world. OR all parts are correct but not supported by evidence from the text. • 1= none of the response is correct

5. Sample Questions (HSPA format) • In the play Julius Caesar, Anthony says that “Brutus was the noblest of them all”. • Explain what Anthony means by this statement. • Is Anthony correct? Use the text to support your answer.

6. Families are a source of support because they are always there for each other through ups and downs in life. Despite the situation, what ever a person is in need they always know that a member of their family will be there to help and support them. Natural love and affection is what drives the support given by families to one another. No one that belongs to a supportive family should ever worry about this dying down, because it lasts a lifetime. • In A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens does not limit family to that of blood relatives, He believes that anyone who loves and supports another as much as a family member would, falls in the same category of family. Dickens expresses this through writing by showing how highwayman love and support their leader. Thy listen and respect him.

7. Charles Dickens sees family as a place of safety and support in his novel In A Tale of Two Cities. The Character of Luci is the ultimate expression of family love. Despite having never met her father, she is willing to go to Paris to bring him home after he is released from eight teen years of captivity. When she first sees her father, he is a mess. His is thin and sick looking due the terrible conditions of the prison he was held in. He does not even know his own name. None of this deters Luci. She embraces him and pledges to help him return to the man he once was. This willingness to support her father despite the hardship it may cause her is a true example of Family love. • Dickens did not believe that family only meant blood relatives. Miss Pross, who was paid to raise Luci, is part of Luci’s family. Pross defends Luci when Mr. Lorry upsets her and is willing to risk her paid position to make sure Luci is safe. Miss Pross is part of family because she is willing to support and help Luci, no matter the situation. Mr. Lorry also becomes part of Luci’s family because he is willing to risk returning to Paris to help bring Luci’s father home. • Family is more that blood. It is defined by love. In today’s world, thousand of young people await adoption. They need families to love and help then become wonder adults. Just because these families will not be bound by blood, they will still be families that Charles Dickens would have recognized and approved of.

8. Sample 4 response • In the play Julius Caesar, Antony calls Brutus the most noble Roman of them all. Antony says this because Brutus risked his life and his position not for any personal gain but to safe guard the freedom of the Roman people. Cassius, Casca and the others who plotted to kill Caesar did so to gain some of Caesar’s power for themselves. Brutus acted on principle and this makes his actions noble. • Brutus was the noblest Roman of them all. While killing someone is not noble, Brutus was acting for the good of the people. Making decision that effect the welfare of the common people can be very difficult and Brutus chose to put the needs of the many, the Roman people, over the needs of himself, keeping his friend alive. This decision is the very definition of nobility. • In today’s world leaders often have to make decisions that will not help them personally but will benefit the people. All the time politicians make unpopular decisions because they know that while the people will be unhappy about the decision now, in the long run the nation as a whole will be stronger.

9. Sample 3 response • At the end of the play Antony says that Brutus is the most noble Roman of them all. Antony says this because Brutus killed Caesar to save Rome from a dictatorship while the others killers acted out of greed or envy of Caesar. Only Brutus risked everything to save the people. His willingness to risk all for the good or Rome makes Brutus the most noble Roman of them all. • I agree that Brutus is the most noble of them all. Brutus could have lived just fine under Caesar. Caesar liked him and Brutus would not have lost any freedoms living under King Caesar. Regardless of this, Brutus acted, not to save himself, but to keep all of Rome free.

10. Sample 2 response • Antony says Brutus is noble because he dies well. At the end of the play Brutus dies by his own hand so he will not have to be dishonored by being marched into Rome. To be marched into Rome in changes was the worst thing that could happen to you in Brutus’ time. You not only were dishonored but your family lost ever thing as well. • I agree with Antony that Brutus was very noble. He is willing to kill himself, even when he does not really want to save his family. Caring about his family is very important. Brutus shows that he knows what it means to be a real Roman by dieing well.

11. Sample 1 Response • I don’t think he is because he lies at the end of the play. He says he will not steal money from the people, but then he blackmails Cassius. I think he is not fair to his friends or his army.

12. Sample Off Topic Response (NR) • This is stupid and you are a gerk