Understanding STAAR Short Answer Questions (SAQs)

Learn about STAAR Short Answer Questions (SAQs), including evaluation criteria for responses, example prompts, responses, and scoring. Gain insights into how to craft effective answers based on text evidence to demonstrate comprehension and critical thinking skills.

• STAAR questions
• SAQs
• text evidence
• response evaluation
• critical thinking

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1. STAAR Short Answer Questions (SAQs)

2. SAQ SAQ Overall Description Overall Description No idea present; Idea not based on text; Idea does not answer the question asked; Idea is too general, vague, or unclear; Idea echoes text evidence; Response contains only text evidence. 0 Idea needs more explanation or specificity; Represents literal reading of the text; No text evidence or flawed text evidence; Evidence generally references the text; Evidence too partial to support idea; Weak link to idea; Wrongly manipulates meaning of text; Evidence does not provide adequate support for idea. 1 Not Considered Passing Idea is reasonable and goes beyond literal reading of text; Makes appropriate connections and valid conclusions; Text evidence is accurate and relevant; Idea and evidence clearly linked; Demonstrates good understanding of text. Considered Passing 2 Idea is perceptive and reflects awareness of the complexities of the text; Coherent explanation; Text evidence is well chosen for BOTH selections; Evidence strongly supports validity of the idea; Demonstrates a deep understanding of the text. 3

3. For each SAQ, you will have a box like the one above that allows you 10 lines for your answer. Please note that the 10th line is the dark bottom edge of the box, and you cannot write below this point. Also, you may not double line in order to squeeze more writing in the box.

4. Example Prompt: In this excerpt of The Old Man and the Sea, how does personification help to explain Santiago s relationship to the sea? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. Example Response: He always thought of the sea as la mar which is what people call her. He always thought of the sea as la mar which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her. This is trying to explain how other people see her. Score Point 0 0: Insufficient The student repeats verbatim the text.

5. Example Prompt: In this excerpt of The Old Man and the Sea, how does personification help to explain Santiago s relationship to the sea? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. Example Response: Santiago calls the sea la mar which means love because he see s the sea as a woman. He always refers to her as feminine and of something that withheld great favors. So thinking of the sea as a woman is personification. Score Point 1 1: Partially Sufficient The idea is reasonable, but only a general text reference is used to support the idea.

6. Example Prompt: In this excerpt of The Old Man and the Sea, how does personification help to explain Santiago s relationship to the sea? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. Example Response: Personification explains the relationship between the old man and the sea because he thought of the sea as a real woman and doing things a real woman would do. The old man thought of the sea as feminine and as something that gave or withheld great favors. Thinking of it as a person makes him seem closer to the sea. Score Point 2 2: Sufficient The idea is reasonable and goes beyond literal ( makes him seem closer ). The evidence is relevant.

7. Example Prompt: In this excerpt of The Old Man and the Sea, how does personification help to explain Santiago s relationship to the sea? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. Example Response: Hemingway uses personification to explain that Santiago thinks of the sea as la mar which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her. He is referring to the sea as a woman and he takes her side by not blaming her for the wild or wicked things. So he is defending the sea as if she had life, just like a man would do for a woman. Score Point 3 3: Exemplary The idea ( he is defending the sea as if she had life ) is perceptive and reflects awareness of the complexities of the text. The evidence (a combination of paraphrase and direct quote) is specific and well chosen.

8. Your turn From The Custom of the Country, how would you describe Paul? At your table, score the SAQ responses.

9. Practice Read the passage and answer the following question: What do you think Mrs. Patterson really means beyond the surface of what she actually says? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

10. STAAR Crossover SAQs You will have one SAQ over two thematically linked selections, and you will need to address BOTH adequately in your response.

11. Crossover SAQ Crossover SAQ Overall Description Overall Description Incorrect or vague; For one or both selections does not answer question asked; idea is not based on one or both selections; No idea present; Sometimes contains only text evidence; Echoes the text evidence. 0 Has a reasonable idea but needs more explanation or specificity; Literal reading of text; Idea contains an inaccuracy; Weak connection between idea and support; No text evidence or flawed evidence; Text evidence is only a general reference to the text or is too partial to support the idea; Wrongly manipulates the meaning of the text. 1 Not Considered Passing Idea is reasonable and beyond literal reading of text for both selections; Specific enough to allow appropriate connections and valid conclusions; Text evidence is accurate and relevant; Demonstrates a good understanding of the text. Considered Passing 2 Idea is perceptive and reflects awareness of the complexities of the text; Coherent explanation; Text evidence is well chosen for BOTH selections; Evidence strongly supports validity of the idea; Demonstrates a deep understanding of the text. 3

12. For each SAQ, you will have a box like the one above that allows you 10 lines for your answer. Please note that the 10th line is the bottom edge of the box, and you cannot write below this point. Also, you may not double line and attempt to squeeze more writing in the box.

13. Example Prompt: What is one similarity between the narrator of A Handful and Curtis in Writin on the Line ? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections. Example Response: The narrator in A Handful talks in first person and the narrator in Writin on the Line third person. In A Handful the narrator constantly uses possessives like my and I and also has things like I remember it and In a way I do . However, in Writin on the Line the narrator talks using he s and avoids possessives and talks like his first bank and he s now in demand for personal appearances . Score Point 0 0: Insufficient The response does not answer the prompt, quotations provided are not relevant to the prompt, no reasonable idea or relevant textual evidence is provided.

14. Example Prompt: What is one similarity between the narrator of A Handful and Curtis in Writin on the Line ? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections. Example Response: Both the narrator of A Handful and Curtis had assistance from a close friend or relative. Kevin saved the narrator of A Handful s life, as well as help him get over his fear of bridges. Kaysandra helped Curtis become an author as well. Score Point 1 1: Partially Sufficient This response offers a reasonable idea (assistance from a close friend or relative). The idea is not supported by relevant direct quotations from either story.

15. Example Prompt: What is one similarity between the narrator of A Handful and Curtis in Writin on the Line ? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections. Example Response: Both selections deal with a problem where a loved one helps another loved one out. In A Handful Kevin helps the narrator overcome his fear of bridges. The only person who could calm me down was the person who saved me . In Writin on the Line Kaysandra helps Curtis achieve his dreams of becoming a writer. Fortunately, Kaysandra believed in those handwritten words . With her support, Curtis was successful. Score Point 2 2: Sufficient The response offers a reasonable idea for each selection (Kevin helping narrator to overcome the fear of bridges; Kaysandra helping Curtis achieve his dreams of becoming a writer). Direct quotations support the ideas from both selections.

16. Example Prompt: What is one similarity between the narrator of A Handful and Curtis in Writin on the Line ? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections. Example Response: One similarity between the narrator and Curtis is that they were both helped by their loved one in an hour of need to finally attain success whether it be in the form of career or triumph over emotional turmoil. Curtis would be the first [to admit] that without [Kaysandra ssupport] his dream [would never have been realized] . Despite the years that have gone by, even when the narrator s parents thought the story was getting old, Kevin just ignored them. [Instead], his face wouldn t change, and his voice only got softer indicating that Kevin was there for the narrator regardless of what other people thought. Score Point 3 3: Exemplary The response offers the reasonable idea that both were helped by their loved one in an hour of need to finally attain success whether it be in the form of career or triumph over emotional turmoil. Quotations demonstrate a strong connection between textual evidence and the idea. Incorporated relevant commentary into their response.