Responding to Open-Ended Questions

Strategies & Techniques

OER: open-ended response

Necessary for all courses / disciplines Strategies increase ALL writing skills Only 3 easy steps to remember Usually one long or two short paragraphs,

but the techniques may be used for longer responses

Great for journal-writing “block”

Introduction sentence:

Use the prompt (the series of statements and questions provided – usually multifaceted.)

Paraphrase the information given to you… why reinvent the wheel?

This makes your response LONGER and STRONGER and allows the reader to know the details of the question

Body (the actual answer)

Use the TEXT!– Direct (use exact words and quotations)

– Indirect (paraphrase – use your own, simplified words)

THE KEY:

Answer using the author’s words, and then explain with - - This means that…

- This can be interpreted as…

- In other words…

- This is important because…

Conclusion:

Short and sweet! Answer: Why is this particular aspect of the selection

important? What does this have to do with the main

idea, purpose, or tone (attitude) of the selection?

Predictions (Perhaps… Possibly… )

A Quick Guide to OERs:

Intro: rewrite the prompt Body: answer using the text and explain Conclusion: explain the importance (OR

answer the question “So What?”