How to Write a Four-Star Extended Response

1. Read the question carefully. Make sure you understand what the question is asking!

2. Write an opening statement. To do this, restate the question as a statement in your first sentence. Write it so that it is a one-sentence answer to the question—you will support this answer in the next paragraphs.

3. Think of 2-3 main ideas that explain your answer. These will each become the topic sentence for a paragraph.

4. For each main idea/topic sentence, include an example from the text that supports the main idea/topic sentence and helps answer the question. After each text example you need to: • Explain how it relates to the question AND • Connect the text example to your own knowledge, your own opinions, or your life.

5. Write a concluding statement that summarizes your main ideas and restates the prompt.

Use the organizer to organize your extended response.

Opening statement: Restate the question as a statement that answers the prompt.

Main Idea/Topic Sentence #1:

Text Example: Give one example from the text that supports your topic sentence. Quote directly from the story when possible. Explanation: Explain how the text example relates to the question.

Extension: Last, connect the example to your own knowledge, opinions, or life. Explain why the idea is important with evidence that is NOT from the text. Main Idea/Topic Sentence #1

Text Example: Give one example from the text that explains your answer to the question. Quote directly from the story when possible.

Explanation: Explain how the text example relates to the question.

Extension: Last, connect the example to your own knowledge, opinions, or life. Explain why that idea is important with evidence that is NOT from the text.

Concluding statement: Summarize your main ideas and restate the prompt.