1. Writing About Reading:
The Challenges
of
Open-Ended Responses
Thursday, June 23
Emily Kissner
elkissn@yahoo.com

2. Notes and Questions

3. Constructed Response Frame
SEE Organizer
Directions: The acronym SEE stands for Statement, Examples, and
Explanation. This is one way that you can remember what to
put in your constructed responses.
Statement I (would like, would not like) to own and train sled dogs.
Examples
Text Example 1:
Text Example 2:
Text Example 3:
Explanation (Explain how your examples relate back to your answer)
From The Forest AND the Trees by Emily Kissner

4. What Is A Tsunami?
Do you like to play in waves at the beach? If so, you know that some
waves are big, and some are small. But there are waves that are bigger than
any you might see on a regular day at the beach. These waves are called
tsunamis.
What causes tsunamis? They are not regular ocean waves. A tsunami is
a huge wave that is caused by an earthquake at sea. When an earthquake
causes the sea floor to rise or drop, water is displaced. This makes a wave
that can travel for many miles in the ocean. As the water becomes shallow
close to the land, the wave becomes huge.
Tsunamis can have terrible effects. The great wave of water crashes
upon the coast with huge force. This force can knock over buildings, tear
down forests, and even destroy entire towns and villages. Tsunamis can be
deadly and kill many people.

5. Tsunami Open-Ended Response
What are some effects of a tsunami? Support your answer
with two specific details from the text.
Tsunami Open-Ended Response
What are some effects of a tsunami? Support your answer
with two specific details from the text.
A tsunami has many effects. For example,

6. .
Another effect is
. Finally,
.
Emily Kissner 2011

7. Literature Circle Questions
Anytime Questions
A1. Choose a character. Identify at least two traits of that character. Be sure to
cite specific evidence from the text to support your details.
A2. Choose a favorite sentence or quote from what you have read so far. Be
ready to explain how it is important to the reading and why you like it.
A3. Find an example of dialogue that shows what a character is like. Explain
how the dialogue shows the character’s traits.
A4. Which character in this book is the most like you? Why?
A5. Share an inference that you made. Explain the text details and background
knowledge that helped you to make the inference.
A6. Find a word or phrase that is tricky to understand. Explain what the word
or phrase means. (Be sure to write down the page number.)
Questions for the beginning of a book
B1. What is the setting (time and place) of your book? Which setting details are
the most interesting to you?
B2. How does the author begin the book? Is it an effective introduction? Be
ready to explain your ideas.
B3. Why is the conflict in this book? What guesses do you have for how it will
be resolved?
Questions for the middle of a book
C1. What is the main problem in the book? How is the character attempting to
solve it?
C2. Find a place where you agree or disagree with a character’s decision.
Explain the event, and your feelings about it.
C3. Find some details that describe the setting. How is it important to the
story? Would the story be different in a different time and place?
C4. Choose a character who is not the main character. How is this character
important to the story. What role do they play? Would the story be
different without this character?
Questions for the end of a book
D1. Discuss the theme of the book. What is the big message? Why do you think
this?
D2. Choose a character who changed—either in emotions, traits, or attitudes.
How did the character change? Why was this important?
D3. How is the conflict resolved?
D4. What is the most important event from the book? Why do you think that
this is important?
Emily Kissner 2011

11. Pennsylvania Keystone Literature Exam