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How to "Explain Your Answer"

Tags

^21st Century Skills Social-Emotional Learning MS/HS/College Strategy

Skills

Flexible Thinking Attention Verbal Reasoning Abstract Reasoning

How to "Explain Your Answer"

Teach It!

  1. Objective: Students will have a good sense of what a teacher wants when they are asked to "Explain Your Answer".
  2. Instruction and Practice: Guide students through their student checklist (on the next slide) to help them understand what to do when they are asked to explain their answer.

*print* Student Checklist: How To "explain Your Answer"

  1. While there are general rules of thumb, teachers might have different expectations. Understand each teacher's expectations as early as you can in the beginning of the term.
  2. Note if you are getting points deducted for not providing sufficient details. If you knew more and did not write it, you probably want to concentrate on writing more. Conversely, if you are having difficulty finishing assignments, are writing a lot, and not getting points deducted you might be able to write less. Ask your teacher.
  3. If you are unsure if you have written enough, show your teacher your answer and ask if you need to provide more details. Your teacher won't tell you what to write, but usually the teacher will be happy to read your answer and give feedback if you need to write more.
  4. The following structure will generally give you the right balance of information:
  5. Sentence 1: Start with a compound sentence that efficiently re-states the question in your own words followed by your primary response (e.g. Yes, I believe that..., because...).
  6. Sentence 2: State the most important supporting details or rationale. Do not skip over basic information because it feels obvious to you. It might not be obvious to the rest of the class and you might get deductions for not including it.
  7. Sentences 3+: Include more specific, additional details. The number of sentences will vary by age and teacher. Include the details you are certain are important and will prove your point. In general, three or four supporting details are more than sufficient.
  8. If you can avoid it, do not include details you are "fuzzy" about as teachers might deduct points for incorrect information.
  9. Summary Sentence: This may not be necessary but will not hurt. Use the last sentence to emphasize your primary rationale.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Sometimes what is expected from a word like "Explain" is obvious to an adult but confusing to a student. Help your students understand your expectations. Some students might not infer on their own and will benefit from explicit guidance to understand how much information they need to provide. If teachers do not provide the guidance, students should ask.