RACES

Restate

Answer

Cite Evidence

Explain

Sum Up​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

RESTATE and ANSWER

RACES is used to answer essay questions on tests and assignments.

​- First you must RESTATE the question ​then you must ANSWER it.

-Sometimes you can do this in one sentence.

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EXAMPLE: Question: What is a theme of The Outsiders?​

Restate and Answer: ​One theme of The Outsiders is that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

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Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

RESTATE AND ANSWER

The first part of the response: One theme of The Outsiders... is the restate part. It is restating the important parts of the question.

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The last part: ...is that you shouldn't ​judge a book by it's cover is the answer portion of the sentence. It answers the question.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Cite Evidence

In order to support your answer you have Cite (C) your evidence. This means you must pull a quote from the text that supports your answer.

It should be quoted and cited using MLA format.

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Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Once you have the quote, you have to introduce it.

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Use a transition to introduce evidence:

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Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Once you've introduced it, use MLS format to quote the text.

The author of the text had a character state, "I'll bet you think the Socs have it made" (Hinton 94).

The quote must have quotation marks, the author's name and page number are the only things in the parentheses and the period comes after the parentheses.​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

The right answer...

According to the text, "Phillip was crazy" (Walter 99).

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It has an introduction.

It puts the quote in quotation marks.

The only thing in the parentheses are the authors last name and page number.

The period comes after the parentheses.​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

The first one is wrong because it gets the quote and the author incorrect.

The second one puts a comma between the author and the page number.​

The third one has the period in the quotes.

The fourth is correct.​

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​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Why...

Explain (E)....

Okay you've cited evidence, now you need to explain how the evidence supports your answer.

If your answer is ...you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

and your evidence... The author of the text had a character state, "I'll bet you think the Socs have it made" (Hinton 94).

Then you would need to explain how this quote supports your answer:

Ponyboy has been assuming that life is easy for Soc's; he has been judging them without knowing them. They judge him without knowing him as well.​

The first one doesn't help your answer to the question.

The second one also doesn't support your answer.

The third one is correct because it supports your answer and mentions the quotes best argument: in the long run it saves money.

The fourth one supports the answer but doesn't have as much to do with the quote.​

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​Why...

Don't forget to use transitions to explain....

Examples:

This illustrates...

This explains...

This means...

This proves...​

Sum it up! (S)

You have to sum up your answer... or conclude it.

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Make sure that you do not introduce new evidence in a conclusion. Restate your answer. Wrap it up neatly.​

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Use a transition to conclude.​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

The first one doesn't sum up the point or restate the answer.

The second one is correct because it restates the answer and sums up the main point.

The third one uses the wrong kind of transition and summarizes weakly.

The fourth one has unneeded information.​

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​Why?