I propose three guided questions for reflection as a jumpstart organizational formula for students with poor writing application skills to follow when responding to an open-ended question. The recipe prescribes that the student (1) understand the question design, (2) identify the intent or objective of the question, and (3) proceed to identify the key words or phrases that are relevant to answer the question. The three prompts serve as a “getting started” writing template for students to organize their thoughts and then compose the introductory sentences of their answer. The identified significant words and phrases should then be further explained and clarified by the student to complete the main body of the response. In addition, these opening sentences serve as an index at the outset of the response for a teacher to gauge the student’s understanding of and approach toward answering the question.
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October 2012
Research Article|
October 01 2012
A (1)-(2)-(3) Jumpstart Approach to Answer an Open-Ended Question
Anthony V. DeFina
Anthony V. DeFina
1ANTHONY V. DeFINA is a former Science Department Supervisor and is currently a full-time teacher of AP Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Environmental Science at Wayne Hills High School, 272 Berdan Ave., Wayne, NJ 07470. E-mail: [email protected].
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The American Biology Teacher (2012) 74 (8): 571–573.
Citation
Anthony V. DeFina; A (1)-(2)-(3) Jumpstart Approach to Answer an Open-Ended Question. The American Biology Teacher 1 October 2012; 74 (8): 571–573. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2012.74.8.7
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