Ask-Cite-Explain-Summarize (ACES)

ACES is a model for responding to a Constructed Response question based on a method used by the Northern Nevada Writing Project. Constructed Response is simply a written response to a question. In Constructed Response writing, the student explains the answer choice to demonstrate cognitive understanding and reasoning. This helps the teacher to identify misconceptions and gaps in understanding because the guessing does not suffice to answer correctly.

Implementation

 

1. In classrooms, teachers use constructed response items frequently to gain a better understanding of students' underlying thinking.
2. Students answer a prompt in “paragraph” format or list responses to a prompt that require more than a few words or a multiple choice answer.

 

Classroom Management

Teach students the following acronym to cue recall when faced with constructed response test items.

 

• A = Answer the question.
• C = Cite details, show computations.
• E = Explain all steps and Examine your answer, assuring that you have responded to the question thoroughly.
• S = Sum it up