Tips for Answering Brief Constructed Responses

 

 

Brief constructed responses should not be more than 15 hand-written lines in length or approximately 7 typed lines using a 12 point font.

 

The most important thing to remember when answering the prompt is to use specific historical examples to support your answer.  If you don’t use examples, it’s difficult to prove how you know something to be true or factual.

 

Therefore, use the following guidelines for writing BCR’s:

 

!                Use specific names, date, and figures whenever possible

Sample question:  What does the “School Spending Plan” graph show about salaries?

 

Too general:  It shows that salaries take up most of the budget.

 

Better Respones

!                Respond in complete sentences; avoid fragments

!                Make your responses brief but thorough.  Rely on precise nouns and verbs rather than vague terms.