What does a good written response look like?

As we develop our writing skills, one of the most difficult skills to master is writing to explain.  We quickly develop the ability to pull relevant details from the text, and we are able to cite where we got that information from.  However, when it comes time to explain, we struggle. 

What exactly, do I mean by explaining?  Think of it this way, if I were to ask you do you like ice cream, and you were to respond yes or no, you are answering the question.  It is when you add to that answer, more details such as I like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.  You have explained your response.  When you add I like Bryer's Vanilla, Blue Bunny Strawberry, and Ben and Jerry's Funky Monkey you have provided even more details. 

Anyone can answer a question, but good writers are able to provide that just right amount of detail that explains their answer.  We call this skill adding voice to our writing.  Ultimately, it should be the goal of every to have their own discernable style.  We can do this by adding voice. 

Here are the stages we look for in our students writing

1.  R = Restate the question
2.  A = Answer the question
3.  C = Cite where you get the answer from
4.  E = Explain, explain your answer by adding your own voice.  

Voice is explaining the answer.  It's adding those extra details, such as the fact that I like Ben and Jerry's Funky Monkey.  Up until this point in our student's academic career, the information has always been presented to them in a text or in a picture.  Now we must learn to combine the information presented within the text with our own voice.  It is difficult...but we can, and will work hard to get it write...or is it right?