The Common Core State Standards have undergone a number of changes, one of which is the increased focus placed on the need that students create writing that is evidence-based in response to the material that they have read. The PARCC exam will also reflect this transition in its test design by requiring students to read choices of literature and non-fiction, and then requiring them to reply to their reading with a written answer. Therefore, it is essential for students to not only be able to read works of literature and non-fiction, but also to be able to refer to pertinent material within the passage in order to substantiate statements that the student makes in his or her writing. Take a look at the following three strategies that may assist students in becoming more comfortable with providing evidence, structuring their ideas, and producing a response that is well developed and stays focused: graphic organizers are also available. Students should be given the opportunity to practice visualizing their ideas and planning them out. In a textbook for the art and science of teaching published in 2009, Marzano makes the following statement: “the employment of a broad variety of visual representations [such as graphic organizers] significantly boosts students’ reading comprehension and critical thinking abilities” (p. 74). Therefore, if you want to assist students in organizing their thoughts, you may want to consider developing a visual organizer that allows students to lay out their ideas for an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion for each essay. Following that, students are able to make a note of their support and evidence that they intend to utilize below each box. As the students start to produce their essays, it is now much simpler for them to concentrate on the writing since they have already taken the time to think through the substance of the answer. In addition, the preparation of a textual outline or list for the purpose of planning out ideas may not be the most effective method for a visual learner to brainstorm; the graphic organizer will undoubtedly be of assistance to these pupils. Go on reading… answers for the Parcc that are text-based