The last step of the RACE strategy is E – Explain your answer. After you restate, answer, and cite text evidence, you need to show your thinking. This is where you connect your evidence back to your answer and explain why it matters.
Here are some tips for explaining:
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Tell how the evidence supports your answer.
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Use your own words to show understanding.
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Don’t just repeat your evidence—add your thinking.
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Use sentence starters like:
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This shows that…
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This proves that…
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This means…
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Example
Question: Why is Rosa considered brave in the story?
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Restated & Answered: Rosa is considered brave because she stands up for her beliefs.
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Cited Evidence: According to the text, “Rosa refused to move from her seat even when she was told she had to.”
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Explained: This shows that Rosa is brave because she risked getting in trouble in order to do what she knew was right.