What is the R.A.C.E.S. Writing Strategy?

The R.A.C.E.S. writing strategy is a widely-used approach used to help students construct thorough and detailed responses to text-based questions. Each letter in the acronym R.A.C.E.S. stands for a specific step in the writing process:

• R – Restate the Question: Begin by restating the question in your own words. This helps ensure students understand what is being asked and sets the context for their response.
• A – Answer the Question: Answer the question directly, making sure the answer is clear.
• C – Cite Evidence: Support the answer with evidence from the text. This could be a quote or a specific example that backs up the answer.
• E – Explain: Explain how the evidence cited supports the answer. This involves connecting the dots for the reader and elaborating on their reasoning.
• S – Summarize/Conclude: End with a summary or a concluding sentence that wraps up your response and reinforces your main points.

By following the R.A.C.E.S. strategy, students can ensure their responses are thorough, well-supported, and follow a logical progression.

Grab a R.A.C.E.S. Writing Bulletin Board Pack!

This printable resource is the perfect classroom display if you teach Reading, Writing, and how to write a constructed response. We’ve included everything you need to create a colorful, useful, and frequently referenced bulletin board to help your students write constructed responses. This fully editable download includes:

• R.A.C.E.S Writing Letter Cards (Headings)
• R.A.C.E.S. Writing Poster or Student Anchor Chart
• R.A.C.E.S. Tips and Tricks Call-Out Speech Bubbles
• Decorative Elements

But what if I only use the R.A.C.E. Strategy? In that case, no worries! You can skip the ‘S’ if you prefer to use a more basic format. We have included fully editable color and black-and-white versions of this display for your convenience.

Click the dropdown arrow on the download button to select the editable or printable PDF file you prefer.

This resource was created by Lisamarie Del Valle, a teacher in Florida and Teach Starter Collaborator.

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