How a Sec 1 Student Should Write Gist Plus Evidence

A Sec 1 comprehension answer is two lines tonight: a gist sentence in the student's words, then one evidence line the marker can find. If the gist needs more than twelve words, the student has started a retell. Do not open last month's independent-reading walkthrough. Write one answer and score it.

Gist is the job of the answer, not a retell

Gist is one sentence that answers the question. It is not a paragraph summary and not a lifted line. Evidence is the shortest phrase from the passage that would make a marker believe that gist. School mark schemes differ. Follow the question's mark value. A long copy of the paragraph can still fail if it never answers the stem.

Write two lines, then stop

1. Underline the question word: what, why, how, or which.
2. Write line 1: gist in twelve words or fewer, in the student's words.
3. Write line 2: one evidence phrase, quoted or tightly paraphrased.
4. Stop. Do not add a third line unless the question asks for two reasons or an effect.
5. If the gist runs past twelve words, cut it before you hunt evidence.

A two-mark "explain" question may need a short "so" clause after the evidence. That clause still has to use the question word. It is not permission to retell the paragraph.

The cover test

Cover the passage. Read the gist aloud. A listener who has not seen the text should understand the answer to the question. Uncover the passage. The evidence line must sit in the relevant paragraph.

Question: Why did Rahim leave the hall early?

Fail: "Rahim left the hall early because the passage said he left the hall early." That is a loop, not a gist.

Pass: "Rahim left because the announcement named his bus. Evidence: 'his route flashed on the board'."

Fail if the gist is only the quote, or the quote answers a different question. A beautiful sentence from paragraph three that does not prove the gist is a miss.

This is not last month's independent-reading walkthrough

iWorld Learning's Middle School English page currently lists 3-6 person groups and a trial. Confirm live terms. No class promises a comprehension grade. Look at a class only if three answers still have gist with no evidence, or evidence with no gist.

FAQ

How long may the evidence quote be?

A phrase, not a sentence block. If the quote can stand as the whole answer, it is too long. Cut it until the gist still has work to do.

What if the question is three marks?

Keep the gist and one evidence line, then add one "so" clause that uses the question word. Do not retell the paragraph to chase the third mark.