ACEing Your Writing:

A writing strategy that will help you support your ideas

and opinions.
 Supporting Your Ideas

• Without evidence and support, your ideas and opinions can go

unnoticed. It is a very hard truth that your opinion doesn’t matter
if you cannot support your opinion with evidence.
• The ACE strategy to writing and responding will not only help
you explore your ideas and opinions, but it will help add
substance to your writing. Additionally, it will make others
recognize your opinions.
 Let’s say I had this poem:
“Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb
Mary had a little lamb and its fleece was white as snow. “
(Anonymous, 12)”
Here are two questions on the End-of-Course Test
1. What did Mary have?
2. What kind of relationship do Mary and her pet have?
 Answer for number 1
1. What did Mary have?
In the poem “Mary had a Little Lamb” by an Anonymous
author, it is clear that Mary, the primary character in the piece,
has a lamb. This is supported by the fact that the text states
“Mary had a little lamb” (Anonymous, 12). This indicates that
there is a lamb in Mary’s possession.
 Answer for Number 2
2. What kind of relationship do Mary and her pet have?
● It is clear that Mary and the lamb have a loving bond. I would even go so far as to
assume that Mary is the lamb’s owner. This is supported by the fact that the lamb is
called “little” (Anonymous,12) in the text. Generally, we refer to things being “little”
when we have an affectionate relationship with them. For example, I call my younger
brother my “little brother” to show my playful affection for him.
OR
● It is clear that Mary is hateful to the lamb. I would even go so far as to assume that the
lamb is Mary’s slave. This is supported by the fact that the lamb is called “little”
(Anonymous, 12) in the text. Generally, we refer to things being “little” when we want
them to be seen as lesser than us. For example, I call my younger brother my “little
brother” to show how much I despise him.
 WHAT DOES THIS SHOW US?
● We can draw multiple inferences from literature.
● Any opinion can be accepted if you can logically and
properly support your answer using the text.
 A.C.E.S. Writing
● A: Answer the question
● C: Cite your evidence
● E: Explain your answer
● S: Summarize
 A: ANSWER the question/Address the
topic

• When you address the topic, always restate

the question in your answer.
• Should be 1 sentence in length.
• Example Question: What is your favorite
subject in school?
• Example Answer: Mary’s favorite subject in
school is science.
 C: CITE evidence
• When you cite or give evidence, always be sure that it supports your
answer.
• Your evidence should be a direct quote. Make sure you give the page
number!
• Should be 1 sentence in length.
• Example Cite: Science is Mary’s favorite subject because, as she says in
to friends often, “I enjoy learning about animals.”
 E: ELABORATE or EXTEND
• When you elaborate or extend, you should prove
how your citation supports your answer.
• This is where you tie your quote to your claim.
• You goal is to prove that your thinking is right.
• Should be 1 sentence in length.
• Example Elaboration: In science class this year,
Mary’s teacher has many animals in his room that
the students can watch and research throughout
the year.
 S: Summarize/ Summing it up
• When you summarize, you should restate your
answer and your main points.
• You should use different words than you did
before.
• This part can be 1-2 sentences long.
• It’s no surprise that Mary enjoys her science class
when there are awesome animals to interact
with.