On My Own

“ON MY OWN” questions do not have right or wrong answers; they require you to answer with a well-thought-out piece of writing.  They can be answered with information from the students’ background knowledge and DO NOT require reading the text, although they usually deal with themes or concepts that can be found in the text. A good "on my own" question will be connected to the text by theme or topic, without actually requiring one to read the text in order to create an answer.

"On My Own" questions ask you to think about your own knowledge and experiences.  They are usually connected by topic to the book, but they do not require you to have read the book in order to create a good answer.  However, you can use knowledge you have gained from the reading to help you answer the question.

Example:

We know that being biased against someone or a group is bad.  However, some people are biased anyway.  What are some reasons people discriminate against others?  Why are these reasons erroneous?

Remember: The answer is not in the text.

 §         think about what you already know

§         think about what you’ve read before

§         make connections

You will see "On My Own" questions on the NJASK; they are essay prompts.   The 6+1 traits of writing can help you craft a strong answer to an "On My Own" question.  You should be using MLA citations and bibliography in an "On My Own" piece.