September 11 Heroes RACES Worksheet
Middle School ELA 20-Minute Quick Write
Bravery in the Rubble: Heroes of 9/11
Text-Dependent Constructed Response • RACES Writing Strategy
Name:
Date:
Period:
Directions: Read the informational passage below carefully. Underline or highlight evidence that shows how first responders and ordinary citizens demonstrated courage and selflessness during the crisis. Then, complete the RACES organizer and response on Page 2.
Informational Text Lexile / Grade 6–8 Range
¶ 1 On the clear morning of September 11, 2001, four commercial airplanes were hijacked in a coordinated terrorist attack against the United States. Two planes struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a fourth crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after brave passengers fought back against the hijackers. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in what remains the deadliest attack on American soil. Yet amid the devastation and confusion, a profound spirit of courage, unity, and human resilience emerged.
¶ 2 As thousands of frightened workers evacuated the burning skyscrapers, emergency personnel did not retreat. Hundreds of New York City firefighters, police officers, and paramedics raced toward the danger. Clad in heavy gear, firefighters climbed dozens of flights of dark, smoke-choked stairwells to help civilians escape. Three hundred forty-three FDNY firefighters and seventy-one law enforcement officers made the ultimate sacrifice that day, putting the safety of strangers above their own survival.
¶ 3 Heroism was not limited to trained first responders; ordinary citizens performed extraordinary acts of compassion. Welles Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader and volunteer firefighter known as the "Man in the Red Bandanna," used his knowledge to guide trapped survivors to an open stairway on the 78th floor. He carried an injured woman down 17 flights of stairs to safety, then climbed back up into the burning tower to rescue more people before it collapsed.
¶ 4 Across Lower Manhattan, hundreds of civilian boat captains, tugboat operators, and ferry crews spontaneously formed an armada that evacuated over 500,000 stranded people by water in under nine hours—the largest sea evacuation in modern history. The selfless actions of that morning proved that even during our darkest hours, courage and unity shine through.
RACES Writing Prompt Constructed Response Question
Based on the text, how did first responders and ordinary citizens demonstrate extraordinary courage and selflessness during the events of September 11, 2001?
Support your claim with at least one direct quote and one specific example from the passage.
R
Restate
Turn prompt into statement
A
Answer
Give your direct answer
C
Cite
Quote text evidence
E
Explain
Connect evidence to answer
S
Summarize
Wrap up your response
Part 1: RACES Graphic Organizer
Plan your evidence and ideas before writing your final paragraph below.
Suggested Time: 7 Mins Plan / 13 Mins Write
R Restate & A Answer Restate the prompt and clearly state your central claim
C Cite Text Evidence Sentence starter: According to the text, "..." (include ¶ #)
E Explain Evidence Sentence starter: This shows that... / This proves that...
S Summarize / Conclude Sentence starter: In conclusion, ... / Ultimately, ...
Part 2: Final Paragraph Response
Self-Check: R A C E S
Rubric Criteria (4 pts total): • Restate & Answer (1 pt) • Accurate Citation (1 pt) • Clear Explanation (1 pt) • Summary & Mechanics (1 pt)
Score: _____ / 4
