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How to find and use specific details from the text to support your answers and ideas.
Imagine you are a detective in a courtroom. You can't just say 'I think he did it!' to win. You need the 'smoking gun'—the actual proof. In reading, your proof is hidden right inside the story!
When you make a claim about a story, like 'The main character is very brave,' you need text evidence. Text evidence is a specific detail, fact, or sentence from the book that proves your idea is true. Think of it as the 'receipt' for your thoughts! Without evidence, your answer is just a guess. When we find evidence, we look for clues left by the author, such as what a character says, what they do, or what the narrator tells us directly.
Quick Check
What do we call the specific details from a story that prove our ideas are true?
Answer
Text evidence
The best way to show evidence is to use a direct quote. This means you copy the words exactly as they appear in the text. To show these aren't your own words, you must use quotation marks " ". For example, if the book says the dog barked loudly, you would write: The author says, "The dog let out a thunderous bark that shook the windows."
Story: 'Sam's hands were shaking as he stepped onto the stage. He took a deep breath and looked at the large crowd.'
Question: How does Sam feel? 1. Claim: Sam is nervous. 2. Evidence: The text says, "Sam's hands were shaking." 3. Connection: Shaking hands usually means someone is scared or worried.
Not all evidence is created equal! Strong evidence is a sentence that perfectly matches your point. Weak evidence might be related to the topic but doesn't actually prove your specific claim. If you want to prove a character is kind, a sentence about them sharing their lunch is stronger than a sentence about them just sitting next to someone.
Claim: Sarah is a hard worker.
Evidence Option A: "Sarah liked to wear her blue sneakers to school." Evidence Option B: "Sarah stayed after school every day for a week to finish her science project."
Winner: Option B is the strongest evidence because it specifically shows her working hard, while Option A just tells us what she wears.
Quick Check
True or False: Any sentence from the story can be used as evidence for any claim.
Answer
False. Evidence must specifically support and prove the claim you are making.
Once you find your quote, you need to build a bridge to explain it. You can't just drop a quote and walk away! Use phrases like 'This shows that...' or 'This proves...' to explain how the quote supports your idea. This helps your reader understand exactly why that piece of evidence is important.
Question: Is the main character, Leo, a fast runner?
Step 1 (The Claim): Yes, Leo is a very fast runner. Step 2 (The Evidence): In the story, it says, "Leo zoomed past the other kids like a bolt of lightning." Step 3 (The Bridge): This shows he is fast because the author compares him to lightning, which is one of the fastest things in nature.
Which of these is the best way to start a sentence containing text evidence?
If you want to prove a character is 'angry,' which piece of evidence is strongest?
You should change the words in a quote to make them sound better in your essay.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to remember the three steps of a perfect answer: The Claim, the Evidence, and the ______.
Practice Activity
Pick your favorite book. Find one sentence that proves your favorite character is 'brave' or 'funny' and write it down using quotation marks.