Introducing Evidence with Context

Multiple Choice

In the example below, two students used the same piece of evidence in their essays about Junot Diaz's short story, The Terror.

Which student provides more context?

• In the text it states, “I forced myself to turn toward them, and it felt as if the whole world was turning with me.”

• At the end of the story, when the narrator sees the brothers, he explains, “I forced myself to turn toward them, and it felt as if the whole world was turning with me.”

Open Ended

Based on the examples, why does using context before a quote improve our writing?

​ EXAMPLE WITH THREE TYPES OF CONTEXT:

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NOTES ON WHEN TO ADD CONTEXT

• Always include who says, thinks, or narrates the evidence

• Sometimes add additional context to make your evidence more clear, such as when it happens or what is happening

Multiple Select

Based on the example you just saw, what are three types of context you can use to make your evidence more clear?

• when something happened in the story

• why something happened in the story

• what happened before the quote

• who said, thought, or narrated the quote

Multiple Choice

________________ add context to help your reader understand what's going on in the story when your evidence happens.

• Always

• Sometimes

• Never

Multiple Choice

_________________ add context to let your reader know who is saying, thinking, or narrating the quote you're including.

• Always

• Sometimes

• Never

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Open Ended

Revise the example below by adding context before the evidence.

Example: In the text it states, “‘Use your weapon,’ she says.”

Open Ended

Revise the example below by adding context before the evidence.

Example: In the text it states, “‘But this isn’t about how Khalil died. It’s about the fact that he lived. His life mattered. Khalil lived!’”

​Apply these same principles to your literary analysis essay, and every literary response from now on.

Always include who says, thinks, or narrates the evidence you include.

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Sometimes, when it's necessary to help the reader understand the evidence, include when it happens and/or what is going on in the story.​

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USING CONTEXT TO INTRODUCE EVIDENCE​