ES4- Text Evidence

Text Evidence
and
Inference

Essential Standard 4

Understanding Text Evidence

Text evidence is specific information from a text that supports
an idea or conclusion. It can be:

●Direct quotes

●Paraphrased information

●Specific details or facts

Open Ended

CFU: What are three types of text evidence we can use?

The Importance of Citing
Evidence

Citing text evidence:

●Strengthens your arguments

●Demonstrates understanding of the text

●Allows readers to verify your claims

●Builds credibility in your analysis

Open Ended

CFU: Why is citing text evidence important in your writing?

Analyzing What the Text States

When analyzing a text:

●Read carefully

●Identify main ideas and supporting details

●Consider the author's purpose and tone

●Look for patterns and relationships in the text

Open Ended

CFU: What's one step you should take when analyzing a text?

Using Background Knowledge

Background knowledge:

●Prior information you have about a topic

●Helps connect new information to what you already
know

●Aids in making inferences and understanding context

Open Ended

CFU: How does background knowledge help you understand
a text better?

Making Inferences

Inferences are conclusions drawn from evidence and
reasoning.
To make inferences:

●Identify clues in the text

●Use your background knowledge

●Make a logical connection

Open Ended

CFU: What are the three steps to making an inference?

Selecting Strong Text Evidence

Strong text evidence:

●Directly relates to your claim

●Is specific and relevant

●Comes from a credible part of the text

●Clearly supports your analysis

Open Ended

CFU: What makes a piece of text evidence "strong"?

Justifying Inferences

To justify an inference:

●State your inference

●Provide the text evidence that supports it

●Explain how your background knowledge connects to the
evidence

●Show how this leads to your conclusion

Open Ended

CFU: In what order should you present information when
justifying an inference?

Practice: Analyzing a Text

Let's practice with a short passage:

"The old house creaked and groaned in the wind. Sarah
hesitated at the door, her hand trembling as she reached for
the rusty doorknob."

Open Ended

"The old house creaked and groaned in the wind. Sarah
hesitated at the door, her hand trembling as she reached for
the rusty doorknob."

What can we infer?

Open Ended

Explain how or why the word(s) you chose from the text support(s) your inference.

Putting It All Together

Remember:

●Read carefully and analyze the text

●Use your background knowledge

●Make logical inferences

●Select strong, relevant text evidence

●Justify your inferences with evidence and explanation

Open Ended

CFU: What are the five key steps we've learned for citing
strong text evidence and making justified inferences?

Poll

How well do you feel about citing evidence for your inferences at this point in time?

• I could cite evidence in my sleep!

• I think I've got it and am ready to try!

• I think I can do it with my notes.

• I'm still confused and not sure I could do it on my own.