Explaining Evidence

Which of the following should you check for and explain when you are writing about evidence? Check all that apply.

• Unexplained Pronouns in the Evidence

• Figurative Language in the Evidence

• Background Information

• The author's last name and page number

Read the topic sentence and evidence below. In “Mongrel Heart,” one theme is that animals need their people. The poem says, the dog sounds “as if [he’s] mourning a dead king,” (Baker, line 3). What's one thing you'll need to explain about the evidence?

• I need to tell people what a dog is.

• I need to explain the figurative language.

• I need to tell you why the poem is called "Mongrel Heart."

• I need to mention he bays like a basset hound.

Read the topic sentence and evidence below. In “Mother to Son,” one theme is that even when life is hard you have to keep moving. The poem says, “Don’t you set down on the steps/ ’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard,” (Hughes, lines 15-16). Choose the best explanation to follow this.

• So you can't sit on steps and let the world pass you by.

• The mother, who is speaking in the quote, means that the son shouldn't give up when it's tough.

• When life is hard you have to keep moving and going forward because it's tough a lot of the time.

True or False:
Evidence is facts that support your claim. 

• True

• False

True or False:  In order to make a good argument, evidence must be explained.

• True 

• False

Evidence is ___________________

• A statement or conclusion that answers a question

• Scientific data that supports the claim

• A justification that connects the claim to the evidence

• Not vital when using an argument

What does "evidence" refer to in an argument?

• Personal opinions about the topic.

• Facts, statistics, or examples that support a claim.

• The conclusion of the essay.

• A list of sources used in the essay.

What is the definition of "evidence"? (Check all that apply.)

• A quote or paraphrase from a credible source

• A quote from a professional on the topic

• Reasons that support the author's claim

• An anecdote (a.k.a. testimony) of someone's experience with the topic

Evidence is ___________________

• A statement or conclusion that answers a question

• Scientific data, quotes, paraphrasing, or statistics that support the claim

• A justification that connects the claim to the evidence

• Not vital when using an argument

information used to back up and support your answer

• bridge

• persuasion

• argument

• evidence