CurriculumGrade 10English Language Arts

Evidence in Informational Texts

Aligned to RI.9-10.1 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

What this lesson teaches

In nonfiction, strong evidence distinguishes what the text states outright from what it implies. Cite the exact fact, statistic, or phrasing that supports an inference, and be careful not to read in more than the text supports.

Worked example

If an article notes that a city 'added bus lanes the same year downtown parking revenue fell,' you can infer a possible link — but the text states two facts, so your inference must stay tentative.

Practice questions

  1. Separate one thing a text states explicitly from one thing it only implies.
  2. Quote the exact evidence behind the implied point.
  3. Explain why the evidence supports the inference without proving it outright.

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

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En español

Evidencia en Textos Informativos

En la no ficción, la evidencia sólida distingue lo que el texto dice de forma directa de lo que sugiere. Cita el dato, la estadística o la frase exacta que apoya una inferencia, y cuida no leer más de lo que el texto sostiene.

Ejemplo: Si un artículo señala que una ciudad 'agregó carriles de autobús el mismo año en que bajó el ingreso por estacionamiento en el centro', puedes inferir un posible vínculo — pero el texto solo afirma dos datos, así que tu inferencia debe quedar tentativa.

More Reading: Informational lessons

Author's Point of View and RhetoricRI.9-10.6Delineating and Evaluating an ArgumentRI.9-10.8Central Idea and Objective SummaryRI.9-10.2How Ideas Unfold and ConnectRI.9-10.3Technical and Connotative MeaningRI.9-10.4How Claims Are Built and RefinedRI.9-10.5

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