Using Text Evidence
Aligned to W.4.9 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
When you write about something you read, back up your ideas with evidence from the text. Point to details, examples, or the author's own words that prove what you are saying, instead of just giving your opinion.
Worked examples
Example 1
To show a character is brave, a writer doesn't just say so — she writes, 'The story shows he stayed to help when everyone else ran, which proves he is brave.'
Example 2
To show a text says the drought worsened, quote it: 'The article notes the wells “had gone dry by August,” which shows conditions got worse.'
Example 3
Introduce the quote, give it, then explain it. A quote dropped into a paragraph with no lead-in makes the reader stop.
Practice questions
- Write an opinion about a book, then add one detail from the story that supports it.
- Explain the difference between your idea and the evidence that backs it up.
- Describe how you would find proof in a text to answer a question about it.
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.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Usar Evidencia del Texto
Cuando escribes sobre algo que leíste, apoya tus ideas con evidencia del texto. Señala detalles, ejemplos o las propias palabras del autor que prueben lo que dices, en lugar de solo dar tu opinión.
Ejemplo 1: Para mostrar que un personaje es valiente, una escritora no solo lo dice — escribe: 'La historia muestra que se quedó a ayudar cuando todos los demás corrieron, lo que prueba que es valiente.'
Ejemplo 2: Para mostrar que un texto dice que la sequía empeoró, cítalo: 'El artículo señala que los pozos “ya estaban secos para agosto”, lo que muestra que la situación empeoró.'
Ejemplo 3: Presenta la cita, dala y luego explícala. Una cita soltada en un párrafo sin introducción hace que quien lee se detenga.
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