Citing Evidence Grade 8 Copyright © 2014 by Write Score LLC

Today you will learn... How to cite evidence that most strongly supports your idea. How to reference the text when citing multiple pieces of evidence. To explain how each piece of textual evidence supports your ideas.

Modeled Instruction

Review: What does it mean to cite explicit evidence? to quote a passage, book, or author as evidence for an argument or statement. Evidence: something which shows that something else exists or is true. Explicit: very clear and complete: leaving no doubt about the meaning.

Review: Why cite evidence from the text? Evidence supports your thoughts. Without it, your response falls apart. Evidence helps readers trust you. Without it, they may wonder if you’re just making it up.

What are the steps for citing evidence? State your idea. Use some of the same language in your response as the question/prompt. Provide multiple pieces of evidence from the text that most strongly support your idea. Reference the text. Explain how each piece of evidence supports and connects with your idea.

Loggerhead Sea Turtles In the U.S. loggerhead sea turtles are currently classified under the Endangered Species Act as "threatened" (bad!), but their status could even be elevated to "endangered" (worse!). There are several reasons why loggerhead populations have declined in recent years. Primary threats include habitat loss (as increasing human populations encroach upon critical nesting habitat), nest predation by natural predators such as the raccoon, mortality from boat collisions and entanglement in fishing and boating gear, and failure of hatchlings to make it to sea due to light interference (lights along the coast confuse the hatchlings, which normally rely on the reflection of the moon on the water to guide them to the sea). Biscayne National Park staff and volunteers work year-round on habitat restoration activities to improve the quality of nesting beach habitats available to nesting sea turtles. Each day, assorted debris is washed ashore and over time, this debris accumulates on the nesting beaches. Sea turtles can have a difficult time traversing over the increasing amounts of debris on the beach and too much trash makes it hard for sea turtles to find suitable nesting spots. By periodically cleaning the beaches, we improve the quality of nesting grounds for sea turtles and increase the chances of successful nesting events. Newly discovered nests are covered with a self-releasing wire mesh screen that prevents raccoons from being able to dig into the nest, but still allows the small hatchlings to get through when it is time and find their way to the ocean. The mesh screen also provides a way to mark the nest to prevent park's visiting beachcombers from accidentally stepping on the nest. Nesting beaches are consistently monitored from May through October of each year. Efforts are focused on finding new nests during May through August, followed by monitoring hatching activity and completing post-hatchling nest assessments in August through October. Loggerhead nesting peaks in June and July, but can span from May to September. A female can nest more than once during each nesting season.

Step 1: State your idea Question 1: Determine if the decline in loggerhead populations is primarily due to natural predators or human activity? Use textual evidence to support your answer. Step 1: Restate the question and state your idea. The decline in loggerhead populations is primarily due to human activities.

Selecting evidence Clear Compelling Relevant The evidence clearly supports your idea. Compelling The evidence is compelling. Relevant The evidence is a relevant fact, reason, definition, concrete detail, or example.

How do we provide evidence from the text? Refer to the text in general Refer to the text specifically Refer to multiple pieces of evidence from the text The text states... In the text... According to the text... As stated in the text... The author states... According to the author... As stated by... An example from the text is... In the first paragraph... On page #... In lines ____ - ____ The illustration shows... In the section labeled ____ The text also states… The author goes on to say… Another example from the text is… Additionally, the author states… To Quote or Not to Quote? When citing evidence from the text do both. Quote directly using quotation marks and the same words and phrases as the text AND Paraphrase the text using the ideas from the text along with your own words and phrases.

Step 2: Reference the text Question 1: Determine if the decline in loggerhead populations is primarily due to natural predators or human activity? Use textual evidence to support your answer. Now add to what you’ve already written by providing evidence. The decline in loggerhead populations is primarily due to human activities. According to the text, humans are encroaching on loggerhead nesting habitat, and bright lights along the coast are making it difficult for hatchlings to find their way to sea.

How to explain the evidence? Use these sentence starters to connect your evidence back to your stated idea. This shows... This supports... This illustrates... This means... This is because... This reveals...

Step 3: Explain the evidence Question 1: Determine if the decline in loggerhead populations is primarily due to natural predators or human activity? Use textual evidence to support your answer. Now add to what you’ve already written by explaining the evidence. The decline in loggerhead populations is primarily due to human activities. According to the text, humans are encroaching on loggerhead nesting habitat, and bright lights along the coast are making it difficult for hatchlings to find their way to sea. This means that humans are overtaking the land, and turtles don’t have a safe place to nest.

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 Question 1: Determine if the decline in loggerhead populations is primarily due to natural predators or human activity? Use textual evidence to support your answer. Even though you have provided some evidence and an explanation, you need more for a complete answer that really supports your idea. Strong responses provide several pieces of clearly explained evidence. The decline in loggerhead populations is primarily due to human activities. According to the text, humans are encroaching on loggerhead nesting habitat, and bright lights along the coast are making it difficult for hatchlings to find their way to sea. This means that humans are overtaking the land, and turtles don’t have a safe place to nest. The text also states that turtles are colliding with boats and getting tangled in fishing gear. This illustrates that human activity is also a threat to turtles in the sea.

Guided Practice

With a partner Review the answer to question 1. Underline where the question was restated. Circle the sentence starters in the answer. Highlight specific textual evidence.

Independent Practice

Students will... Reread the text. Read question 2. Respond to question 2 following the three steps for citing evidence. Mark responses as directed.

Loggerhead Sea Turtles In the U.S. loggerhead sea turtles are currently classified under the Endangered Species Act as "threatened" (bad!), but their status could even be elevated to "endangered" (worse!). There are several reasons why loggerhead populations have declined in recent years. Primary threats include habitat loss (as increasing human populations encroach upon critical nesting habitat), nest predation by natural predators such as the raccoon, mortality from boat collisions and entanglement in fishing and boating gear, and failure of hatchlings to make it to sea due to light interference (lights along the coast confuse the hatchlings, which normally rely on the reflection of the moon on the water to guide them to the sea). Biscayne National Park staff and volunteers work year-round on habitat restoration activities to improve the quality of nesting beach habitats available to nesting sea turtles. Each day, assorted debris is washed ashore and over time, this debris accumulates on the nesting beaches. Sea turtles can have a difficult time traversing over the increasing amounts of debris on the beach and too much trash makes it hard for sea turtles to find suitable nesting spots. By periodically cleaning the beaches, we improve the quality of nesting grounds for sea turtles and increase the chances of successful nesting events. Newly discovered nests are covered with a self-releasing wire mesh screen that prevents raccoons from being able to dig into the nest, but still allows the small hatchlings to get through when it is time and find their way to the ocean. The mesh screen also provides a way to mark the nest to prevent park's visiting beachcombers from accidentally stepping on the nest. Nesting beaches are consistently monitored from May through October of each year. Efforts are focused on finding new nests during May through August, followed by monitoring hatching activity and completing post-hatchling nest assessments in August through October. Loggerhead nesting peaks in June and July, but can span from May to September. A female can nest more than once during each nesting season.

Question 2 Directions: Answer question #2 by following the steps we’ve discussed in this lesson. Be sure to repeat steps 2 and 3 until the question is answered completely. Include evidence that most strongly supports your idea. Question 2: Explain how staff at Biscayne National Park is working to boost sea turtle populations. Use textual evidence to support your answer. After answering the question, mark your response as follows: Underline where you restated the question. Circle the sentence starters used in your answer. Highlight the specific textual evidence you included.