What is textual evidence?  Textual evidence is evidence/support used to support an argument/position, and is derived from reading and drawing from other text. It is provided in the form of quotation, paraphrase, descriptions of theory and also description. It's importance is in the detail, and in paying attention to the detail in words and intent...

How to use textual evidence  To support a point, you might choose a specific quote, thought or theory from a writing. To test how well your textual evidence will work, try playing devil's advocate-- in other words, if someone offered you that same evidence, and it was your job to refute it, what holes in your evidence can you find?  One presents textual evidence as they would other evidence, except the source is cited. You will provide the context and relevance to your point (i.e., "this means....such and such....because..." - or- "we can see that this quote has relevance because...").

Where do I begin?  To search for textual evidence, you would begin with text (this could be story, newspaper, fiction, nonfiction, etc.) 1. When reading the text, you would annotate (please see annotation presentation to answer questions about this) 2. Drawing conclusions…

Drawing Conclusions

 In this lesson you will learn how to draw conclusions from materials you read.

Drawing Conclusions  The dictionary defines conclusion as “the judgment, decision, or opinion formed after an investigation or thought process.”

Drawing Conclusions  You draw conclusions every day about incidents you witness, information you gather or about texts you read. If you see smoke filtering out of the kitchen and the smoke alarm is buzzing, what conclusion would you draw? There is a fire in the kitchen!

Drawing Conclusions  The first decision you make when reading is to determine what type of material you are reading. What is the source? Is it fiction or fact? When you know the type or category of text, then you receive your first clues about what kind of conclusions can be determined.

Drawing Conclusions  Let’s use the internet to practice finding out the type and source of reading materials.  Click on the website below and find out what type of resource it shows. Briefly scan the front page, and then go to the next page in this lesson. 

Drawing Conclusions  What did you find? It was the online version of the New York Times, a daily newspaper from New York City. What could you conclude that you could read in this newspaper?

Drawing Conclusions  You would find news articles, sports articles, classified ads, reviews of movies, editorials, features and photos. How did you draw this conclusion? Your personal knowledge and experience of having read other newspapers gives you the ability to conclude what you can probably read in the New York Times.

Drawing Conclusions  It is easiest to draw conclusions from nonfiction or scientific sources. The facts are presented and are usually backed up with specific data. Drawing conclusions from fiction, poetry or other literature is not as easy and sometimes there can be more than one conclusion that is subject to debate.

Steps to Drawing Conclusions To draw a conclusion about implied main ideas in paragraphs, you need to do the following: 1. Consider what each sentence says about the common topic. 2. Ask yourself what general thought or idea emerges when you put all of those individual pieces of information together. Here it helps to ask yourself what common thread the individual sentences seem to share. In the case of a sample paragraph, the sentences all help build the image/idea. 3. Think of the idea that emerges as the author's implied main idea and the purpose of the passage.

Drawing Conclusions  Let’s start with a simple type of conclusion – the main point of a story. You are going to read the Aesop Fable, The Hart and the Hunter to determine the moral point. As you read the story, look for clues on what the character is supposed to learn.

Drawing Conclusions  The Hart was once drinking from a pool and admiring the noble figure he made there. “Ah,” said he, “where can you see such noble horns as these, with such antlers! I wish I had legs more worthy to bear such a noble crown; it is a pity they are so slim and slight.” At that moment a Hunter approached and sent an arrow whistling after him. Away bounded the Hart, and soon, by the aid of his nimble legs, was nearly out of sight of the Hunter. However, not noticing where he was going, he passed under some trees with branches growing low down and his antlers were caught. The hunter had time to come up. “Alas! Alas!” cried the Hart, “_______?_______”

Drawing Conclusions  The last words of the Hart were: “We often despise what is most useful to us.” Was your answer similar to this idea?

Drawing Conclusions  Summary  This lesson has taught how to draw conclusions from different reading materials. You have practiced making conclusions from nonfiction, fiction and poetry.

Practice  Try to practice drawing conclusions with these online practice sessions.  org/testprep/ela4/h/inf erencesp.cfm org/testprep/ela4/h/inf erencesp.cfm  org/testprep/ela4/h/inf erences.cfm org/testprep/ela4/h/inf erences.cfm  uiz/ html uiz/ html

Questions?

Assignment  Assignment: Complete the drawing conclusions assignment attached with this (you must support each answer with textual evidence).  I will give you credit for an English lesson if you complete this. 