How to ACE evidentiary assessments! Citing Evidence

Assessments Requiring Evidence Students need to prove their point using evidence. Use these quick tips to ACE assessments found on classwork, quizzes, and tests.

Answer the question by restating Cite textual evidence There are three steps: Answer the question by restating Cite textual evidence Explain how the textual evidence supports your answer

Answer the question succinctly, restating the question. ACE Answer the question succinctly, restating the question. This part of their response should be about one sentence long.

ACE Students should cite textual evidence that strongly supports their answer. Direct textual evidence: uses a quote Indirect textual evidence: paraphrases

ACE Citations usually identify at least the author’s last name in parentheses following the evidence, i.e. (Thomas). Citations will sometimes be cited with a source number or letter, i.e. (Source 1) or (Source A)

ACE The students should make sure that they introduce the evidence they are citing: On page __, … In paragraph __, … The author states… According to the text,… Based on what I read,… For example,… [Author’s name] writes,…

ACE Students should explain how the textual evidence supports their answer. They should elaborate and extend their answer when necessary.

Sample Ethan’s father took him to the park to ride his bicycle. Ethan eyed his father uncertainly as he mounted the bike. He progressed forward in short jerky motions. He had a look of terror on his face as he bobbed and weaved unsteadily down the park’s paved path. After suddenly losing his balance, he fell down and scraped his knees. His father rushed quickly to his side and picked him up. He then suggested Ethan get back on his bicycle and try again. By Katie Brand

Question What important event is happening in Tommy’s life, and how does he feel about it? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

Answer Ethan has an important event happening in his life today; his father is teaching him how to ride his bike for the first time, and he is afraid. In the text, Ethan “looked uncertainly at his father,” and he “had a look of terror on his face” (Brand). According to the author, he “bobbed and weaved” (Brand) as he traveled down the path. Ethan’s father probably assumed he would need more practice because he “suggested Ethan get back on his bicycle and try again” (Brand). Ethan has had a big day, which will always be remembered.

Starfish Cervantes uses figurative language to communicate the central idea that both humans and starfish live lives both beautiful and tragic. According to the text, the bodies of the starfish are described as “soft” and “pliable” allowing the comparison to be drawn of how fragile life is for all. The author also uses personification to give the starfish human qualities, calling them “little martyrs” (Cervantes). The personification used allows the reader to empathize with the starfish, seeing the similarity between the lives of these sea creatures and our own. Indeed, all life is both beautiful and tragic.