1. Citing Textual Evidence
What does it mean?

2. When we read a story, we try to examine the author’s purpose, often called the “CENTRAL IDEA.”

3. That makes us “detectives
That makes us “detectives.” We have to find the evidence in the writing that answers our questions.
There are many ways we can do this…

4. We look for different types of evidence, such as FACTS, STATISTICS, EXAMPLES, EXPERT TESTIMONY, and LOGICAL REASONING...

5. How do we organize the evidence?
Highlighting text where we find the evidence
Taking notes
Using graphic organizers
Or developing outlines
These will all help us organize what we find to put it in our writing.

6. But, when we begin to WRITE about our “detective” work
But, when we begin to WRITE about our “detective” work... What do we DO with the evidence we have found?
What does it MEAN to “Cite Evidence”?

7. Probably the best thing to remember about any writing task that asks us to “cite evidence” (or “discuss details”) from the text is that the task is asking us to USE the evidence!

8. USING evidence means that we need to explain how the author supports his claim by presenting a particular fact or example.

9. This is means that we will make a direct reference of the evidence AND we will elaborate (explain thoroughly) how that one particular piece of evidence (or detail) proves the author’s claim (central idea.)

10. But HOW does this “direct reference” of the evidence LOOK LIKE in my written response?

11. It can take different forms.
It can be a direct quotation from the textual passage.
But remember, if you use the exact words of the author, you need to use quotations marks and give the author credit!

12. Or…
It can be a paraphrase of the textual passage.
A paraphrase means that you have put the author’s words into your own.

13. Proving Your Answer
Use the RACE theory to help guide your written answer.
RACE
R – restate
A – answer
C – cite evidence
E – expand

14. “Seventh Grade” Example
On the first page of“Seventh Grade” I learn Victor is Latino or Mexican. Even though Gary Soto never actually wrote that Victor was, here are some pieces of textual evidence that would lead me to infer (guess) that about him:
“He already spoke Spanish and English…”(p. 32).
“There were rivers in France, and huge churches, and fair-skinned people everywhere, the way there were brown people all around Victor” (p. 32).
We would call those two pieces of text “textual evidence” because they are EVIDENCE from the TEXT that PROVES my response.

15. RACE Response Format
Q: Why does Victor hope that Teresa is in the same class he is?
(restate)Victor hopes Teresa is in the same class he is because (answer) __________.
(cite) According to the text, ___________.
(expand) Victor likes Teresa and thinks he has a better chance of making her “his girl” if they are in the same class.

16. Final Draft
Victor hopes that Teresa is going to be in the same class this year because he likes her. According to the text, Victor says, “Teresa is going to be my girl this year, he promised himself as he left the gym full of students in their new fall clothes. She was cute.” Victor likes Teresa and thinks he has a better chance of making her “his girl” if they are in the same class.

17. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is when you write down, word for word, something that someone else wrote without citing it.
Example: Teresa is going to be my girl this year, he promised himself as he left the gym full of students in their new fall clothes. She was cute.
If you do not cite this within quotation marks, or if you do not say where you found it, it is considered plagiarism.
It is illegal and you could receive a failing grade for plagiarizing.

18. So, how did that detective work pay off?
Do you see how we can CITE EVIDENCE in different ways?
Then, do you see how we can USE the evidence we cited to EXPLAIN how it supports the “central idea”?