1. Answering Constructed Response Questions by Using Quotes Effectively
Day Three: Explaining How Evidence Supports your Claim

2. Remember RACE?
Restate
Answer
Cite
Explain

3. Fill in the blanks with the underlined words
Today, we are going to practice Step 4: Explaining how your evidence supports your claim..
Notes:
Fill in the blanks with the underlined words

4. Explanation
A statement that makes something clear by describing it in more detail or by revealing relevant facts or ideas.

5. Analysis
The act of breaking into smaller components for the purpose of study or examination.

6. Citing Evidence
When you cite evidence, you have to explain how the quote supports your claim.

7. Questions to Guide Analysis
Context:
Did a character say this quotation?
What was happening in the story?
What was the setting?
Explanation:
What words/phrases in the quote are MOST important to my analysis?
Why does this quote support my claim?

8. 1. Explain how Bilbo actually becomes audacious once the adventure begins.
Claim: Soon after the journey begins, Bilbo begins to show very risky and daring behavior, first with the Trolls and then with Gollum.
Evidence: “…he wished himself a hundred miles away, and yet—and yet somehow he could not go straight back to Thorin and Company emptyhanded” (Tolkien 35-36).
Look at each of the following analyses. Decide if they give enough context and explanation to support the claim.

9. Context and Explanation?
IS THIS GOOD ANALYSIS? Bilbo is still afraid when he sees the trolls because he wishes he was back home. In the story, it says, “He wished himself a hundred miles away, and yet—and yet somehow he could not go straight back to Thorin and Company emptyhanded” (Tolkien 35-36). Nope, not good analysis. This tells you a little bit of what was going on (context), but it doesn’t explain how this quote supports the claim that Bilbo is more risky and daring.

10. Context and Explanation?
IS THIS GOOD ANALYSIS? When Bilbo sees the trolls, even though he is afraid, he decides to do something instead of running away. In the story, it says, “He wished himself a hundred miles away, and yet—and yet somehow he could not go straight back to Thorin and Company emptyhanded” (Tolkien 35-36). This quote shows that he is becoming more audacious, overcoming his fear to act boldly. Yes, good analysis! This gives you context and directly explains how the quote supports the idea that Bilbo is becoming more daring!

11. Context and Explanation?
IS THIS GOOD ANALYSIS? In the story, it says, “He wished himself a hundred miles away, and yet—and yet somehow he could not go straight back to Thorin and Company emptyhanded” (Tolkien35-36). Bilbo decides to steal from the trolls instead, although he gets caught and climbs a tree. Nope, not good analysis. This tells you a little bit of what was going on, but it doesn’t explain how this quote supports the claim that Bilbo is more risky and daring.

12. Goblins have an excellent sense of smell.
Evidence: “They can smell our footsteps for hours and hours after we’ve passed” (Tolkien 96).
Look at each of the following analyses. Decide if they give enough context and explanation to support the claim.

13. Context and Explanation?
IS THIS GOOD ANALYSIS? Goblins have an excellent sense of smell. This is clear from the text when it states, “They can smell our footsteps for hours and hours after we’ve passed” (Tolkien 96). This quote shows that they can smell things. Nope, not good analysis. This restates part of the claim, but it doesn’t break down (explain) how the quote really proves that the claim is true.

14. Context and Explanation?
IS THIS GOOD ANALYSIS? Goblins have an excellent sense of smell. In the text Gandalf warns the dwarves, “They can smell our footsteps for hours and hours after we’ve passed” (Tolkien 96). Gandalf explains to the dwarves and Bilbo that Goblins have such a good sense of smell that they will be able to find the party purely by the smell of their footprints. Yes, good analysis! This gives good context and explains how the quote supports the claim where it says “have such a good sense of smell!”

15. Context and Explanation?
IS THIS GOOD ANALYSIS? Goblins have an excellent sense of smell. In the text Gandalf says, “They can smell our footsteps for hours and hours after we’ve passed” (Tolkien 96). Gandalf explains to the dwarves and Bilbo that Goblins will be able to find them as soon as it gets dark. Nope, not good analysis. This gives good background context on the quote, but it doesn’t explain how the quote supports the claim.

16. Mirkwood Forest is a dark and mysterious place, and the party must be very cautious while travelling there.
Evidence: “That you should neither drink of nor bathe in for I have heard that it carries an enchantment and a great drowsiness and forgetfulness” (Tolkien 132).
Look at each of the following analyses. Decide if they give enough context and explanation to support the claim. On a piece of notebook paper, make the analysis better.

17. Context and Explanation?
Help my analysis please!!! Claim: Mirkwood is a dark and mysterious place, and the party must be very cautious while travelling there. In the text it states, “that you should neither drink of nor bathe in for I have heard that it carries an enchantment and a great drowsiness and forgetfulness” (Tolkien 132). The stream is enchanted and dangerous.. What do I need to make this analysis good? On a piece of notebook paper, change the analysis to make it stronger.

18. 3. What is the effect of Gandalf’s absence during some parts of the journey?
Claim: When Gandalf got separated from Bilbo under the mountain, Bilbo has to rely on his own cleverness and bravery to get out of trouble.
Evidence: “‘Go back?’ he thought. ‘No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!’ So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him” (Tolkien 69).
On your paper, write an analysis that gives CONTEXT and EXPLAINS how the quote supports the claim.

19. What CONTEXT do you need to give so someone will understand the quote?
Helpful Sentence Starters:
In the story…
In the text, it states…
For instance…

20. How can you EXPLAIN what this quote shows?
Explanation Sentence Starters
This shows…
This is because…
This reveals
This illustrates
This highlights the difference between