DETERMINING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

Evidence – is defined as the details given by the

author to support his/her claim. The evidence
provided by the writer substantiates the text. It
reveals and builds on the position of the writer and
makes the reading more interesting. Evidence is
crucial in swaying the reader to your side.
Evidence can include the following:
Facts and statistics (objectively validated information on your subject)
Opinion from experts (leading authorities on a topic, such as
researchers or academics)
Personal anecdotes (generalizable, relevant, and objectively
considered)
The following are some questions to help you determine evidence from the text:
What questions can you ask about the claims?
Which details in the text answer your questions?
What are the most important details in the paragraph?
What is each one’s relationship to the claim?
How does the given detail reinforce the claim?
What details do you find interesting? Why?
What are some claims that do not seem to have support? What kinds of support
could they be provided with?
What are some details that you find questionable? Why do you think so?
Are some details out-dated, inaccurate, exaggerated, or taken out of the context?
Are the sources reliable?
Characteristics of Good Evidence
Unified
Relevant to the central point
Specific and concrete
Accurate
Representative or typical