English Language Arts
Grade 11
15 min
Identify supporting evidence in a text
Identify supporting evidence in a text
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Differentiate between an author's claim and the evidence used to support it.
Categorize evidence by type (e.g., statistical, anecdotal, testimonial, analogical).
Evaluate the relevance and sufficiency of evidence presented in a complex text.
Select the most compelling textual evidence to support a thesis in an analytical essay.
Analyze how an author's choice of evidence reveals purpose, perspective, or bias.
Annotate a text to map the relationship between claims and their corresponding evidence.
Ever tried to win a debate but couldn't find the perfect fact to seal the deal? 🤔 Let's learn how to find the knockout punch in any text.
This tutorial will equip you with the critical skills to dissect arguments by identifying the specific e...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
ClaimThe main argument or debatable point an author is trying to prove. It is the central assertion that the rest of the text supports.In his 'I Have a Dream' speech, Martin Luther King Jr.'s central claim is that America has failed to fulfill its promise of equality for African Americans, but that this promise must and will be achieved.
Supporting EvidenceThe specific information—such as facts, statistics, quotations, examples, and expert opinions—used to back up and validate a claim.To support his claim, King provides evidence by quoting the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, stating they were a 'promissory note' to all citizens.
Statistical EvidenceEvidence presented in the form of numbers, percentages, and data from researc...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Relevance Rule
Evidence must directly and logically support the specific claim being made.
When analyzing a text or writing your own argument, always ask: 'How does this piece of information specifically prove this point?' If you have to make a huge logical leap, the evidence may be irrelevant or weak.
The Sufficiency Rule
An argument must be supported by enough evidence to be convincing.
A single statistic or one anecdote is rarely enough to prove a complex claim. Look for authors who use a variety of strong evidence. In your own writing, aim to support each claim with multiple pieces of evidence.
The Quotation Sandwich Convention
Introduce the quote, present the quote, and then analyze the quote.
Never drop a quote into your writing without context. F...
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Challenging
A student is writing an essay with the thesis: "In his 'I Have a Dream' speech, Martin Luther King Jr. masterfully uses the metaphor of a 'promissory note' to frame the struggle for civil rights as a matter of economic justice." Which paragraph most effectively uses the "Quotation Sandwich Convention"?
A.Martin Luther King Jr. talks about a promissory note. "It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note." This quote is very powerful and shows he was a great speaker.
B.King transforms the abstract ideal of freedom into a tangible debt. He states that America has given Black citizens "a bad check, a check which has come back marked 'insufficient funds.'" This banking metaphor makes the injustice of inequality immediately understandable, recasting it as a failed transaction that must be honored.
C."In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check." This is what Martin Luther King Jr. said. He believed that America owed a debt to its Black citizens, and he was there to collect on that promise of freedom.
D.The "I Have a Dream" speech uses many metaphors. For example, the promissory note. King believed that America had broken its promise to African Americans. This is a central theme of the speech.
Challenging
An article about the decline of local newspapers presents: 1) Data showing a 60% drop in print advertising revenue since 2008. 2) A quote from a media analyst explaining that online platforms have absorbed the ad market. 3) An anecdote about a small town where the local paper's closure led to un-investigated government corruption. 4) Statistics correlating the loss of local journalists with lower voter turnout. Based on this specific selection of evidence, what is the author's most likely primary purpose?
A.To argue that newspapers failed because they did not adapt to new technologies.
B.To persuade readers to stop using online news platforms.
C.To demonstrate that the decline of local newspapers has severe consequences for civic engagement and government accountability.
D.To provide a neutral, historical overview of the newspaper industry.
Challenging
An author argues that the rise of artificial intelligence in creative fields is a threat to human artists. The evidence provided includes: 1) examples of AI-generated art winning competitions, 2) statistics on graphic design jobs being automated, and 3) a futurist's prediction that most creative work will be done by AI. For this entire argument to be convincing, what is the most critical underlying assumption (warrant) the reader must accept?
A.AI-generated art is aesthetically inferior to human-created art.
B.The primary value of art lies in the human process of creation, not just the final product.
C.Human artists will be unable to adapt and use AI as a tool.
D.The futurist's prediction is based on reliable and unbiased data.
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