English Language Arts
Grade 9
15 min
Choose evidence to support a claim
Choose evidence to support a claim
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the key components of a debatable claim.
Differentiate between relevant and irrelevant evidence from a given text.
Evaluate the strength and credibility of different types of evidence (e.g., direct quotes, paraphrased details, statistics).
By the end of a this lesson, students will be able to select the most compelling and specific pieces of textual evidence to prove a specific analytical claim.
Explain how a chosen piece of evidence directly supports a claim.
Avoid common pitfalls such as plot summary and using mismatched evidence.
Ever tried to convince your parents of something and they hit you with 'Where's your proof?' 🤔 Learning to choose the right evidence is your secret weapon for winning any argument!
A strong argument i...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
ClaimAn assertive statement that presents your argument's main idea. It's not a fact, but a debatable position that you will prove with evidence.In 'The Most Dangerous Game,' the protagonist Rainsford's character fundamentally changes as a result of his experience on the island.
EvidenceThe specific facts, quotations, examples, and details from a source text used to support and prove a claim.A direct quote: 'He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.' This quote can be used as evidence that Rainsford has changed.
Textual EvidenceEvidence taken directly from a piece of literature, an article, or another text. It can be a direct quotation or a paraphrase of a specific detail.To support a claim about Juliet's impatienc...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Specificity Rule
Choose specific, concrete details over general summaries.
Vague statements are unconvincing. Instead of saying 'The author uses imagery,' quote the exact line with the powerful image. The more detailed your evidence, the stronger your argument.
The Relevance Test
Ask: 'Does this piece of evidence DIRECTLY help prove THIS specific claim?'
It's easy to get sidetracked by interesting quotes that don't quite fit. Before using a piece of evidence, double-check that it has a clear, logical connection to the exact point you are making in that paragraph.
The Quote Sandwich Method
Introduce the evidence, present the evidence, and analyze the evidence.
Never just 'drop' a quote into your paragraph. First, provide con...
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Challenging
A student wants to prove the claim: 'In the short story 'The Most Dangerous Game,' the protagonist Rainsford undergoes a significant moral transformation from hunter to hunted.' The student has found three quotes. Which quote is best, and why?
A.Quote: 'The world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees.' Reason: This quote is best because it establishes Rainsford's initial worldview, which is essential for showing a transformation.
B.Quote: 'He had never known they had nerves.' Reason: This quote is best because it shows Rainsford's lack of empathy for animals before he himself is hunted.
C.Quote: 'Rainsford knew now the full meaning of terror.' Reason: This quote is best because it directly shows the result of the transformation, proving he has changed by experiencing the fear of the 'huntee.'
D.Quote: 'I am still a beast at bay.' Reason: This quote is best because it uses a powerful metaphor to describe his final confrontation with the antagonist.
Challenging
A student's paragraph begins: 'The author shows that the main character is isolated. For example, he spends a lot of time by himself.' This evidence is weak because it falls into the 'Vague Reference' and 'Plot Summary' traps. Which of the following revisions provides the strongest, most specific piece of textual evidence?
A.For example, other characters in the story tend to avoid him.
B.For instance, the author describes him 'sitting alone at the long, empty cafeteria table, tracing patterns in the spilled salt.'
C.To prove this, we can see his isolation in many different scenes throughout the book.
D.For example, his internal monologue reveals that he feels lonely and misunderstood by his peers.
Challenging
Analyze this argumentative paragraph: '(1) In Shakespeare's *Julius Caesar*, Brutus's nobility is a tragic flaw that is easily manipulated. (2) Cassius convinces him to join the conspiracy by appealing to this sense of honor. (3) For example, Cassius says, 'The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.' (4) This famous line shows that Cassius is a very persuasive speaker.' Which part of this 'Quote Sandwich' is the weakest and most in need of revision?
A.The claim (Sentence 1) is weak because Brutus's nobility is not a flaw.
B.The introduction to the evidence (Sentence 2) is fine, but the evidence itself is mismatched.
C.The evidence (Sentence 3) is well-chosen, but the analysis (Sentence 4) fails to connect it to the claim.
D.The claim (Sentence 1) is a simple fact, not a debatable argument.
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