Evidence

For English class, evidence = quotes from the text…

How to choose quotes…

-15-20 words long (not a strict rule)

-By “quote” we mean any part of the text. It could be what someone in the story says, but it could also be the narrator describing the setting or some other part of the text that you think is important.

-Should support the idea you are trying to prove.

-Should be interesting enough that you can develop its meaning.

-Ellipsis (…) can be used, if necessary…

  • Cannot change meaning of quote by using ellipsis
  • One ellipsis per quote is usually enough
  • Sections put together should be relatively close to one another

-All quotes from the text must be parenthetically cited…

  • Proper MLA citation form: “It was the rainy season” (Park 75).
  • Proper MLA citation form: “Could his family be among them?” (Park 19).
  • Proper MLA citation form: “These people were Dinka, too!” (Park 75).
  • Proper MLA citation form: “She shook her head in sympathy. ‘I am sorry I cannot help you anymore’” (Park 18).

Choosing the right quote is a skill. You need practice with it. You are asking the quote to do a lot of work for you. It is the only real evidence you have.

Here is a quote. What could we do with it? “Tall for eleven years, Nya could switch the handle from one hand to the other, swing the container by her side, or cradle it in both arms” (Park 1).

Idea that quote could help us prove:

Literary description of quote (character, setting, figurative language):

Link to idea:

Other quotes to practice with:

a)“Despite the numbness in his heart, Salva was amazed to find himself walking faster and more boldly than he had before” (Park 65).

b)“He could still see the vivid spot of orange – yes, it was a headscarf – the woman’s back was to him, but she was tall, like his mother – he had to catchy up, there were too many people in the way-“ (Park 69).

c)“An iron giraffe. A red giraffe that made very loud noises…The clangor of machinery and hammer greeted Nya each time she returned from the pond” (Park 70-71).

d)“He felt as though he were standing on the edge of a giant hole – a hole filled with the black despair of nothingness” (Park 72).

e)“It was as if the people ceased to be people and instead became an enormous herd of panicked, stampeding two-legged creatures” (Park 74).

f)“More crocodiles were launching themselves off the banks. The rain, the mad current, the bullets, the crocodiles, the welter of arms and legs, the screams, the blood” (Park 79).

Quote letter you were assigned: ___

Idea quote could help you prove:

Literary description of quote (character, setting, figurative language):

Link of literary description back to idea:

Quote letter your partnerwas assigned: ___

Idea quote could help you prove:

Literary description of quote (character, setting, figurative language):

Link of literary description back to idea: