Citing Evidence A Kid Friendly Test Prep Guide

Copyright © 2016 Wise Guys

Think-Pair-Share

What does a detective need in order to solve

a mystery?

A good detective needs…

…Evidence!!

Without evidence, the mystery cannot be

solved. The detective needs proof in order for justice to be served!

Just like a good detective…

…A good test taker needs evidence to support his/her answers. Without evidence, there is no proof that the

answer is correct!

What Evidence Looks Like…

Let’s take a closer look on how to cite evidence when answering

questions. Let’s read the informational text on the

following slide about gorillas…

What Evidence Looks Like…

Gorillas

Gorillas are shy animals that are most

active during the day. They live in

groups of 6-12 with the oldest and

largest silverback leading the family.

The silverback decides when his group

wakes up, eats, moves, and rests for the

night.

Citing evidence from the text, answer the following question… Explain how the gorilla group (or family)

depends on the silverback. Cite at least two

examples that support your answer.

Because he must protect his family at all times, the

silverback tends to be the most aggressive. In such

situations, he will beat his chest and charge at the

perceived threat.

Gorillas are shy animals that are most

active during the day. They live in

groups of 6-12 with the oldest and

largest silverback leading the family.

The silverback decides when his group

wakes up, eats, moves, and rests for the

night.

Because he must protect his family at all times, the

silverback tends to be the most aggressive. In such

situations, he will beat his chest and charge at the

perceived threat.

A Possible Response…

The group depends on the silverback to act as the leader of the group. The text states that he

protects the family at all times and also decides when his group wakes up, eats, moves, and rests.

What Evidence Looks Like…

Types of Questions for Citing Evidence

Find details from the passage to support the fact that…

Based on the information in the passage…

Support the writer’s opinion that… Which source would be the most helpful…

What source provides a reader with the best supporting information…

What are the key details that support the following statement…

What are the key details that support the main idea that…

Now let’s focus on how the questions on the test may be stated (worded). They may

begin in many different ways…

How to Cite Your Evidence

The author states that… In this article it discusses… The author wrote… An example from the text is… According to the text… When comparing the two articles, the author of article one states…

The author of the passage notes…

Now let’s focus on how to cite (or respond to) the questions. Then

we will try another type of question. There are several ways to do this…

Let’s Try Another Example…

Read the short informational article* about the tomato. Then answer the question that follows.

*adapted and modified from Oxford Dictionary

The Tomato Scientifically speaking, a tomato is definitely a

fruit. A fruit is developed from the ovary in

the base of the flower and contains the seeds

of the plant. Since a tomato contains an ovary

and seeds it is considered a fruit.

Based on the information in the passage, explain why the

tomato plant is considered a fruit? Be sure to use evidence from the text to support your answer. Advance to

the next slide to compare your answer…

Blueberries, raspberries, and oranges are examples of true fruits.

Some plants have a soft part which supports the seeds and is also

called a “fruit”, though it is not developed from the ovary- the

strawberry is an example. So according to the definition of a fruit,

a tomato would be one!

Possible Response…

The tomato plant is considered a fruit because in the article the author states that a fruit is developed from the ovary in the base of the flower and also contains the seeds of the plant. Since a tomato contains an ovary and seeds, it is therefore considered a fruit. The Tomato Scientifically speaking, a tomato is definitely a fruit. A fruit is developed from the ovary in the base of the flower and contains the seeds of the plant. Since a tomato contains an ovary and seeds it is considered a fruit. Blueberries, raspberries, and oranges are examples of true fruits. Some plants have a soft part which supports the seeds and is also called a “fruit”, though it is not developed from the ovary- the strawberry is an example. So according to the definition of a fruit, a tomato would be one!

Putting Learning into Practice…

Now your teacher will pick out an informational article from a classroom magazine such as Scholastic News, textbook in your classroom, or from the Internet.

Now’s your chance to prove to your teacher what you have learned. Your job will be to read the article and then answer the question(s) that your teacher provides. Remember to use evidence from the text like a good detective!