Textual Evidence

Sentences
How to use textual support in analysis writing.
Prompt:

What is textual evidence

and why is it important?
What is textual evidence?

 Using specific words/phrases from

an already published author that helps
to prove a statement or to lend
credibility to an idea
 Other phrases for “Textual Evidence”
 Textual support
 Textual proof
 Provide evidence
 Support your ideas/opinion/etc.
 Example Text:
The Dancing Monkeys

A prince had monkeys in his court that could dance. As monkeys are natural
mimics, they looked wonderful in their rich clothes and masks, dancing very much like
human beings. Word spread far and wide about their unique performance and people
from all over flocked to see them perform every day. Everyone was amazed at the
monkeys’ intelligence.
One day, a mischievous courtier thought of playing a trick on the monkeys.
When the monkeys were dancing, he took a pocketful of nuts and threw them upon the
stage. As soon as the monkeys saw the nuts, they forgot dancing and leapt to grab them.
They pulled off their masks and tore their robes fighting with each other for the nuts.
Everyone started laughing at the entertaining sight.
 Marking the Text: (Textual Evidence)
One color for each idea noticed.

The Dancing Monkeys

A prince had monkeys in his court that could dance. As monkeys are natural
mimics, they looked wonderful in their rich clothes and masks, dancing very much like
human beings. Word spread far and wide about their unique performance and people
from all over flocked to see them perform every day. Everyone was amazed at the
monkeys’ intelligence.
One day, a mischievous courtier thought of playing a trick on the monkeys.
When the monkeys were dancing, he took a pocketful of nuts and threw them upon the
stage. As soon as the monkeys saw the nuts, they forgot dancing and leapt to grab them.
They pulled off their masks and tore their robes fighting with each other for the nuts.
Everyone started laughing at the entertaining sight.
Organize Ideas and Textual Evidence

Analysis Ideas Textual Evidence

1. Monkeys are easy to train. 1. “Natural mimics” (P1); “monkeys’
intelligence” (P1)
2. “Mischievious courtier” (P2); “play
2. One persons attitude can affect a trick” (P2); “amazed” (P1);
group. “everyone…laughing “(P2)”

3. Tone contrast through connotation 3. “wonderful, rich, dancing” (P1); “pulled

of words off, tore, fighting” (P2)
 Textual Evidence Verbs

 Why use them?

 Connect ideas/explanations with the text that proves your point.

 List of Verbs:
Demonstrates Describes Determines
Displays Explains Exemplifies
Identifies Manifests Shows
Infers Justifies Maintains
 Combine Analysis Ideas and Textual Evidence
into ONE SENTENCE!
 Example #1:
The narrator describes the monkeys as being “natural mimics” (P1) and having
“intelligence” (P1) which infers that monkeys are easy to train.

NOTE:
1. The exact words from the text are put in “quotation marks” and the paragraph or
page number follow in (parenthesis).
2. The verb phrase connects ideas with the textual support.
 Combine Analysis Ideas and Textual Evidence
into ONE SENTENCE!

 Example #2:

The crowd’s attitude changed from being “amazed” (P1) to “everyone laughing” (P2) when the
“mischievous courtier …played a trick” (2) proving one person’s actions can affect many.
NOTE:
1. The exact words from the text are put in “quotation marks” and the paragraph or page number
follow in (parenthesis).
2. The verb connects ideas with the textual support.
 Combine Analysis Ideas and Textual Evidence
into ONE SENTENCE!
 Example #3:

There is a contrast in tone when comparing the paragraphs; the words “wonderful, rich, dancing”
(P1) display an elegant tone while “pulled off”, “tore”, and “fighting” (P2) exemplify an
undignified tone.
NOTE:
1. The exact words from the text are put in “quotation marks” and the paragraph or page number
follow in (parenthesis).
2. The verb connects ideas with the textual support.