Finding Evidence in Text

When you answer a question about a story, you need proof. That proof comes straight from the text. Finding evidence in text means going back to the passage and pointing to the exact words that show your answer is correct.

Evidence is a detail, a sentence, or a quote from the text that backs up your answer. It is not something you guess. It is not something you already knew before you read. It has to come from the words on the page.

Think of yourself as a detective. If someone asks, "How do you know the dog was scared?" you cannot just say "I think so." You need to find the sentence that proves it, like "The dog's tail tucked between its legs and it hid under the bed."

To find evidence about a character, look for three things in the text: what the character says, what the character does, and what the character feels. Each of these can be a piece of evidence.

For example, if a passage says, "Maria's hands shook as she knocked on the door, but she took a deep breath and walked inside," you have strong evidence that Maria is nervous but brave. You can quote the exact words, "her hands shook," and "she took a deep breath," to support your answer.

To find evidence about an event, look for the order of what happens. Ask yourself what happened first, what happened next, and what happened last. The sentences that describe these steps are your evidence.

If you are asked why a character was late, do not just guess. Search the text for the sentence that explains it, such as "The bus broke down, so Sam had to walk the rest of the way." That sentence is your proof.

Some questions ask about a big idea instead of one character or event. To find evidence for an idea, look for details that repeat or connect across the whole passage. If a passage keeps mentioning teamwork, like characters sharing tools and helping each other finish a job, those details are evidence that teamwork is an important idea in the text.

Read this short passage: "Jake had never planted a garden before. He read the seed packet twice, dug a small hole with a spoon, and gently covered the seed with dirt. Every morning, he checked to see if it had sprouted."

Question: How do you know Jake was careful when he planted the seed?

Evidence: "He read the seed packet twice, dug a small hole with a spoon, and gently covered the seed with dirt." This sentence proves Jake was careful because it shows the small, careful steps he took.

Evidence: A detail, sentence, or quote from the text that proves an answer is correct.

Quote: The exact words from the text, copied and placed inside quotation marks.

Passage: The story or piece of text you are reading and answering questions about.

Character: A person or animal in a story whose words, actions, and feelings can be used as evidence.

Event: Something that happens in a story, often described in order with a beginning, middle, and end.

Read short passages about characters and events. After each one, write a question and then underline or copy the exact sentence that answers it. Practice explaining why that sentence, and not another one, is the best piece of evidence.

Related lessons

• Evaluating Textual Support