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Using Evidence in Writing
Quote, Paraphrase, Summarize - Then Explain
Using evidence in writing helps students turn opinions into strong academic arguments. A clear claim becomes more believable when it is supported by facts, quotations, or paraphrased ideas from a source. In school writing, evidence shows that your ideas are based on reading and thinking, not just personal opinion. This skill matters in essays, research papers, and short responses across many subjects.
A useful way to organize support is the evidence sandwich. The top layer is the claim, the middle is the evidence from a source, and the bottom is the explanation that connects the evidence back to the claim. Writers can use either a direct quote or a paraphrase, but they must cite the source either way. The strongest writing does not stop after the evidence because it explains how the evidence proves the point.
Key Facts
- Evidence sandwich structure: Claim + Evidence + Explanation
- Direct quote = exact words from the source placed in quotation marks
- Paraphrase = restating the source's idea in your own words
- Both quotes and paraphrases need a citation to show where the information came from
- Strong paragraph pattern: Make a claim, add evidence, cite the source, explain the connection
- Explanation answers the question: How does this evidence support the claim?
Vocabulary
- Claim
- A claim is the main point or argument the writer wants the reader to accept.
- Evidence
- Evidence is information from a source that supports a claim.
- Citation
- A citation tells the reader where the quote or idea came from.
- Direct quote
- A direct quote uses the exact words from a source and puts them in quotation marks.
- Paraphrase
- A paraphrase expresses a source's idea in new wording while keeping the original meaning.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Dropping in a quote with no explanation, because evidence alone does not show the reader why it matters. Always follow evidence with analysis that connects it to your claim.
- Using a paraphrase without citing the source, because changing the wording does not make the idea your own. Cite paraphrased information just like a direct quote.
- Choosing evidence that is interesting but not relevant, because not every detail supports the claim. Pick the part of the source that directly proves your point.
- Copying too much from the source, because a paragraph should still sound like the writer's own thinking. Use short, focused evidence and spend more space explaining it.
Practice Questions
- 1 A student writes the claim: School uniforms can improve focus in class. Add one sentence of evidence and one sentence of explanation to complete the evidence sandwich.
- 2 Turn this source sentence into a paraphrase and add a citation: "Students who read 20 minutes a day are exposed to far more words than students who read only 5 minutes" (Lopez 14).
- 3 A paragraph includes a strong claim and a direct quote, but no explanation after the quote. Explain why the paragraph is incomplete and describe what the writer should add.