Transitions and Citing Evidence

Transitions and Citing Evidence

Citing Evidence

When we have ideas about what we read, we need to cite Explicit Textual Evidence to support our ideas.

In real life, people who can back up an opinion about a text with Explicit Textual Evidence are taken more seriously than people who can only give a reason of “just because.”

What does Explicit Textual Evidence mean? The name really says it all.

Explicit = direct Textual = from the text

Evidence = support for your answer, opinion, or idea

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Giving Explicit Textual Evidence about your answers or opinions regarding a text is pretty simple. You just have to do three things:

1. State your idea: State the idea you had about the text (if you are responding to a specific question, be sure your idea restates the question).

2. Cite what in the text led you to that idea: Give supporting evidence from the text (by paraphrasing or directly quoting from the text).If you are directly quoting from a text, you must use quotation marks. Sentence starters = In the first paragraph, _____ the author says...The text states...The text describes/For example...The author explains...Early in the text, the author/For instance

To Show Exception:

yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes

To Show Time:

immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then

To Repeat:

in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as has been noted

Transition Practice

3. Explain the Evidence: Explain how the quote(s) or paraphrase(s) you pointed out support your idea. Sentence starters = This shows...This is because...This means...This reveals...This illustrates...This highlights the difference between...

Soon after

In addition

Before

The Berkshire Park Community Center was damaged in a fire six months ago. , a committee of eight community members came up with the idea of an International Dinner to raise funds to repair the damages. The plan was to serve foods that represent the various cultures in the neighborhood. , the committee organized a silent auction to take place during the dinner. the event, tickets were sold for $50 each. the dinner, the committee chairperson talked to a local newspaper reported and stated that the goal was to raise $10,000. Three hundred and fifty people attended the event, which raised $15,000. the attendees left the event, they felt very good about their community. the event, a letter was sent to community members thanking them for everything outlining a schedule for renovation.

During

When

After

Transitions

while

Lastly, your assignment is to use your graphic organizer to complete your Little Mermaid essay on a separate sheet of lined paper. Make sure your essay has each of the following components:

-Thesis statement in the last sentence of your introduction

-Transitional words at least once in each paragraph

-One direct quote in each paragraph

Transitions are like bridges between parts of your paper. They are cues that help the reader to interpret ideas a paper develops. Transitional devices are words or phrases that help carry a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another.

List of transitional phrases you could use in your paper

To Add:

and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in addition, first (second, etc.)

To Compare:

whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be true

The conclusion of the list

Image by Tom Mooring

To Emphasize:

definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically, unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without reservation

To Show Sequence:

first, second, third, and so forth. and so forth. next, then, following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently, previously, before this, simultaneously, concurrently, thus, therefore, hence, next, and then, soon

To Give an Example:

for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, to illustrate

To Summarize or Conclude:

in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said, hence, therefore, accordingly, thus, as a result, consequently