Using Text Evidence to Support Key Ideas

Sometimes we have to “read between the lines.” Authors don’t always tell us everything. We need to use textual evidence and prior knowledge to understand the text better. 

• True
• False

Many breeds of dogs are used for work. In many cultures dogs are used to herd sheep. The dogs keep the flock from being attacked by animals such as wolves. They also keep sheep from wandering off. Sheepdogs are known for their loyalty and gentleness. Based on your reading of the text, you can INFER that:

• Sheepdogs are not very smart dogs.
• Sheepdogs are gentle and loyal.
• There are many breeds of dogs.
• Wolves are afraid of sheepdogs.

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

• True
• False

What is an inference?

•  An inference is something that you think is true based on information that you have.
• An inference is directly written in the text

To make an inference, we use evidence from the text, and our prior knowledge. 

• True
• False

When reading literature, it is important to cite text evidence to support your analysis of the most important details and events of a story. In addition to citing text evidence to answer comprehension questions, you can also use text evidence to make inferences.

• True
• False

Rosario was enjoying her vacation in the California sun. She was lying on araft in the ocean. This was perfect, Rosario thought. There was no noise—no childrenscreaming, no horns honking—and there were no papers to grade. All she couldhear was the crashing of the waves onto the beach. Rosario sighed and lookedaround her at the beauty of the ocean. Then she saw something long and graycoming toward her on an approaching wave. She thought, “This could only be onething!” and started yelling for help. She paddled back to shore as quickly as she could.She made it to the shore in one piece , but she realized that many people were laughing at her.
We can infer that the "thing" was not a...

• shark
• surfer
• swimmer

Stephen and Joseph Montgolfier were papermakers, but they had been interested in flying for many years. One night, in 1782, Joseph noticed something that gave him an idea. He was sitting in front of the fire when he saw some small pieces of scorched paper being carried up the chimney.Soon afterwards, the brothers conducted an experiment. They lit a fire under a small silk bag, which was open at the bottom; at once, the bag rose to the ceiling. After this, Stephen and Joseph conducted many more experiments, both indoors and in the open air. Eventually, they built a huge balloon of linen and paper. On June 5th, 1783, they launched their balloon in the village of Annonay. 
Which sentence in this article provides text evidence for the inference that the Montgolfier brothers used hot air to lift their balloon?

• Eventually, they built a huge balloon of linen and paper.
• They lit a fire under a small silk bag, which was open at the bottom; at once the bag rose to the ceiling.
• On June 5th, 1783, they launched their balloon in the village of Annonay.
• One night, in 1782, Joseph noticed something that gave him an idea.

Every day after work Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch.  Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat.  He then took off his dusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag; Alice left a new garbage bag tied to the porch railing for him every morning.  On his way in the house, he dropped the garbage bag off at the washing machine and went straight up the stairs to the shower as he was instructed.  He would eat dinner with her after he was "presentable," as Alice had often said.  
Based on the text, how do you know Paul works in construction?

• He has tools
• He goes straight up the stairs to shower
• His boots are muddy and his overalls are dusty
• He wears a hat

Which piece of evidence could be used to BEST support this claim:
High school students should be required to wear uniforms.

• When adding everything up, a school uniform could end up costing more than $200.
• A student reported, "Allowing us to wear our own clothes gives us a chance to show our unique style and independence."
• At one school that recently required students to wear uniforms, attendence rates went up, and behavior incidents went down.
• School uniforms can be ordered online .