Choosing Evidence

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

• Did you find it difficult to pinpoint the three most crucial pieces of evidence to support why your favorite book or movie is the best?
• Or perhaps the challenge was in narrowing it down to just three?

Regardless, providing solid evidence is vital, especially in literary analysis, where your objective is to support your claims convincingly.

In a literary analysis essay, selecting text from the work that best supports your thesis and the assertions in your body paragraphs is crucial. As discussed in our previous lessons, each body paragraph should start with a statement indicating which part of your thesis will be proven in that paragraph.

(If you need a refresher, the right-hand sidebar has what you need.)

Choosing the proper evidence involves considering how well it supports your assertion.

Relevance

• Does this quote or piece of evidence directly support my assertion?
• Is it the most vital piece of text to prove my point?

Analytical Potential

• What is notable about this quote?
• Can I analyze specific words, descriptions, literary devices, or character actions in depth to strengthen my argument?

Begin your search for evidence by recalling moments in the work that significantly impact the plot, character development, theme evolution, or setting establishment. These segments are often affluent with potent evidence.

Also, ensure you draw evidence from various parts of the work rather than relying on a single section. This approach demonstrates that your thesis holds across the entire work, enhancing the credibility of your analysis.

Continue to the Got It? section to give it a try!