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CitingEvidence

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Rheinjohn Aucasa Sampang
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11 views

CitingEvidence

lesson material

Uploaded by

Rheinjohn Aucasa Sampang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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In order to successfully build an argument about a text, you must make inferences and draw

conclusions—and those must be built on the backs of evidence in the text. Let's talk about how
to search for evidence-bearing details in text, and how to best derive support for the points
you're trying to make, in the only way I know how: by talking about fictitious pirates. Created by
David Rheinstrom.

- [Instructor] Hello readers. The following video contains explicit


content. Uh, okay, not in the way you're thinking. It doesn't contain
violence, obscenity or profanity. Or even anything that wouldn't appear
in a G-rated movie, but it will contain explicit evidence. Yes, we're
talking about citing evidence in literary analysis. When you're talking
about a text and making arguments about it, in order to successfully
build that argument, you must make inferences and draw conclusions.
And those must be built on the back of evidence. Both explicit, that is
stated in the text, or implicit or based on clues or evidence in the text.
So your responsibility is to tie those conclusions or inferences back to
explicit or implicit evidence in the text. It can't just be, "This is a
feeling I have." It has to be, "My feeling about this is backed up by this
specific evidence." Say you're trying to be make an argument in a book
that the captain of this pirate ship, let's just say, I guess, he's a
birdman. That's what I drew, he's a birdman. He's really unkind to the
main character in the beginning of the book, but changes by the end of
the book and treats everyone, including the main character with
respect and courtesy. So I'm gonna write that my argument is that the
captain's behavior changes towards the MC, the main character. I have
to back that assertion up with evidence. So how do we find those
details? First, you have to seek out parts of the book where the captain
and the main character interact. Then look closely at the pros and
dialogue. What are the details that prove your point? Which are the
strongest, most specific details that say, "Oh, yes, here is where the
captain is being mean. Here is where the captain is being respectful." If
you can't find evidence for your assertion, first, try searching in a
different part of the book. Or importantly, acknowledge the possibility
that you might have a weak argument. Maybe it's time to start over
and find a new or different argument to make and find support for.
Once you've assembled your evidence work it into your analysis.
"Captain Bigsby is dismissive and rude to Eniola when she first joins
the crew of the pirate ship Albatross," I might say. And then back it up
with an explicit example of Captain Bigsby being dismissive and rude
with a page number citation like so. On page 34 of "To the Burbling
Deep," Bigsby says to Eniola, "You there, what's her name! These
portholes need to be scrubbed yesterday. Get to work!." "Yes, sir,
Captain," Eniola said. "But my name is-" "Does it look like I care?" the
captain snarled. But by the end of the story, when Eniola has proven
her worth, saved the day, and humbled the captain, he treats her, and
everyone around him, with much greater respect and deference. On
page 225, after Bigsby tends to Eniola's broken leg, he tells her,
"Eniola, that was some mighty fine pirating you did. You showed no
fear when you punched that kraken, and more importantly, you
showed no fear when you stood up to me. I was wrong, and I have
been a jerk, and I am sorry." Now both of those examples use explicit
evidence where Captain Bigsby is being a jerk and then when he is
apologizing for being a jerk. There's also implicit evidence too. Bigsby
tends to Eniola's broken leg. So while he's not saying, "I will take care
of you little buddy," with his words, he is saying it with his actions. And
in that first example when he demands that Eniola clean the portholes,
he's not literally saying, "I'm impatient," But by saying, "They need to
be scrubbed yesterday," as an immediately because you already
messed up, he's implying that he's impatient. Now there is no such
book that I know of about a kraken punching girl pirate. But if we're
lucky, my friend Jordan will write one. Remember to use strong details
to get good evidence. There might be a part of "To The Burbling Deep"
where Captain Bigsby huffs angrily at Eniola but doesn't say anything,
and that's mean or, at least, impolite, but it's not as strong as him
yelling at her. So when you find the detail, ask yourself, how does that
detail related back to your analysis or your argument. Is it repeated?
Does that detail or detail similar to it appear elsewhere in the text?
And if you see a lot of similar details, how do those details prove the
argument that you're trying to make? If you have a sense of what the
central idea or ideas of the text is, try to connect those details back to
that central idea and then connect that central idea to your own
argument. I don't know what "To the Burbling Deep" is about 'cause I
made it up 20 minutes ago. But maybe one theme in it is that it's
important to recognize the potential with another people. And that can
be both true for Eniola who becomes a hero and punches a giant
octopus monster, but it can also be true of Captain Bigsby who
occupies kind of antagonistic role and then changes through the story.
And so we can build our argument around that idea that character
change is possible. Not just for the main character, but for everybody.
So that's where I will leave you. Remember to choose the pieces of
evidence that give you the strongest support for your idea and if the
evidence doesn't match your idea, you might need to change the idea
itself. You can learn anything. David out.
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