Name _________________________________

Date ____________________ Hour________

Choosing and Using Evidence

Your supporting evidence comes in the form of direct quotes or paraphrases. These
quotes should help to support your writing, and should give evidence that your
analysis is valid and correct. These quotes should flow naturally into your writing.
You should never have to explain why you used a quote. It should be obvious to the
reader that this example is supporting your claims and is being used as evidence.
In-Text Citations
To cite a quote in a paragraph, you must include the authors last name and page
number. The format for the in-text citation is as follows:
The room grew silent. I cursed myself for losing control and creating a scene
(Keyes 290).
1. No comma at the end of the sentence (between scene and the quotation
mark).
2. No abbreviation for the word page.
3. No commas within the in-text citation.
4. Period AFTER the in-text citation.
The format for stating the authors name before the quote is as follows:
Keyes stated, The room grew silent. I cursed myself for losing control and
creating a scene (290).
1. Comma after
2. Page number stands alone, after the sentence in the same format as above.
What

is a Direct Quote?
Any piece of evidence that you pull directly from your source word for word
Identical to the original work
Should be used only when the original ideas are particularly well-stated and
whose meaning would be lost or changed if the wording was altered
NOT necessarily a person speaking (although it may be)
MUST be integrated smoothly within your own sentence/language MAY NOT
stand alone as its own sentence
MUST have an in-text citation that gives credit to the original author

Example of Incorrect and Correct Paraphrasing:

Original Passage: Annie Oakleys life spanned years of tremendous change for
American women. By the time of her death in 1926 Americans were celebrating
the liberated, urban-focused, modern times of the Jazz Age. Women had won the
right to vote, wore less restrictive clothes, and followed a changing ideal that
was loosening some of the restrictions on womens roles and behavior that had
reigned through the nineteenth century.
Incorrect Citation: Annie Oakleys life spanned years of significant changes for
American women. While some men wished that women would continue their

traditional roles as modest housewives, many women wore less restrictive

clothes, and followed a changing ideal that was loosening some of the
restrictions on womens roles and behavior, (Annie Oakley pg. 54).
Correct Citation: Annie Oakleys life spanned years of significant changes for
American women. While some men wished that women would continue their
traditional roles as modest housewives, many women wore less restrictive
clothes, and followed a changing ideal that was loosening some of the
restrictions on womens roles and behavior (Annie Oakley).
What is a Paraphrase?
Any piece of evidence from a source that you have put into your own words
Used when you want the idea the source expressed, but not necessarily the
specific language used to express it
Usually involves taking a longer segment of the source and shortening it by
putting it into your own words
MUST have an in-text citation that gives credit to the person who originally
thought of the idea
Example of Incorrect and Correct Paraphrasing:
Original Passage: Annie Oakleys life spanned years of tremendous change for
American women. By the time of her death in 1926 Americans were celebrating
the liberated, urban-focused, modern times of the Jazz Age. Women had won the
right to vote, wore less restrictive clothes, and followed a changing ideal that
was loosening some of the restrictions on womens roles and behavior that had
reigned through the nineteenth century.
Incorrect Paraphrasing: Annie Oakleys life spanned years of significant changes
for American women. By the time she died in 1926, women had the vote, wore
looser clothing, and embraced the freedom from restrictive 19 th century roles
and behaviors.
Correct Paraphrasing: As discussed in the biography on PBSs American
Experience web page, sharpshooter Annie Oakley lived through a period of
many liberating changes for women, from the Victorian era through the first
quarter of the 20th century. Examples include voting rights for women as well as
the freedom to wear comfortable and practicle clothing (Annie Oakley).
Practice
In the short story The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, the
protagonist, Rainsford, is introduced early as a hunter on his way to a big hunting
trip. By the end of the story, Rainsford has experienced hunting in a way that he
never had before: he becomes the prey. This is contrasted by the exposition of his
character through a conversation he has with a fellow hunter, Whitney. When

Whitney expresses sympathy for the hunted, Rainsford tells Whitney to

______________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________ (54). Since Rainsford eventually learns what it feels
like to be in the jaguars position, we can see character growth that establishes him
as a dynamic character.

Practice
In the short story The Most Dangerous Game by Richard
Connell, the protagonist, Rainsford, is introduced early as a hunter
on his way to a big hunting trip. By the end of the story, Rainsford
has experienced hunting in a way that he never had before: he
becomes the prey. This is contrasted by the exposition of his
character through a conversation he has with a fellow hunter,
Whitney. When Whitney expresses sympathy for the hunted,
Rainsford tells Whitney to [not] talk rot, Whitney, said
Rainsford. Youre a big-game hunter, not a philosopher.
Who cares who a jaguar feels (54). Since Rainsford
eventually learns what it feels like to be in the jaguars position,
we can see character growth that establishes him as a dynamic
character.