{"id":8346,"date":"2013-10-29T21:08:06","date_gmt":"2013-10-29T21:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=8346"},"modified":"2026-03-28T10:48:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T15:48:41","slug":"text-evidence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/text-evidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Textual Evidence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_u9BT-kYKxQ4\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_u9BT-kYKxQ4\" data-source-videoID=\"u9BT-kYKxQ4\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Textual Evidence Video\" height=\"1080\" width=\"1920\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Textual Evidence\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_u9BT-kYKxQ4:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_u9BT-kYKxQ4 {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/715-Textual-Evidence.png\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_u9BT-kYKxQ4\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_u9BT-kYKxQ4\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Textual Evidence\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_u9BT-kYKxQ4\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_u9BT-kYKxQ4\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_u9BT-kYKxQ4\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction OqG_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"OqG\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"OqG_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"OqG\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#What_is_Textual_Evidence\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">What is Textual Evidence?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Textual_Evidence_Example_%E2%80%93_Statistics\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Textual Evidence Example \u2013 Statistics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Testimonial_Evidence\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Testimonial Evidence<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Anecdotal_Evidence\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Anecdotal Evidence<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Analogical_Evidence_Examples\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Analogical Evidence Examples<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label><input id=\"FAQs\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Welcome to this video about textual evidence! Textual evidence deals with facts in writing and the strategies used to figure out whether or not the information is factual. Textual evidence comes into play when an author presents a position or thesis and uses evidence to support the claims. That evidence can come in a number of different forms. We\u2019ll explain textual evidence and the best way to analyze it. So, let\u2019s start here: what is textual evidence?<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_is_Textual_Evidence\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>What is Textual Evidence?<\/h2>\n<p>\nTextual evidence uses information from an originating source or other texts to support an argument. Think of textual evidence as the driving force behind debates. Debates take a position and then use facts as supporting evidence. You can take any debate position you want, but without <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/fact-or-opinion\/\">facts<\/a> to back up your argument, you can\u2019t prove your point.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Evidence_vs_Claim\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Evidence vs. Claim<\/h3>\n<p>\nHere\u2019s an important issue: \u201cevidence\u201d is not the same as a \u201cclaim.\u201d Evidence is a single fact or set of facts. \u201cBarack Obama was the 44th president of the United States\u201d is a fact. A claim is a statement that can be in dispute and requires further evidence. \u201cAliens are buried at Area 51 in Nevada\u201d is a claim that can\u2019t be verified. Textual evidence only uses facts to make its point.<\/p>\n<p>So, what should you look for when evaluating textual evidence? Think P-D-F. No, not the file format used in presentations. You want to make sure the information is <strong>p<\/strong>recise, <strong>d<\/strong>escriptive, and <strong>f<\/strong>actual. That\u2019s easy to remember. Here are some clues to look for when analyzing textual evidence. <\/p>\n<p>Look for data that also includes the source information. Data are the strongest available pieces of evidence because statistics use analysis to reach strong, accurate conclusions. <\/p>\n<h2>Textual Evidence Example &#8211; Statistics<\/h2>\n<p>\nHere\u2019s an example of statistics. Which one of the examples is factual? <\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<ol style=\"margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0em;\">\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\">On average, Americans with a college degree earn more money than Americans who have only earned a high school diploma.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\">About 327 million people live in the United States.<\/li>\n<li>Nearly half of American households own dogs.<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThe answer? Those are all factual statements. You can go to the source and examine the data yourself. That\u2019s why statistics is such a powerful tool in textual evidence. <\/p>\n<p>The next form of evidence isn\u2019t as powerful as statistics, but it\u2019s often used to examine textual evidence.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Testimonial_Evidence\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Testimonial Evidence<\/h2>\n<p>\nExperts give testimony in a number of areas. Testimony doesn\u2019t just mean in the legal sense, like when someone takes the stand in a court case. Testimony also means providing a set of facts based on expertise. An experienced and trained car mechanic can provide testimony on the workings of an engine. A doctor, with years of specialized training, can testify about treatment options for patients. A pilot, with thousands of hours of flight time, can testify about the control panel on a jumbo jet. They all have expertise backed by verifiable factual information. Authors use testimonial information to make their argument in an attempt to sway their audience.<\/p>\n<p>Statistics and expert testimony are the most reliable ways to analyze textual evidence, but there are two other methods as well.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Anecdotal_Evidence\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Anecdotal Evidence<\/h2>\n<p>\nAnecdotal evidence can be tricky since anecdotes are personal observations that may or may not be factual. You can embellish anecdotes for literary effect.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you tell an anecdote about the end of your day and it goes like this:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">After a long day, I\u2019d come home with a headache. My body hurt. I was so tired that I didn\u2019t want to eat. I don\u2019t know if this makes any sense, but I was so tired I couldn\u2019t sleep. Maybe that\u2019s because I had so much on my mind.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nFrom there, the author might ask, \u201cHave you ever been unhappy at work?\u201d The author would list the medical symptoms that correlate with unhappiness at work and then provide statistics on the number of Americans unhappy at their job. The anecdote, on its own, isn\u2019t really sufficient to persuade the audience. But anecdotes can serve a valuable literary purpose by keeping the audience engaged and leading them to the facts. <\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Analogical_Evidence_Examples\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Analogical Evidence Examples<\/h2>\n<p>\nAn analogy compares two different things. \u201cMy house is as hot as the sun\u201d is an example of an analogy.  But in textual evidence, analogies prove useful when there\u2019s little available research on a specific topic. Cutting-edge topics have little data because researchers are in the beginning stages of gathering information.  <\/p>\n<p>Here are two examples of analogical evidence:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left; padding-bottom: -3em;\">Based on how the audience uses mobile phones, we believe this is the right screen size for tablet computers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0em;\">I saw a boring film that has a similar plot to this movie, so therefore the movie must be boring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIn analogical evidence, the author tries to show a parallel, but you can see the problems, especially in the movie analogy. Just because one film is boring doesn\u2019t mean a similar movie will also be. That\u2019s why analogical evidence is the weakest form of evidence.<\/p>\n<p>So that\u2019s our look at textual evidence, the process of finding facts to support an argument. We reviewed statistics and testimony, the two most reliable ways of analyzing textual evidence. We reviewed anecdotal and analogical evidence, two useful, but weaker, methods of providing facts. <\/p>\n<p>I hope this overview was helpful. <\/p>\n<p>See you guys next time!<\/p>\n<ul class=\"citelist\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.princetontutoring.com\/blog\/2013\/11\/purposeful_and_specific_textual_evidence\/.\"target=\"_blank\">Caroline. 2013. \u201cFinding Purposeful and Specific Textual Evidence | Princeton Tutoring Blog.\u201d November 27, 2013.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/tualatinworldhistory.weebly.com\/uploads\/5\/7\/2\/8\/5728202\/types_of_evidence_handout_v.2.pdf\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cUsing Evidence: Four Types of Evidence Statistical Evidence.\u201d n.d.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"FAQs-spoiler\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align:center\"><span id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-list\">\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is textual evidence?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>Textual evidence is verified text that has been collected from the original source or document that supports a thesis or an argument, often appearing as a quotation or descriptive text.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How do you cite textual evidence?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>There are many ways to cite sources, including MLA, Chicago\/Turabian, and APA.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How do you use textual evidence in an essay?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>Begin by making references to the actual text to express your point of view or main ideas. Utilize other texts to provide resources for evidence, analytical data, resourceful information, and supporting details to create textual evidence. Paraphrasing, quotations, and supporting details establish your textual evidence when discussing literature.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">Why is textual evidence important?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>Citing textual evidence is important because it requires the reader to support their ideas, questions, and claims with factual evidence rather than irrational notions.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/reading-comprehension\/\">Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99760,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-8346","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-reading-comprehension-videos","7":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8346"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":260740,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8346\/revisions\/260740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}