Supporting Evidence : a.k.a. “Concrete Details”

1. Supporting Evidence:a.k.a. “Concrete Details” Writing Series Training #4

2. What is supporting evidence? • Supporting evidence is the proof you need to support your thesis • Facts, examples, evidence, reasons, quotations, etc. • Could use the transition “for example”

3. If you told your parents you need money, they will ask, “Why?” The reasons you give them are your supporting evidence Note: They probably won’t give you money unless you give them factual proof that you need it What reasons would you give your parents to convince them to give you money? What is supporting evidence?An illustration

4. List A: I need it. It will make me happier. I will help more around the house. List B: School lunches cost 50 cents more this year. My teachers have been very helpful and I would like to buy them each a little gift. I would like to go to a movie with my friends. What is supporting evidence?An illustration • Which of the following lists of supporting evidence • will probably get more money from your parents? • Why is that list better?

5. What is supporting evidence?A metaphor • Before lawyers go to court, they have to gather supporting evidence to prove that their client is telling the truth • The jury will most likely believe the lawyer with the best supporting evidence • As a writer, you have to gather the best supporting evidence so that your readers will believe your thesis

6. Position: Austin rocks! Thesis: Families and singles should move to Austin because of the outstanding University of Texas, beautiful Lady Bird Lake, and delicious Mexican food. Road map: UT, Lady Bird Lake, Chuy’s Position: Austin stinks! Thesis: It is surprising that anyone ever chooses to live in Austin because of its terrible traffic, dying malls, and high summer temperatures. Road map: IH-35 at rush hour, Highland Mall, any large parking lot at noon in August Is Austin a good place to live?

7. Question: Is Austin a good place to live? Thesis: Families and singles should move to Austin because of the outstanding university, beautiful Lady Bird Lake, and delicious Mexican food. Topic #1: University of Texas Supporting Evidence: • Has $400 million for research every year • Library system is one of the top 10 research libraries in the nation • In 2002, Sports Illustrated ranked UT #1 of the nation’s athletic programs

8. Question: Is Austin a good place to live? Thesis: It is surprising that anyone ever chooses to live in Austin because of its terrible traffic, dying malls, and high summer temperatures. Topic #1: terrible traffic Supporting Evidence: • 21.9 average commute time – ranked 39th in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau) • IH-35 in downtown Austin is the busiest six-lane section of highway in the state

9. What is supporting evidence? Thesis: Although the deserts of the world have many similarities, they are vastly different in terms of temperature, vegetation, and size. The 3 topics for the body paragraphs will be: • Temperature • Vegetation • Size What kind of supporting evidence would you need for a body paragraph on the difference in temperature in deserts around the world?

10. What is supporting evidence? Thesis: Columbus was the world’s first imperialist as he claimed political, cultural and economic control in the Americas. The topics for the 3 body paragraphs will be: • Columbus claimed political control • Columbus claimed cultural control • Columbus claimed economic control Where would you find supporting evidence? • Letters between Columbus and the king and queen • Columbus’s journal • Letters from explorers after Columbus

11. What is supporting evidence? Thesis: While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government. Where would you find supporting evidence to support this thesis? • Newspapers in the North, newspapers in the South • Lincoln’s letters and speeches • Davis’s letters and speeches • Other politicians’ letters and speeches • Laws made in the South, laws made in the North • Soldiers’ letters

12. Strategy #1 • Each group will receive mixed-up sentences from one body paragraph • Identify sentences that include supporting evidence (facts, not opinions) • Put the paragraph into the best order: topic sentence, evidence and commentary, clincher sentence • Share out as a class and put the paragraphs in the best order

13. Strategy #2 • In groups, score each of the 4 paragraphs you have been given using the “Supporting Paragraph Scoring Guidelines” • As a class, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each paragraph • As individuals, score paragraph #5 according to the rubric

14. Strategy #3 • As a class, we’re going to brain- storm the thesis, including 3 topics, for an essay • In groups of 3-4, you will be assigned one of the 3 topics (a body paragraph) • As a group, list factual, supporting evidence for your assigned topic • After 10 minutes, groups will trade topics and add more supporting evidence

15. Strategy #4 • Using the lists from Strategy #3, choose one topic (body paragraph) and 2-3 pieces of supporting evidence • Write a paragraph with a topic sentence and supporting evidence

16. Strategy #5 • As a class, we will brainstorm a thesis with 3 topics (body paragraphs) • The class will divide into 3 groups and get a sheet of butcher paper • Each group will need to write a topic sentence on top of their sheet of paper • Each group should list supporting evidence under the topic sentence

17. Strategy #6 • The following 2 slides include brainstorming for 2 different essays • In groups, pairs, or as individuals, students could write out body paragraphs using the provided supporting evidence or their own • Note: Students could compete to come up with the best body paragraph

18. Thesis and Body Paragraphs • Body Paragraph #1—Equipment and cost • Football = Expensive (lots of equipment and people) • Basketball = Inexpensive (not much equipment) • Body Paragraph #2—Brings people together • Football = All day event with hundreds of thousands • Basketball = Shorter, more frequent events • Body Paragraph #3—Players and Rules • Football = Large and aggressive; tackling and plays • Basketball = Tall and agile players; jump shots and dribbling Thesis: Football and basketball both reflect the U.S.’s need to be bigger, more powerful, and wealthier than the rest of the world even as they differ in what is needed to play the games, how they bring people together, and how the games are played.

19. Thesis and Body Paragraphs • Body Paragraph #1—Economic • 1950s = chalkboards and paper • Today = projectors, computers, interactive boards • Body Paragraph #2—Social • 1950s = Memorization of facts, paddling, parent support • Today = Creativity, schools take on parental roles • Body Paragraph #3—Political • 1950s = Segregated, failure is student’s responsibility • Today = Desegregated, IDEA, NCLB, failure is school’s responsibility Thesis: Since the 1950s, schools in the U.S. have become more inclusive and more responsible for preparing all students for success in tomorrow’s world.