How to Cite Evidence From Text
to Support your Arguments
Using the R.A.S.C. Method
The next 3 slides are from today’s lesson with Mr. D.
The 5th slide about Paul is what we read today and I underlined
what is needed to write the paragraph’s support section.
The 6th slide will help students get started to write tonight’s
paragraph.
Why do I need to cite
evidence from a text?


The textual evidence
makes your
argument more
powerful.
Textual evidence
goes beyond just
your opinions,
thoughts, feelings.

The evidence you
pick shows that you
understand what
you are actually
reading.
How do I cite evidence from a
text?




Read the text.
Develop an answer to the question.
Figure out which sections of the text
helps you determine your answer.
Use the evidence from the text in your
paragraph-long answer.
How do I answer the question
with textual evidence?

Follow the R.A.S.C. Method:




R – Restate the question or provide a topic
sentence.
A – Answer the question.
S – Support the answer by citing specific
evidence from the text.
C – Closing statement.
Students’ Primary Source from
Class

My name is Paul. I am from Germany. My father was a farmer.
We moved to the United States in the early 1900s because
there were too many people living in Germany. Even though
my dad was a great farmer, back in Germany we didn’t have
enough land to grow enough food for our own family to live
off of. We learned English quickly and built a place to live on
our land. The work was hard because we first had to clear all
ht land before we could grow crops. Our only friends lived
miles away. I felt lucky to have my family, but I cold tell that
my dad was lonely a lot. America wasn’t as easy of a life as
other German immigrants wrote and told us about.
Constructing A Complete Response - Writing the Response
Mr. D would like students to indicate which is Restating, answering,
supporting with detail and a concluding sentence.
Use as a guide to write paragraph
R
A
S
C

People may migrate because they are
pushed from their community or pulled
to a new one. In Paul’s situation, he
was pushed away from Germany. In
his interview, Paul said he was …….
Paul also said …. And… These are
push factors because ……. Paul’s
interview is a good example of how a
person can be pushed but not pulled.