TEA Practice – Page 1: Topic + Evidence
Directions: Read and copy these notes.
 T.E.A. is a type of paragraph for which
T = Topic
E = Evidence
A = Analysis
 A topic sentence begins a paragraph, and
introduces the topic of that paragraph. The topic
sentence introduces a larger, general idea that the
paragraph goes on to prove.
 The topic is proved or justified by evidence. A
TEA paragraph needs at least 3 pieces of
evidence.Evidence can be in the form of
quotations, argument, or explanation.
 Analysis is the final sentence(s) of TEA. It is
where you analyze and connect the information
you provided them in the topic and evidence
sentences. Analysis is not the WHAT, but rather
the WHY, the deep thought about what
something means.
TEA Practice – Page 2: Topic + Evidence
Directions: Read the examples below and
decide if you think the examples below are good
or bad topic sentences?
Example 1: For example, David beat Goliath.
(Answer – Not a topic sentence because it is an
example/evidence for some larger topic.)
(Better – There are many mythic stories of young
heroes beating monsters.)
Example 2: “I will strike down the giant,” David
said.
(Answer – Not a topic sentence because a quote is an
example for a larger topic.)
(Better – Though David knows he probably wont win
he shows much bravery.)
Example 3: Odysseus sailed on a boat all over the
place.
(Answer – Not a topic sentence because it is too
specific and too simple. It doesn’t need to be proven.)
(Better – The voyage of Odysseus over the ocean
works as a metaphor for his rambling personality.)
TEA Practice: Topic and Evidence – Page 3
Directions: Write topic sentences for the
paragraphs below.
Helpful Hints: The topic sentence must relate in
some way to each piece of evidence.
Example 1:
Topic______________________________________
__________________________________________.
Evidence: A) Theseus was led into the dark frightening
tunnel, B) He knew the Minotaur monster could be waiting
for him. C) But he continued on, determined to protect his
bride.
Example 2:
Topic______________________________________
__________________________________________.
Evidence: A) Mr. Caputo’s book was a best seller. B) It
changed the way people thought about war. C) American
people hadn’t known of its emotional costs.
Example 3:
Topic______________________________________
__________________________________________.
Evidence: A) The poem “Howl” was published in every
major American Poetry collection. B) It became standard
reading in university poetry classes. C) It has inspired a
generation of younger poets.
TEA Practice – Page 4: Evidence/Quotes
Often a quote can provide excellent evidence. But
this does not mean you can just randomly put a quote
in a paragraph and expect everyone to know how it
relates to your topic. It must also be explained.
Helpful hints:
1) Name the speaker and cite your source.
Example1 :
“To be, or not to be. That is the
Question,” says Hamlet (Hamlet, Act I.iv)
2) Follow up your quote with an explanatory sentence.
Example2 :
“To be or not to be. That is the question,”
says Hamlet (Hamlet, Act I.iv). This quote
demonstrates Hamlet’s inner struggles and confusion.
3) On your own, write an explanation for the quote
below to help make it work better as evidence.
King Lear is a tortured soul. He has no more power as a
King. His daughters all seem to be angry at him. He runs
out into a storm and yells, “Blow, blow, blow” at the
wind. It is very sad.
Possible Quotation Explanation:
This scene shows Lear struggling hopelessly with the
world. OR This quote demonstrates Lear’s belief that
the world has grown hostile toward him.
TEA Practice – Page 5: Evidence
Directions: This is another page to help students
practice creating accurate evidence. Look at the topic
sentence, try to write good evidence, then compare
student evidence to the evidence below.
Example 1:
Topic: Education is a wonderful tool for helping you
succeed in life.
Evidence: A) Individuals with educational degrees
make much more money over their lifetimes. B) The
experience of college can make you a more rounded
person. C) Colleges often provide professional
opportunities to help prepare you for a career.
Example 2:
Topic: Hamlet is a tortured soul.
Evidence: A) For example, he seems terribly
saddened by the death of his father. B) Also, he is
incredibly angry that his mother has taken a new
husband. C) He says many things that indicate inner
struggle. D) For example, he says, “To be or not to
be. That is the question.”
TEA Practice – Page 6: Evidence
Directions: Read the following topic sentences
and try to come up with three pieces of evidence
that supports each.
Topic Sentence 1: I have to decide what I want to do
this Summer.
Topic Sentence 2: On one hand school is a lot of
fun, but on the other, it is very difficult.
Topic Sentence 3: Love is the most difficult things
to find in this world.
Topic Sentence 4: Whether or not a society can be
considered civilized, and still go to war, is a major
question for modern social philosophers.
Topic Sentence 5: The story of David and Goliath is
an extended metaphor for how every person can
become a hero.
Topic Sentence 6: On one hand, you could argue
that the sun is our most precious heavenly body, but
on the other, you could argue for the moon.
TEA Practice – Page 7: Analysis
Directions: Copy down the following notes on
Analysis.
1. Analysis is your final single sentence in a TEA
paragraph.
2. It is where you tell the reader what to think
about the evidence.
3. It synthesizes (brings together) different ideas
from the paragraph.
4. One way to do this is Word Substitution.
5. Word Substitution means you change two or
three key words from the Topic and Evidence
sentences into new words, and use those new
words to make another, final sentence. (Hint: a
dictionary or thesaurus can help you come up
with word substitutions).
TEA Practice – Page 8: Analysis
Directions: Below is a TEA paragraph. Several key
words (the most important words in the paragraph)
are boxed in the Topic sentence and the Evidence
sentences. Then, below, those words are substituted
for other words. Then, below that, a new Analysis
sentence has been written using those new words.
Example:
Topic: Education is a wonderful tool for helping you
succeed in life.
Evidence: A) Individuals with educational degrees
make much more money over their lifetimes. B) The
experience of college can make you a more rounded
person. C) Colleges often provide professional
opportunities to help prepare you for a career.
Word Substitution: Money = Finances; Education =
Learning; Succeed = Satisfaction; Opportunities =
Possibilities.
Analysis: The possibilities for financial betterment
and ultimate satisfaction in life are thus greatly
increased by learning.
TEA Practice – Page 9: Analysis
Directions: 1) Copy the paragraph below. 2)
Circle four of the most important words in the
passage. 3) In the Word Substitution section,
write those words and come up with an alternate
word for each. You may use a dictionary, 4)
Then, try to write an Analysis sentence using
some of those words.
Topic: Hamlet is a tortured soul.
Evidence: A) For example, he seems terribly
saddened by the death of his father. B) Also, he is
incredibly angry that his mother has taken a new
husband. C) He says many things that indicate inner
struggle. D) For example, he says, “To be or not to
be. That is the question.” E) This demonstrates
Hamlet’s inner struggles.
Word Substitution:
__________________ = ___________________;
__________________ = ___________________;
__________________ = ___________________;
__________________ = ___________________.
Analysis:
TEA Practice – Page 10: Analysis
Example 2:
Theseus struggled mightily against the terrible monster.
Theseus was led into the dark tunnel. The tunnel looked
dark and frightening. He knew the dangerous Minotaur
monster could be waiting for him. But he continued on,
determined to protect his bride.
Word Substitution:
__________________ = ___________________;
__________________ = ___________________;
__________________ = ___________________;
__________________ = ___________________.
Analysis:
Example 3:
Hamlet is a tortured soul. For example, he seems
terribly saddened by the death of his father. Also, he
is incredibly angry that his mother has taken a new
husband. He says many things that indicate inner
struggle. For example, he says, “To be or not to be.
That is the question.” This demonstrates Hamlet’s
inner struggles.
Word Substitution:
__________________ = ___________________;
__________________ = ___________________;
__________________ = ___________________;
__________________ = ___________________.
Analysis:
TEA Practice – Page 11: Adding
Commentary
Adding Commentary to TEA paragraphs is a
way to make your paragraphs richer, more
complex, and more interesting. Often we
need to explain, or comment on our
Evidence, rather than just sticking it in a
paragraph and expect readers to understand
it. If Evidence is the ‘WHAT’ commentary
is the ‘SO WHAT.’ Here is an example:
Topic: Hamlet is a tortured soul.
Evidence:
A) For example, he seems terribly saddened by the
death of his father.
Commentary: His sadness in fact points to
how much he must have loved his father.
B) Also, he is incredibly angry that his mother has
taken a new husband.
Commentary: He is angry in part because he
feels she married a new husband too soon
after the death of the King.
Question: What does the Commentary do here?
TEA Practice – Page 12: Adding
Commentary
The following are questions you can ask
yourself in order to produce commentary:
 Why?
 What does this mean?
 What is a character feeling when he/she says
this?
 What is the significance of this detail?
 Why is this evidence important?
 What can I/we infer from this?
 We can interpret this to mean…
TEA Practice – Page 13: Adding
Commentary
On your own:
Using the questions listed above, try to add
two lines of commentary to the following
piece of evidence.
Topic1 : We can find many examples of
young heroes overcoming obstacles
Evidence1 : For example David beat Goliath.
Commentary 1:
Topic 2: The voyage of Odysseus over the ocean
works as a metaphor for his rambling personality.
Evidence 2: An example of this is that on this journey
home, he stops often to enjoy himself, rather than
returning home quickly.
Commentary:
TEA Practice – Page 14: Commentary for
Quotes
Often a quote can provide excellent evidence. But
this does not mean you can just randomly put a quote
in a paragraph and expect everyone to know how it
relates to your topic. It must also be explained. Look
at the examples below
1)Evidence “To be or not to be. That is the
question,” says Hamlet (Hamlet, Act I.iv).
Commentary: This quote demonstrates Hamlet’s
inner struggles and confusion.
On your own: Write an explanation for the quote
below to help make it work better as evidence.
Topic: King Lear is a tortured soul.
Evidence: A) He has no more power as a King.
His daughters all seem to be angry at him. He runs out
into a storm and yells, “Blow, blow, blow” at the wind.
Commentary:
Possible Commentary:
This scene shows Lear struggling hopelessly with the
world. OR This quote demonstrates Lear’s belief that
the world has grown hostile toward him.