Sentence Starters for Text Evidence: A Guide to Powerful Analysis
Finding and using text evidence is crucial for strong analytical writing. But simply quoting isn't enough; you need to seamlessly integrate the evidence and explain its significance. These sentence starters will help you do just that, categorized for different purposes. Remember to always follow a quote with your own analysis explaining how the quote supports your claim.
Introducing Evidence:
-
Direct Quotes:
- The text states, "...," showing...
- As the author writes, "...," this suggests...
- According to the text, "...," which implies...
- In the passage, "...," we see evidence of...
- The author explicitly states, "...," thereby illustrating...
- The text explicitly highlights "...," revealing...
-
Paraphrased Evidence:
- The author explains that... This demonstrates...
- In other words, the text argues that... This is significant because...
- The passage suggests that... This supports the idea that...
- The author implies that... This can be inferred from...
- The text describes... This indicates...
Analyzing Evidence:
-
Focus on Impact/Effect:
- This quote is important because it...
- This detail reveals...
- This passage highlights the significance of...
- This evidence underscores the idea that...
- The impact of this quote is...
- This use of language emphasizes...
- This imagery creates a sense of...
-
Comparing/Contrasting:
- In contrast to..., this quote shows...
- Similar to..., this passage illustrates...
- Unlike..., this evidence suggests...
- This differs from... because...
- Compared to..., this quote highlights...
-
Drawing Conclusions:
- Based on this evidence, it can be concluded that...
- This passage supports the argument that...
- Therefore, this quote suggests...
- Consequently, the author’s use of... indicates...
- From this, we can infer that...
-
Connecting to a Larger Theme:
- This quote connects to the larger theme of... by...
- This evidence reflects the author's overall message about...
- This passage contributes to the central idea of... by showing...
- This supports the overarching argument that...
Advanced Sentence Starters:
-
Focusing on Literary Devices:
- The author's use of [literary device, e.g., metaphor, simile, imagery] in "...," effectively conveys...
- The [literary device] of "..." contributes to the overall tone of...
- The author's choice of diction in "..." reveals...
-
Analyzing Authorial Purpose:
- The author includes this detail to...
- This quote serves to...
- The purpose of this passage is to...
Remember to always cite your source correctly after each quote or paraphrase, using a consistent citation style. Choosing the right sentence starter will depend on the context and your specific argument. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for your writing style.
