What does it mean to cite textual evidence in your response?

• A. To copy sentences verbatim without comment.
• B. To ignore the text.
• C. To quote or paraphrase specific parts of the text and explain how it supports your claim.
• D. To summarize the text without evidence.

Answer: (C)

Citing textual evidence means you back up your claim by pointing to exact parts of the text and explaining how those parts support what you are saying. You can quote a brief phrase or sentence or paraphrase a detail, but you must connect it to your argument by showing why that piece of text proves your point. For example, if you claim a character feels hopeful, you would reference a line or moment that shows hope and then explain how that evidence supports your interpretation of the character’s feelings or the theme. This demonstrates careful reading and the ability to justify ideas with the source material.

It's not enough to copy sentences or to summarize the whole text. Copying without explanation doesn’t show how the words support your claim, and ignoring the text or summarizing without linking evidence misses the needed connection between what the text says and what you’re saying about it. A concise, relevant quotation or precise paraphrase paired with an explicit explanation of its relevance is what counts as citing textual evidence.