What is a major evidence-based skill students must demonstrate in NYS ELA CST when answering questions?

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Citing relevant textual evidence to support claims is what the NYS ELA CST expects. When answering questions, you’re asked to base your response on the text itself, selecting specific details, quotes, or paraphrased ideas that back up what you’re saying, and then explaining how those details connect to your claim. This shows you can locate precise evidence and use it to justify your reasoning, not just rely on memory or personal opinion. For example, if you’re arguing about a character’s motive, you should point to a concrete line or action in the text and explain how it supports your interpretation. Memorizing quotes without linking them to your argument, rewriting the text without tying details to a claim, or answering from opinion alone don’t demonstrate this evidence-based reasoning.