Evidence

“**Evidence**” refers to the specific quotations, examples, or passages from the text that you use to support your ideas or points about the text. When you use evidence, you need to **introduce** it and **interpret** it for your readers. **Introduce your evidence.** Introducing your evidence means //explaining where it comes from//. Provide whatever information a reader needs to understand the evidence in its context. Your readers should be able to understand the evidence even if they have not read the text you are writing about. Document or cite the evidence to give credit to its original author using MLA format. In “The Lottery,” Old Man Warner represents the older generation who clings to tradition. For example, when a townsperson mentions that other villages have given up the lottery, Old Man Warner says, “‘There’s nothing but trouble in //that//’” (410). Mrs. Mallard demonstrates her true feelings about the death of her husband when she whispers to herself, “‘Free! Body and soul free!’” (107). The narrator identifies what it is about the old man that offends him: “One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it” (279). The narrator calls the old man’s eye “the Evil eye” (279). Early in the story, the reader learns that the children gather in the town square first to gather stones (406). **Interpret your evidence.** Interpreting your evidence means //explaining what it means and how it relates to your thesis//. Show your readers what is important about the evidence and how it supports your idea or point. When Old Man Warner says that there is “nothing but trouble” in giving up the lottery, he discourages the townspeople from questioning the lottery or stopping the lottery for fear of what would happen if they did. They are afraid to break with tradition or to go against custom because Mrs. Mallard thinks of her husband’s death as her own rebirth. Because he is dead, she is “body and soul” free to live her own life as she desires. The pale, filmed eye is probably blind or inflicted with cataracts, but the narrator attributes its appearance to evil, which shows his illogical thinking. The fact that the children gather early to collect the stones that will be used in the lottery demonstrates that they have been raised not to question their culture or customs or to think of the lottery as anything immoral or wrong.
 * EVIDENCE **
 * Examples of introducing evidence: **
 * Examples of explaining evidence: **
 * Whenever you use evidence by quoting, paraphrasing, or referring to specific examples or passages from a text, you need to //explain where it comes from and what it means//. **