Cite Textual Evidence
& Draw Inferences

Learn to find evidence in a text and use it to support your ideas: both what the author says directly and what you can figure out on your own.

6th Grade Reading

What Is Textual Evidence?

Textual evidence is any word, phrase, sentence, or detail that comes directly from the text you are reading. It is the proof you use to back up your claims, answers, or analysis.

What Is an Inference?

An inference is a conclusion you draw by combining clues from the text with what you already know. The author doesn't say it directly, but you can figure it out.

Why Citing Evidence Matters

Proves Your Point

Evidence shows the reader that your ideas come from the text, not from thin air.

Builds Strong Arguments

The best readers and writers always anchor their claims in specific details.

Deepens Understanding

Searching for evidence forces you to re-read carefully and think critically.

Explicit vs. Implicit Information

The Golden Rule of Evidence

Evidence vs. Opinion

	Textual Evidence	Personal Opinion
Source	Comes from the text	Comes from your feelings
Proof	Can be quoted or pointed to	Cannot be verified in the text
Strength	Strong: grounded in facts	Weak: easily challenged
Example	"The text states..."	"I think because..."

How to Cite Evidence: Step by Step

1

Read the question carefully. Identify exactly what it asks: explicit detail or inference?

2

Re-read the text. Scan for specific words, phrases, or sentences that relate to the question.

3

Highlight or underline. Mark the exact evidence that supports your answer.

4

State your answer. Write your claim and include the quote or paraphrase from the text.

5

Explain the connection. Tell the reader how the evidence proves your point.

Example 1: Finding Explicit Evidence

"The African elephant is the largest land animal on Earth. Adult males can weigh up to 14,000 pounds and stand 13 feet tall at the shoulder."

Example 2: Drawing an Inference

"Lena stared at the math test on her desk. She chewed on her pencil and glanced at the clock. Her hands were shaking, and she had only answered two of the twenty questions."

Example 3: Harder Inference

"Every morning, Mr. Torres woke up at 4:30 AM. He laced up his worn running shoes, stretched in the dark garage, and set off down the empty streets. On race day, while other runners gasped for air by mile three, Mr. Torres looked as relaxed as if he were on a walk in the park."

Signal Phrases for Citing Evidence

Use these phrases to smoothly introduce evidence from the text into your answers:

For Explicit Evidence

"The text states..."
"According to the author..."
"The passage reads..."
"In paragraph 3, the author writes..."

For Inferences

"This suggests that..."
"Based on the text..."
"The reader can infer..."
"This evidence implies..."

Strong vs. Weak Evidence

	Strong Evidence	Weak Evidence
Specificity	Exact quote or detail	Vague summary
Relevance	Directly answers the question	Only loosely related
Example	"The wolf howled every night"	"The story talks about animals"
Explanation	Tells how it supports the claim	No connection to claim

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✕ No Evidence at All

Stating a claim without any quote or detail from the text. "I think the character is sad" with no proof.

✕ Wrong Evidence

Picking a quote that doesn't actually support your point. The evidence must match the claim.

✕ No Explanation

Dropping a quote without explaining how it connects to your answer. Evidence needs context.

Summary: Your Evidence Toolkit

Skill	What You Do	Key Question
Cite Evidence	Find a specific quote or detail	"Where does the text say this?"
Explicit Info	Locate what the text says directly	"What are the exact words?"
Inference	Combine clues + knowledge	"What can I figure out?"
Explain	Connect evidence to your claim	"How does this prove my point?"

Question 1 of 5

"The old oak tree in the schoolyard had been there for over a hundred years. Its branches stretched wide, offering shade to every student who sat beneath it. Last Tuesday, the principal announced that the tree would be cut down to make room for a new parking lot. Several students began a petition to save it."

▼ Tap to read passage

Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that students cared about the tree?

Starting a petition is a direct action showing the students cared enough to try to save the tree. The other options describe the tree or the situation, but only choice D shows the students' response.

Question 2 of 5

"Jamal walked into the cafeteria and scanned the room. Every table was packed with laughing groups. He clutched his lunch tray tighter, looked down at his shoes, and walked to the empty table in the far corner."

▼ Tap to read passage

Based on this passage, what can you infer about how Jamal feels?

The clues "looked down at his shoes" and sitting at an "empty table in the far corner" suggest discomfort and loneliness, not preference. The text never says he's angry or excited. We infer his feelings from his body language and actions.

Question 3 of 5

Which of the following is the best example of citing textual evidence?

Choice C is the only answer that includes a specific quote from the text ("ran into the burning building without hesitation") and connects it to the claim (that the character is brave). The other options are opinions or vague statements with no textual proof.

Question 4 of 5

"Dr. Patel had been studying coral reefs for twenty years. In her latest report, she wrote that ocean temperatures had risen by 2 degrees over the past decade. She noted that 40% of the reef she studied had turned white, a process called bleaching. 'If this trend continues,' she warned, 'we could lose these reefs entirely within our lifetime.'"

▼ Tap to read passage

What evidence from the text best supports the idea that coral reefs are in danger?

While rising temperatures (C) explain the cause, the most direct evidence of danger to the reefs is that 40% had already turned white (B). This shows the damage is happening right now. Choice A describes Dr. Patel's experience, and D merely names a process.

Question 5 of 5

What is the difference between explicit information and an inference?

Explicit information can be pointed to directly in the text: the author stated it clearly. An inference is a conclusion you draw by combining clues from the text with your prior knowledge. They are related but distinct skills.

Cite Textual Evidence& Draw Inferences

What Is Textual Evidence?

What Is an Inference?

Why Citing Evidence Matters

Explicit vs. Implicit Information

The Golden Rule of Evidence

Evidence vs. Opinion

How to Cite Evidence: Step by Step

Example 1: Finding Explicit Evidence

Example 2: Drawing an Inference

Example 3: Harder Inference

Signal Phrases for Citing Evidence

Strong vs. Weak Evidence

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Summary: Your Evidence Toolkit

Question 1 of 5

Question 2 of 5

Question 3 of 5

Question 4 of 5

Question 5 of 5

Cite Textual Evidence
& Draw Inferences