Finding and Using Evidence

<h3>How to select the right evidence</h3>

<p>When answering reading questions, always:</p>

<ol>

<li><strong>Identify</strong> what the question is asking — explicit fact or implicit meaning?</li>

<li><strong>Locate</strong> the relevant part of the text (use line references)</li>

<li><strong>Quote</strong> a short, precise piece of evidence</li>

<li><strong>Explain</strong> what it tells you</li>

</ol>

<h3>PEE Structure</h3>

<table style="width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">

<tr style="background:#f0f9f4"><th style="padding:8px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd">Letter</th><th style="padding:8px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd">Stands for</th><th style="padding:8px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd">Example phrase</th></tr>

<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>P</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Point</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">"The writer suggests the character is afraid…"</td></tr>

<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>E</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Evidence</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">"…as shown by the phrase '…'"</td></tr>

<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>E</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Explanation</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">"This implies… / The word '…' connotes…"</td></tr>

</table>

<h3>Common Mistakes to Avoid</h3>

<ul>

<li>Quoting too much — keep quotes to a few words</li>

<li>Making a point without any quote</li>

<li>Dropping a quote without explaining it</li>

</ul>