Evidence in an essay can come from a citation of a source, a paraphrase of a reference, or a visual medium, such as a diagram or graph. Use evidence to support the main points in your essay. If you blend it well in your argument, using evidence will show that you've done your research and thought about the topic of the essay critically. To insert evidence in an essay, start by writing the claim or idea at the beginning of the paragraph, then complete it with evidence that can support the claim/idea. You must analyze the evidence written in the essay so that the reader understands the importance of the evidence.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Prepare to Write Evidence
Step 1. Present the evidence in the first sentence of your paragraph
The first sentence in the paragraph is called the topic of conversation. This sentence will make the reader understand what is discussed in the paragraph or chapter. If there are a lot of paragraphs in the body of the essay, the topic should be related to the next chapter to make the transition between paragraphs smoother.
Tip:
You can use 1-2 sentences to write down the evidence, if needed. However, the more concise the sentences you write, the better.
Step 2. Write down an argument or statement
Express your opinion on the topic or idea of writing to the reader. Make an argument or statement about the topic of your essay. This argument must be related to the evidence to be presented.
- For example, you could make an argument like "Lust is a complicated and confusing form of emotion, and it can hurt other people."
- You could also make statements such as "Treatment for people with drug addiction must take into account the underlying aspects of the problem, such as mental health issues and poverty."
Step 3. Discuss specific ideas or themes as an indirect approach
Another option that can be taken is to focus on a specific idea or theme related to the essay as a step to introduce evidence to the reader. The idea or theme should reflect the key idea in the evidence you present. This approach is probably the best option if you are writing an essay that is exploratory, not argumentative.
- For example, you might write "This novel explores the themes of teenage love and passion."
- You could also write, "Many studies show that drug addiction is a part of mental health problems."
Method 2 of 3: Inserting Evidence into the Essay
Step 1. Start with an introductory clause to take a simple approach
Use an introduction or guiding clause to make the evidence presented fit within the text. This clause must appear at the beginning of the quote or paraphrase you are using as evidence.
- For example, you could use introductory clauses such as “According to Anne Carson…”, “Referring to the following diagram…”, “The author states that…”, “The survey results show that…” or “Studies show…”.
- Put a comma after the introductory clause if you are using a quote. For example, "According to Anne Carson, 'Lust is not an easy matter'" or "According to studies conducted, 'the level of dependence on drugs will increase when poverty and unemployment rates also increase.'"
- You can see a list of introductory English clauses here:
Step 2. Use statements or arguments to include evidence
Another option is to use a personal statement or argument to include evidence in a clear and unequivocal way. Briefly write your statement or argument. Use a colon after providing a statement or argument.
- For example, you might write "In the novel, Carson never hesitates to show how his characters dare to express their lust for each other: 'When they make out/ Geryon likes to gently touch Herakles' spine one by one…'"
- You could also write "The study noted an increase in the number of drug users and concluded: 'There is an increase in the number of drug users in certain areas of the United States.'"
Step 3. Insert the proof into the sentence
You can also put proof within the sentence to make it feel natural and flowing. Use proofs succinctly in sentences so they don't appear convoluted or confusing.
- For example, you might write "Carson views the events around him as inevitable, as if humans go through time like "a harpoon", just like the fate of his characters."
- You could also write "This chart shows an increasing number of young drug users, like an "epidemic" that is not slowing down."
Step 4. Enter the author's name and the title of the reference used
When first inserting evidence in an essay, include the author's name and the title of the reference or source you used when discussing it. After mentioning the author's name and the title of the reference, you can use the author's last name when entering other evidence.
- For example, you might write "In Anne Carson's book The Autobiography of Red, the color red represents desire, love, and evil." You could also write "In a study called Addiction Rates by the Harvard Review…"
- After mentioning your first name, you can write "Carson states…" or “The study revealed….”.
- If you mention the author's name in the text as part of the citation, you do not need to include the author's name in the text. You simply write the author's words, then put the quote at the end.
Step 5. Use quotation marks to create direct quotations
Put quotation marks to make direct quotations. Quotation marks should be included for full or partial citations to let readers know you are using someone else's words.
If you are paraphrasing from a single source, you will still need to use quotation marks for words taken directly from the quote
Step 6. Cite the evidence correctly
Include citations in the text if it fits your citation style. In-text citations must be written in brackets at the end of the presentation of evidence, and include the author's last name and page number of the reference source used. Make sure you correctly cite all the text, charts, graphs, and other sources in your essay.
- For example, you might write "In the novel, the characters express their passion for each other: 'When they make out/ Geryon likes to gently touch Herakles' spine one by one (Carson, 48)'"
- You could also write "Based on the graph below, studies show a 'correlation between drug dependence and income' (Branson, 10)."
- If you use footnotes or endnotes, be sure to properly cite any evidence you include in your essay.
Step 7. Cite the source if you are using a paraphrase or summary as evidence
If you are paraphrasing a source or a summary of the original text, be sure to use the correct references and citations. If you feel you are using words from other sources in your paraphrase or summary, include citations based on the style of citation you used in the essay.
- You may also need to mention the title of the article or the source used to make the paraphrase or summary along with the name of the author.
- For example, you might paraphrase something like “Studies show that the correlation between drug dependence and mental illness is often overlooked by medical professionals (Deder, 10).”
- You might write a summary like, "The Autobiography of Red is an exploration of passion and love among strange creatures. Critics have called it a hybrid work that combines ancient civilization with modern language (Zambreno, 15)."
Step 8. Discuss one piece of evidence at a time
You should always include a complete analysis of one piece of evidence before moving on to other evidence. Listing two pieces of evidence at once without analyzing it first can make your writing look cluttered or underweight.
You should only enter two proofs at the same time is through short quotes that are less than one line, or when comparing 2 quotes. After that, you should make an analysis to compare the two quotes to show that you have thought about both quotes critically
Method 3 of 3: Analyzing Evidence
Step 1. Discuss how the evidence presented can support your statement or argument
Explain the urgency of presenting the evidence you include in the essay. Tell the reader how the evidence supports the statement or argument used to support a quote. Explain how the evidence relates to a theme or idea you think is important in the essay.
- For example, you might write “In the novel, Carson never hesitates to show that his characters are able to express desire for one another: 'When they make out/ Geryon likes to gently touch Herakles' spine one by one (Carson, 48). The relationship between Geryon and Herakles is intimate and tender, like the love that unites the two characters physically and emotionally."
- You could also write “According to the Addiction Rates study produced by the Harvard Review, there is a 50% increase in drug dependence in certain areas of the United States. This study clearly illustrates the relationship between levels of drug dependence and people who are below the poverty line and experiencing housing crises."
Step 2. Show how the evidence presented relates to the thesis statement
This will reassure the reader that the evidence presented is relevant, and illustrates that you have thought about the evidence critically.
- For example, you might write, “Carson's style of dealing with Geryon and Herakles' relationship can be related to his approach to passion as a whole in the novel. This acts as a catalyst and a hindrance to the characters.”
- You could also write “Survey conducted by Dr. Paula Bronson, as well as her detailed academic dissertation, support the argument that addiction is not a single problem that can be solved simply by isolation.”
Step 3. Include a final sentence that relates to the next paragraph
Close the article with a final sentence that includes your thoughts on the evidence presented, and acts as a transition to the next paragraph or chapter. You can use short sentences to describe the final point or idea about the evidence. You can also mention the theme or main idea of the next paragraph as part of a sentence transition.
- For example, you might write, “The value of love for a couple does not need to be romanticized, but it is still considered important. This is the key theme in the novel.”
- You could also write, "We need to rethink the common perception around drug addiction and mental illness so that health academics and scientists can better study these two issues."
