Free Text Evidence Graphic Organizer

Write the question first, then draft a focused tentative claim after understanding the relevant part of the text. Avoid a claim that merely repeats the prompt or tries to cover several unrelated ideas at once. Use the claim to test relevance, but keep it revisable: does this information support the point, challenge it, add necessary context, or suggest a more accurate answer?

Choose the strongest relevant evidence rather than the longest quotation. A short phrase, paraphrased action, statistic, example, or specific detail can be better than copying an entire paragraph. Record enough context that you can find the evidence again, especially when working from a long text. If the assignment requires citations, add the page, paragraph, line, or source information while the text is still open instead of reconstructing it later.

Use the explanation box to answer why this evidence supports the claim. Do not restate the quotation with a few synonyms. Name the relationship: what the detail reveals, shows, contrasts, demonstrates, or makes more likely. When a learner can explain that link clearly, the evidence is doing argumentative or analytical work instead of sitting beside the claim as an isolated quote.

If you use both evidence boxes, compare the details rather than filling the second box automatically. They should not simply duplicate the same point unless repetition itself matters. Look for evidence that adds distinct support, context, or qualification. If one detail is weak or only loosely related, replace it—or leave the extra box unused when one well-explained detail is sufficient for the task.

Use the completed organizer as a bridge to writing rather than as the final response. A simple paragraph can move from claim to evidence to explanation, then repeat that evidence-and-explanation pattern as needed. During revision, check that every quotation or detail has a clear job and that the reasoning remains visible even if the reader has not seen the organizer.