LESSON 5

What’s New

DETERMINING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

Reading is not only limited by being able to recognize what is in the text. Most
importantly, you will be able to comprehend what thewriter is saying through the text.
Reading skill like determining textual evidence to validate assertions and counterclaims
made about a text read and the like must be learned and eventually mastered.
The relevance of honing your skill in the English language in general plays a very
important role before engaging yourself in the workforce, in business, entrepreneurship or to
any life’s venture in the future. Thus, this module is specially designed in order for you to
understand and use the skill you will acquire after doing the various activities that will help
you possess your proficiency in determining textual evidence in the written text.

What I Need to Know

Determine textual evidence to validate
assertions and counterclaims made about a text
read.

What’s New
WHAT IS TEXT EVIDENCE?
A text evidence refers to any proof of an argument,
a claim, a counterclaim, a contention or an assertion cited
in the text leading to a conclusion. In citing textual
evidence, you need to quote, paraphrase or refer to the
very specific part of the text where you can use to support
your own thoughts and ideas.

Why do you need to determine textual evidence?

The need to answer questions after reading a text and or to share our ideas enables us to go
back to what we have read and give evidence from it to prove that you are not just
manufacturing your thoughts. Oftentimes, when we you are asked about how nice a movie
was, you need to cite part or parts of the movie which could support your thoughts that it was
indeed a very nice movie worthy to be watched. What you are doing is using a textual
evidence.
Example:
Eric often gets wet on Saturdays. He wakes up at 6 o’clock in the morning and goes
straight to the faucet. He prepares a basin, a soap, shampoo and a stool. One by one, he
calls out his fur friends for the Saturday mornings “ritual”.
Question: Based on the text, what is Eric’s work on Saturday mornings?
a. Washes clothes
b. Cooks for breakfast
c. Baths his pets
d. Preparing for work
Textual Evidence: One by one, he calls out his fur friends for the Saturday
mornings “ritual”.
Unlocking Difficulty
Text is something that is written to express a person’s view, feelings thoughts, emotions etc.
Evidence refers to the proof of an argument, a claim, a counterclaim, a contention or an
assertion cited in the text leading to a conclusion.
Textual Evidence is citing proof from the text in the reading.

What is it?
Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what
the text says explicitly as well as inferences
drawn from the text.

Blade of Grass
By: Stephen Crane

In heaven,
Some little blades of grass
Stood before God.
"What did you do?"
Then all save one of the little blades
Began eagerly to relate
The merits of their lives.
This one stayed a small way behind,
Ashamed.
Presently, God said,
"And what did you do?"
The little blade answered, "Oh my Lord,
Memory is bitter to me,
For, if I did good deeds,
I know not of them."
Then God, in all His splendor,
Arose from His throne.
"Oh, best little blade of grass!" He said.

Questions:
1. Before whom did the blades of grass stand?
2. What question is asked of the little blade?
3. What did each one relate?
4. Did the little blade know any of his good deeds?
5. Did the rest of the blades of grass enjoy relating the story of their lives?
6. Was God pleased with the little blade? Cite the lines that answer the question.
7. Why was the little blade ashamed of himself? Prove by citing that the little
 blade was ashamed of himself.
8. What did God call the little blade?
9. Who do you think are the blades refer to in the poem?
10. Where does the story take place?

What is it?

Ang Pagpa- Milling

By: Eric P. Miso

Kasagaran sa atong makit-an nga bulawan

Porma singsing og kwentas nang daan
Ang wala lang nato nahibaw-an
Unsay sinugdanan niining tanan.

Ako nangitag lim-aw sa akong nahimutangan

Ug sa dihang naabot ko ang kasubaan
Duna akoy nakit-an og nadiskubrihan
Kini kon giunsa pagpanguha ang bulawan.

Ang uban malipay kung may dulos (soil erosion)

Sila dayon sa lapok magkalos
Ug sa luntangan ila kining sala-on
Aron ang mga margaha (residue) matigom.

Sa dihang ang mga sinala matipok og modaghan

Ila kining isulud sa bilingan aron hugasan
Hangtud ang mga tipaka sa bulawan makit-an
Ug ibaligya para ipalit sa bugas og sud-an.

Ang pagpamiling dili sayon buhaton

Sa pagtanom sa humay atong dumdumon
Kung daghan makuha ikaw swertihon
Apan usahay matabla pa gihapon.

Kung ikaw gustong makasaksi

Ikaw sa akong nahimutangan mo-anhi
Kay kini dili man pweding magpirmi
Kay ang dakong balay wala magtugot niini
Questions:
1. What does the title “Ang Pagpa- Milling “mean? How do you know? What is
the textual evidence that supports your answer?
2. What is the setting of the poem? What is the textual evidence that supports
your answer?
3. Is this source of income/living easy? Why or Why not? What stanza that
shows the textual evidence that supports your answer?
4. How is pagpa-milling similar from planting rice? What is the textual evidence
that supports your answer?
5. What is the meaning of “dakong balay” in stanza 6?
 What is it?
MY DEAD TREE
By: Eric P. Miso

Fruit bearing tress I planted

Almost every day they are watered
In God’s hands they are ushered
For them to grow as I wanted

One day I was very frustrated

To find one them almost dead
Somebody must have struck its head
Making myself helpless and worried

I almost cried and truly was discouraged

Thinking to disregard what I have started
Why should I bother to care?
For the crazy little ducks these don’t matter

Had I known who did this terrible thing

I should have told him my pain
I just whisper it to the heavens
That He may take good care of them.

Questions:
1. To whom is the author speaking?
2. What happens in the poem?
3. What is the tone of the story? What word choices from the story support your
answer?
4. Based on this poem, what would you say about the poet's personality? What is
his message about?
5. What message is the poet trying to get across to the reader? Why is this an
important message for you?