Incorporating Textual Evidence in Your Writing

The C.S.Q.T. Format

When should I use C.S.Q.T. format?

• Whenever the question prompt asks you to refer back to text, such as…

• “Use evidence from the text to support your answer.”

• “Use textual evidence to support your reasoning.”

• “Use specific examples from the text.”

• “Be specific.”

Sample Question Prompt

In I Will Always Write Back, Martin and Caitlin develop a close friendship, despite living in entirely different countries. While Caitlin is very excited about her new friend, many of Caitlin’s friends tease her about Martin, suggesting she is in love with him. Why do Caitlin’s friends act this way? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

C = Claim• It is the first portion of your response.

• This sentence reveals your answer to the question for your reader.

• OR: This sentence states the position your are going to support w/ evidence.

• It is one sentence in length.

Sample Question Response: Claim

• When people act unkindly, it often stems from a lack of understanding.

S = Set-Up• It is the second portion of your response.

• This sentence will explain the context of the quote you will use to support your claim by revealing three pieces of information:

• 1. the title of the text where the quote is taken from

• 2. the author of the text where the quote is taken from

• 3. the main idea of the text where the quote is taken from

• It is the second sentence of your response.

How to Punctuate Titles• Titles are punctuated according to the length of the work.

• If a work is shorter in length, then it is set in “quotation marks.”

• Examples: short story, poem, essay, article, chapter, episode, commercial, song, etc.

• If a work is longer in length, then it is underlined (if writing) or italicized (if typing).

• Examples: novel, epic poem, anthology, movie, tv show, play, magazine, newspaper, cd album, etc.

Sample Question Response: Set-Up

• In I Will Always Write Back written by Martin Ganda, Caitlin Alifirenka, and Liz Welch, Martin (from Zimbabwe) and Caitlin (from Pennsylvania) become unlikely pen pals—and friends—thanks to a school project, yet many of Caitlin’s friends tease her about Martin.

Q = Quote• It is the third portion of your response.

• This sentence will introduce the quote with a speaker’s tag. The purpose of the quote is to support your claim.

• If you are quoting the written word, then write the following.

• Jack Gantos writes, “The prisoner in the photograph is me” (Gantos 1).

• If you are quoting the spoken word, then write the following.

• Jack Gantos said, “The prisoner in the photograph is me.”

• Depending on the quote you select, it may be more than one sentence.

Sample Question Response: Quote

• Caitlin writes, “People are so scared of what they don’t know. It’s a terrible mistake” (320).

T = Tie-In• It is the fourth portion of your response.

• These sentences will tie your quote in to your claim, so your reader will understand why you selected this quote in particular.

• This is where you analyze and explain your quote.

• You should have at least two sentences of analysis/explanation.

Sample Question Response: Tie-In

• Because Caitlin’s friends are only familiar with their small hometown, they do not see the great opportunity that Caitlin has taken advantage of by befriending Martin. As a result, Caitlin’s friends resort to humor as a defense mechanism, rather than take the time to learn about Martin and where he is from.

Sample Question Prompt

In I Will Always Write Back, Martin and Caitlin develop a close friendship, despite living in entirely different countries. While Caitlin is very excited about her new friend, many of Caitlin’s friends tease her about Martin, suggesting she is in love with him. Why do Caitlin’s friends act this way? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Sample C.S.Q.T. Question Response

When people act unkindly, it often stems from a lack of understanding. In I Will Always Write Back written by Martin Ganda, Caitlin Alifirenka, and Liz Welch, Martin (from Zimbabwe) and Caitlin (from Pennsylvania) become unlikely pen pals—and friends—thanks to a school project, yet many of Caitlin’s friends tease her about Martin. Caitlin writes, “People are so scared of what they don’t know. It’s a terrible mistake” (320). Because Caitlin’s friends are only familiar with their small hometown, they do not see the great opportunity that Caitlin has taken advantage of by befriending Martin. As a result, Caitlin’s friends resort to humor as a defense mechanism, rather than take the time to learn about Martin and where he is from.

Your Turn!Read the following poem by William Carlos Williams,

and answer the question that follows in C.S.Q.T. format.

This Is Just To Say

By William Carlos Williams

I have eaten

the plums

that were in

the icebox

and which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold

What is the setting of this poem?

Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

C.S.Q.T.

HOMEWORK

DIRECTIONS: Select one of the following questions below. Use C.S.Q.T. to model your response.

What quote describes a quality you wish to possess?OR

What quote do you believe to be true?

REMINDER:

You may not select anonymous quotes (or quotes whose speaker is unknown).

You will be sharing your response with the class tomorrow!

Mr. Faella’s Sample Response

• MY QUOTE: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” –Thomas Edison

• MY C.S.Q.T. RESPONSE: Too often, people do not take advantage of the opportunities in their daily lives. American inventor Thomas Edison addresses what he believes is the “problem” with opportunity. Edison wrote, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” In this quote, Edison identifies a major societal issue. People want to reap the rewards but do not want to put forth the required effort.