Reading Opinion Texts
Lesson
Objective
Course
Semester
Unit
Lesson
ELA5
A
5
3
Students will identify textual evidence to support analysis of what the
text says explicitly.
CLIP A
Introduction – 45 to 60 seconds
Visual
Audio
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In non-fiction texts the author presents a
claim and backs it up by citing textual
evidence.
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706964 >
Textual evidence refers to proof from an
outside source. The sources used should
be credible, such as a newspaper,
website, or academic journal.
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Reference:
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/
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Reference:
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/
The evidence is used for the purposes of
adding legitimacy to the author’s claims.
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Reading Opinion Texts
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Without textual evidence, the author’s
claims are just opinions not meant to be
taken seriously.
<fade in>
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When textual evidence is absent, readers
tend to disregard the claims being made
as unreliable information. Unreliable
information is garbage.
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In order to find textual evidence, look for
the claims being made first. Textual
evidence should immediately follow or
precede the claim.
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Reference: http://pixabay.com/en/punchfist-hand-strength-isolated-316605/ >
Consider the following example:
School bullying has spiraled out of control.
According to the National Center for
Education Statistics, thirty three percent of
school aged teenagers reported being
bullied.
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Reading Opinion Texts
<fade in>
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In this example, the author’s claim or
opinion is that school bullying has spiraled
out of control.
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Opinions need to be proved or disproved.
In this case the author is using a statistic
to prove the claim.
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In order to make the claim believable, it
needs to be backed up by referencing
reliable sources.
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In this case the reliable source is the
National Center for Education Statistics.
The author has cited their bullying
statistics.
<slide in text below image>
<text:
National Center for Education Statistics>
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Textual evidence can validate or
invalidate a claim. It is the proof the author
uses to support an opinion.
3
Reading Opinion Texts
Question for Clip A
Stem: What is textual evidence?
Answers for Question A
A. evidence that you are intrigued by
B. claims made by an author
C. evidence or proof that validates the
author’s opinion
D. citations that the author references in
the bibliography or works cited
Correct Response  C
Correct – Go to Clip B
Incorrect – Go to Clip E
CLIP B
Build on Introduction – 25 to 35 seconds
<fade in>
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When looking for textual evidence, first
determine what the claim is. The claim is
an opinion that can be proved or
disproved.
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<image: http://pixabay.com/en/road-signattention-right-of-way-63983/ >
Once you find the claim ask yourself, “how
does the author validate his or her
opinion?”
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Reading Opinion Texts
<slide in text below image>
<text: How does the author validate his or
her opinion?>
<fade in>
<image: http://pixabay.com/en/glasseslenses-frames-glass-219734/ >
Validation should come in the form of a
reference to another credible text such as
a newspaper, magazine, or educational
website.
<fade in>
<text:
1) Textual evidence is used to validate
claims.>
This validation is considered textual
evidence. This evidence is used to back
up and legitimize claims.
<Keep previous text. Fade in below>
<text:
2) Textual evidence should come from a
credible source.>
The evidence should come from a
credible source. If it doesn’t, it is of no use
when it comes to legitimizing a claim.
<Keep previous text. Fade in below>
<text:
3) Look for textual evidence immediately
before or after the claim.>
Textual evidence is found either
immediately before or after the claim.
Question for Clip B
Stem: Where can you find textual
evidence?
Answers for Question B
A. immediately before or after the claim
B. in the summary
C. in the author’s notes
D. in the rough draft only
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Reading Opinion Texts
Correct Response  A
Correct – Go to Clip C
Incorrect – Go to Clip F
CLIP C
Build on Clip B – 25 to 35 seconds
Visual
Audio
<fade in>
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Textual evidence is the proof that the
claim is valid. Without it, a claim is just
one person’s opinion about a topic.
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>
In order for readers to buy into the
opinion, it needs to be validated. The
purpose of textual evidence is to validate
the author’s claims.
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Textual evidence can be used to sway a
reader in either direction. The same
evidence can be used in a positive or
negative light.
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Reference:
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Consider the following example:
According to Time Magazine, 94% of US
schools are participating in the school
lunch program.
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Reading Opinion Texts
<Slide in text above image: So far, this is a
neutral stand on the issue.>
<Pause 1 second>
This indicates that fewer children are
bringing their lunch from home.
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835470 >
The author can spin this topic in a positive
direction by stating that it is a relief for
busy working parents to not have to worry
about packing their child’s lunch.
<Pause 3 seconds>
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Reference:
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A negative view of the same textual
evidence is that fewer families are cooking
at home because of the increase of
convenience foods such as school lunch.
<Pause 3 seconds>
Question for Clip C
Stem: How can an author use textual
evidence?
Answers for Question C
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Reading Opinion Texts
A. to introduce a new subject
B. to summarize a passage
C. to provide details about a topic
D. to support or validate his or her claim or
opinion
Correct Response  D
Correct – Go to Clip D
Incorrect – Go to Clip G
CLIP D
Build on Clip C – 25 to 35 seconds
Visual
Audio
<fade in>
<image:
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/
923332 >
A text full of author opinions without any
textual evidence is very similar to reading
a gossip column.
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It may be interesting to read but no one
will take it seriously due to the lack of
evidence.
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http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/
66095 >
The fact is everyone has his or her own
personal opinion about a topic. To make
one opinion more valid than another, cite
a legitimate outside source.
<Dissolve to >
<image: http://pixabay.com/en/library-book-
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Reading Opinion Texts
britannica-reading-488678/>
<fade in>
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For example, a medical claim that a
certain product cures cancer is unreliable
unless backed up by scientific research.
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http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/
638236 >
All author opinions should be supported
by citing reliable sources. Without this
evidence, the text has no academic merit.
Question for Clip D
Stem: What is the result of not including
explicit textual evidence in a text?
Answers for Question D
A. It will lack academic merit
B. It will be taken very seriously.
C. It will be considered credible.
D. It will be considered legitimate.
Correct Response  A
Correct - Success Alert
Incorrect – Go to Clip H
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Reading Opinion Texts
CLIP E
Remediation for Clip A – 25 to 35 seconds
Visual
Audio
<fade in>
<image: http://pixabay.com/en/pagesopen-book-reading-585866/ >
Textual evidence is the proof an author
uses to support his or her claims.
<fade in>
<image: http://pixabay.com/en/hat-fashionstyle-happy-man-591973/ >
This proof gives validity to the author’s
opinions. Without this proof, the author’s
opinions cannot be taken seriously.
<fade in>
Textual evidence must come from a valid,
<image: http://pixabay.com/en/library-book- reliable source such as a newspaper,
reading-education-488679/ >
magazine, printed book, or credible
website.
<fade in>
<text:
Consider the following example:>
Consider the following passage:
<image: http://pixabay.com/en/hawaiianhula-dancers-aloha-stadium-377653/ >
For a relaxing, child-friendly, summer
vacation, consider Hawaii. According to
US News, Honolulu is the #1 choice for
family vacations.
<Insert text to the right of the image>
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Reading Opinion Texts
<Text: For a relaxing, child-friendly,
summer vacation, consider Hawaii.
According to US News, Honolulu is the #1
choice for family vacations.>
<fade in>
<image: http://pixabay.com/en/hawaiioahu-luau-beach-singers-175888/ >
The author’s claim is that Hawaii offers
great summer vacations in a child friendly
atmosphere.
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<image: http://pixabay.com/en/hawaii-bigiland-sand-beach-sand-196433/ >
That claim is backed up with textual
evidence from an article in US News
stating Honolulu, Hawaii as the top choice
for family vacations.
Question for Clip E
Stem: How would you define textual
evidence?
Answers for Question E
A. evidence that has been disregarded by
other authors
B. evidence gathered by extensive
research used to discredit an author
C. evidence from outside sources used to
refute an author’s opinion
D. evidence from reliable outside sources
used to support an author’s opinion
Correct Response  D
Correct – Go to Clip B
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Reading Opinion Texts
Incorrect – Go to Clip F
CLIP F
Remediation for Clip B – 25 to 35 seconds
Visual
Audio
<fade in>
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Reference:
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640686 >
The best place to look for textual evidence
is either just before or just after the
author’s claim.
<fade in>
The author’s claim is the opinion that the
<image: http://pixabay.com/en/library-book- author has about the topic. The claim is
reading-computers-488677/ >
not valid unless backed up by citing a
reliable source.
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Reference:
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Before determining where the textual
evidence is, first identify the claim. Then
ask yourself “what outside source does
the author reference to support this?”
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The outside source may be a credible
website, printed book, magazine,
academic journal, or newspaper.
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Reading Opinion Texts
Question for Clip F
Stem: Where is the best place to look for
textual evidence?
Answers for Question F
A. In the topic sentences
B. In the introduction
C. Just before or after the author’s claim
D. In the summary
Correct Response  C
Correct – Go to Clip C
Incorrect – Intervention Alert – then Clip B
CLIP G
Remediation for Clip C – 25 to 35 seconds
Visual
Audio
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An opinion without a valid source to back
it up is just an opinion. Everyone has his
or her own opinion.
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If an author wants his or her opinion to not
just be heard, but also be taken seriously,
then textual evidence must be included.
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For example, it would be unwise to
believe a medical claim that is not backed
up by scientific research.
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Reading Opinion Texts
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Not only is it unwise, it is downright
dangerous! All author claims should be
validated through textual evidence.
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In order for this to be effective, the texts
chosen as sources must be works that
people respect and deem credible such as
newspapers, printed books, and
educational websites.
Question for Clip G
Stem:
How can the author’s opinions be
validated?
Answers for Question G
A. by including the opinions of friends and
family
B. by supporting that opinion with evidence
from credible outside sources
C. by excluding credible outside sources
D. by avoiding extensive research
Correct Response  B
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Reading Opinion Texts
Correct – Go to Clip D
Incorrect – Go to Clip F
CLIP H
Remediation for Clip D – 25 to 35 seconds
Visual
Audio
<fade in>
Credible outside sources are found
<image: http://pixabay.com/en/library-book- through diligent research. The time it
reading-education-488692/ >
takes to research can be extensive.
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If an author chooses to skip this step and
present his or her ideas without validation,
then the author’s textual claims are
unreliable.
<fade in>
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http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/
605734 >
Lack of validation reflects poorly on the
author. Claims presented without
evidence are categorized as inaccurate
and not to be taken seriously.
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Reference: http://pixabay.com/en/readreading-open-book-page-174503/ >
It would not be long before the author of
an inaccurate text would no longer be
considered a legitimate source to read.
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Reading Opinion Texts
<fade in>
<image:
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/
658756 >
Any author’s claims should be validated
by citing reliable outside sources. Without
this, it is just another person’s opinion.
Question for Clip H
Stem: Claims presented without evidence
fall into what category?
Answers for Question H
A. accurate
B. inaccurate
C. precise
D. valid
Correct Response  B
Correct – Success Alert
Incorrect – Go to Clip G
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