Narrative: Evidence and Craft

Methods in this video

Tap a time to jump to where the video teaches that method.

1. 1

   Find the evidence first

   ▶ 0:31

   When to use it: The first step for every story question: find the one or two sentences the question is about, then look at the options.

   • Circle the key words; every one must match. Pick the most specific one as your locator word.
   • Find the echo in the text: the question often uses other words, so look for the idea.
   • The right answer uses other words too. If an option copies the text, take a second look.
2. 2

   One extra idea makes it wrong

   ▶ 2:04

   When to use it: An option sounds reasonable, but part of it isn't in the text.

   • Every part of the option must be in the text.
   • Sounding right isn't the same as being in the text.
   • Nobody visits doesn't mean nobody knows. Looks like doesn't mean is.
3. 3

   Read feelings from actions and words

   ▶ 4:20

   When to use it: The question asks how a character feels, what they think or why they act, and the text doesn't say it directly.

   • When feelings aren't stated, look at what the character does and says.
   • Ask who they are talking to, and why.
   • Look at this moment, not at how the character was first described.
   • Feelings can change. Look at what they do last.
4. 4

   What is the form doing

   ▶ 5:28

   When to use it: The question asks what repetition, rhyme, the shape of the poem or the length of its lines is doing.

   • First say which words repeat or rhyme.
   • Look at where they come: the start, the end, or where something suddenly changes.
   • Then ask: what is it copying, and how does it make the poem feel?
5. 5

   Watch the small words

   ▶ 7:10

   When to use it: The evidence or the question has a small word like although, but, no, only, eventually, when or most.

   • What comes after although or but is what matters.
   • No and not turn the meaning around.
   • When, most and main in the question tell you where to look.
6. 6

   Put the clues together

   ▶ 7:57

   When to use it: The question asks what a whole paragraph tells us, or about the whole text: the evidence isn't in one sentence.

   • List what each sentence says.
   • Ask what they add up to.
   • The answer is often bigger than any one sentence.