Collecting and presenting textual evidence in support of an argument is an important skill. Let’s say you’ve been asked to write a literary analysis essay on the theme of justice in The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. In about 150 words, collect at least three specific examples from the text and explain why each is relevant to the paper’s thematic topic of justice.

The body of a literary essay is used to explain your ideas, while providing evidence to support those ideas.
The best kind of evidence comes from specific references to the text itself.
Writers must make sure that their evidence must be clearly explained because evidence must be defending a thesis or claim throughout the paper.
Using literary terms can make talking about literature easier and show your reader you know what you’re talking about.