Lesson Objective

Today, you’ll learn how to:

• Choose strong evidence from Chapter 3 of Just Mercy

• Explain what the evidence means

• Connect it clearly to your claim

Review – What Is Text Evidence?

Text evidence is a quote or detail pulled from the book that proves your point.

Example:
"Walter had no criminal record, no motive, and an alibi that was confirmed by multiple people." (Stevenson #)

​What Does It Mean to "Explain" Evidence?

You can't just drop a quote and move on!
You must:

• Explain what the quote means

• Connect it back to your argument

This is called interpretation or analysis.

Claim:
The investigation of Walter McMillian’s case was unfair and unjust.

What is the paragraph talking about?

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​Sample Claim

Claim:
The investigation of Walter McMillian’s case was unfair and unjust.

Quote from Chapter 3:
"They had ignored clear evidence that Walter had an alibi." (Stevenson #)

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Quoting the Text

​Why is C the correct answer?

​Why is C the correct answer?

• It explains the quote by showing that the investigators had the truth (the alibi) but chose to ignore it.

• It connects back to the claim (that the investigation was unfair).

• It shows the investigators' intent — they weren’t interested in justice, which proves the system failed Walter.

​Why is C the correct answer?

• A is too vague — it just labels Walter as innocent but doesn’t explain why ignoring the alibi is unjust.

• B is casual and unclear — “messed up” doesn’t show thoughtful analysis.

• D dismisses the quote completely.

How to Write a Strong Explanation for Evidence

When writing your response to evidence like this, use the following structure:

1. Restate and clarify the quote

What does it mean in your own words? What’s happening?

This quote shows that there was clear proof Walter was somewhere else when the crime happened, and the investigators ignored it.

How to Write a Strong Explanation for Evidence

When writing your response to evidence like this, use the following structure:

2. Connect it to your claim

Why does this prove the investigation was unfair?

By ignoring strong evidence of Walter’s innocence, the investigators showed they didn’t care about justice. This makes the investigation biased and unjust.

Put it all together (Model Response):

The quote, “They had ignored clear evidence that Walter had an alibi,” shows that investigators refused to accept facts that could have proven Walter’s innocence (Stevenson #). Ignoring multiple witnesses and strong alibi evidence proves the investigation was not based on truth or fairness. Instead, it was biased and unjust, supporting the idea that the justice system failed Walter.

Claim:
The investigation of Walter McMillian’s case was unfair and unjust.

Quote from Chapter 3:

"Walter’s family and friends confirmed he was at the fish fry, but they weren’t listened to." (Stevenson #)​

Quoting the Text