Why is it helpful to include evidence in a summary of a critical response to a literary text?

Question

1. It helps you understand the main events and ideas from the text.
2. It helps you determine whether the evidence was strong enough to support the writer’s argument.
3. It helps you gather evidence to support your own argument about the same text.
4. It helps you check facts in the writer’s claims against what actually happened in the text.

Answer 1

Including evidence in a summary of a critical response to a literary text is helpful for several reasons, particularly the following:

1. Understanding Main Events and Ideas: While this option is true in the context of summarizing the original text itself, it is less about the critical response specifically.

2. Determining the Strength of the Evidence: This is a strong reason because it allows readers to assess whether the arguments made in the critical response are well-supported, thereby enhancing the credibility of the analysis.

3. Gathering Evidence for Your Own Argument: This option is also valid, as knowing how others have supported their claims can inform and strengthen your own analysis or argument regarding the text.

4. Checking Facts Against the Writer's Claims: This can be crucial for evaluating the accuracy of the critical response. It ensures that the interpretations and claims made are legitimate and rooted in the text.

Among these, option 2 (determining whether the evidence was strong enough to support the writer’s argument) and option 4 (checking facts in the writer’s claims against what actually happened in the text) are particularly significant for evaluating the effectiveness of the critical response itself. Thus, including evidence is essential for a nuanced understanding and assessment of the commentary on the literary text.