Can evidence speak for itself?

No. Even if a quote or statistic seems incredibly obvious to you, your reader cannot read your mind. You must always explicitly state how the evidence supports your claim.

How do I know if I am summarizing instead of analyzing?

Summarizing just repeats what the evidence says in different words. Analyzing explains *why* the evidence was included. If your sentences start with "This shows that..." or "Because of this, we can see..." you are likely moving into analysis.

Can analysis include new facts?

No, analysis should focus on interpreting the facts you have already presented. If you need to introduce new facts to make your point, you are bringing in new evidence, which will then require its own analysis.

What is the difference between evidence and analysis?

The simplest way to understand the difference is that evidence is the "what" and analysis is the "so what." Evidence consists of the raw facts, quotes, statistics, or observations you gather during your research. It is the concrete proof you use to build your case.

Analysis is your interpretation of that proof. Think of a detective at a crime scene. A fingerprint on a glass is the evidence. The detective explaining to a jury how that fingerprint proves the suspect was in the room at the time of the crime is the analysis. Without analysis, evidence is just a disconnected fact.

What is evidence?

Evidence is the foundation of any strong argument. In an academic paper, evidence usually takes the form of direct quotations from a text, paraphrased ideas from a scholar, statistical data, or historical facts. Because evidence comes from outside sources, it represents objective reality or expert consensus rather than your own opinion. When you cite a source, you are providing evidence.

What is analysis?

Analysis is where your own voice enters the paper. It is the process of breaking down your evidence and explaining its significance. Good analysis answers questions like: Why does this quote matter? How does this statistic prove my thesis? What are the implications of this fact? Analysis connects the dots between the raw data and the overarching claim you are trying to make.

Where students slip up

The most common mistake students make is "quote dropping" or "hit-and-run quoting." This happens when a writer drops a piece of evidence into a paragraph and immediately moves on to the next point without explaining it. A good rule of thumb is the "rule of two": for every sentence of evidence you provide, try to write at least two sentences of analysis explaining its importance.

Worked through

Identify the evidence and the analysis in the following paragraph about a four-day school week:

(A) A recent study by the Education Policy Institute found that schools with a four-day week saw a 15% drop in student absenteeism. (B) This dramatic decrease suggests that an extra day of rest gives students the necessary time to recover from academic burnout. (C) By prioritizing student well-being, schools can create a more engaged and energetic classroom environment on the days students are present.

Sentence (A) is the evidence. It presents a specific, measurable fact (a 15% drop in absenteeism) from an outside source (the Education Policy Institute).

Sentences (B) and (C) are the analysis. The writer does not just state the statistic; they interpret what it means ("suggests that an extra day of rest gives students the necessary time to recover") and connect it to a broader argument about student well-being and classroom engagement.

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Where this comes from: Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): Argumentative Essays · OpenStax: Writing Guide with Handbook, Chapter 10 · Khan Academy: Grammar and Mechanics - Effective Argumentation