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  • - [Instructor] Hello readers.

  • Today I'm in a courthouse, watching people argue about laws,

  • so we can learn about the power of Evidence.

  • Evidence is essentially proof,

  • it is the facts that help you know that something is true,

  • Let's listen in.

  • - [Male] And Your Honor,

  • that is why we propose that cookies be made illegal.

  • The prosecution rests.

  • - [Judge] Mmh, very interesting indeed.

  • - [Woman] Objection, Your Honor.

  • I may be a simple country lawyer, but even I can see

  • that my opponent has neglected to offer up

  • a single crumb of evidence,

  • in favor of banning all cookies,

  • undefeated and offensive anti-cookie slogans.

  • - [Judge] Objection sustained.

  • You will give evidence for your claims,

  • or I will dismiss this case in favor of cookies.

  • You have not yet proved that cookies

  • pose a threat to public health.

  • Show me where it says in our books of law

  • that I even have the right to make this ruling.

  • Both of you are going to need to give me Evidence.

  • - [Instructor] Okay, so you can see

  • that there were a couple of things happening here.

  • There's a group of people who wanna keep cookies,

  • a group of people who wanna ban cookies,

  • and in the middle of it a judge

  • who has to decide which group of people is right.

  • So, she asked them for Evidence.

  • If you believe cookies are bad, what's your proof?

  • If you believe cookies are good in moderation,

  • what's your proof?

  • Let's step out of the courtroom for a second

  • and go to this example in a text.

  • - [Man] I'm in big trouble.

  • I forgot to do the social studies project last weekend!

  • In my defense, I did have a very unusual weekend.

  • My stepdad Zeke unexpectedly picked me up

  • from school last Friday,

  • because he got free tickets to the Dodgers game.

  • Then, since the game got over late, we decided

  • to stay at my grandma's house,

  • because she lives sort of by the stadium.

  • In the morning she asked if we could paint her garage.

  • Of course we did, but it took all day.

  • On Sunday, I'm sorry to report,

  • I devoted my entire day to watching Voltron.

  • Let's try answering some questions

  • that require us to look back at the text for evidence.

  • This is like the bedrock of any kind of writing.

  • If you make a claim, you have to back it up with evidence.

  • So, did the author remember to do

  • their social studies project last weekend?

  • No. And why do we know that?

  • They say so in the very first line,

  • I forgot to do the social studies project.

  • Okay, that's easy mode, you're saying.

  • Fine, what did the author of this piece do on Saturday?

  • You'll notice the word Saturday

  • doesn't appear in the paragraphs above,

  • and yet I could tell you with confidence

  • and to direct support from the text, how?

  • Well, let's go back and look at the text.

  • My stepdad Zeke unexpectedly picked me up

  • from school last Friday,"

  • and we keep reading,

  • Then since the game got over late,

  • we decided to stay at my grandma's house

  • because she sort of lives by the stadium.

  • So the author and their stepdad spent the night

  • Friday night at grandma's house.

  • The story continues,

  • In the morning she, the grandma,

  • asked if we could paint her garage.

  • Of course we did, but it took all day.

  • Which morning?

  • Saturday morning!

  • I'm pulling information directly out of the text

  • to support my answer.

  • The author spent Saturday,

  • painting their grandmother's garage.

  • Oh, hold on, let's head back to the courthouse.

  • I think the judge is ready to issue her verdict

  • and decide the case.

  • (hammering)

  • - [Judge] This court will come to order, please, Order!

  • Thank you.

  • We've heard the arguments of the prosecution

  • and the defense, both anti cookie and pro cookie.

  • And now the time has come to give my judgment.

  • The anti cookie side presented a very interesting case,

  • showing the effects of cookie exposure to teeth

  • and the dangerous effects of having too much sugar

  • and feeling all wibbly

  • but the pro cookie side also gave very compelling evidence,

  • showing that in moderation,

  • a cookie can be a very tasty snack indeed,

  • provided that you treat them for what they are,

  • something to have every so often,

  • this court finds in favor of the cookie.

  • (hammering)

  • Thank you.

  • - [Instructor] Wow readers.

  • I think we just witnessed something important and historic.

  • And it couldn't have happened without the power of evidence.

  • You can learn anything Dave it out.

  • (indistinct chattering)

- [Instructor] Hello readers.

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