When do you use and cite textual evidence in formal writing?

You use and cite textual evidence in formal writing in several instances:

1. Supporting Claims: When you make a claim or argument in your writing, you need to back it up with evidence. This evidence often comes in the form of textual evidence from your sources.

2. Providing Examples: Textual evidence is also used when you want to provide examples to illustrate a point you're making.

3. Strengthening Your Argument: Citing textual evidence can help to strengthen your argument by showing that other experts or sources agree with your point of view.

4. Avoiding Plagiarism: It's important to cite any ideas or words that are not your own to avoid plagiarism. This includes any textual evidence you use in your writing.

5. Demonstrating Research: Citing textual evidence shows that you have done your research on the topic you're writing about.

Here's how you can cite textual evidence:

1. Introduce the Source: Before you present the evidence, introduce the source to your readers. This could be the author's name, the title of the work, or both.

2. Present the Evidence: Present the textual evidence in a way that supports your argument. This could be a direct quote, a summary, or a paraphrase.

3. Explain the Evidence: After presenting the evidence, explain how it supports your argument. This helps your readers understand why you included this evidence and how it relates to your point.

4. Cite the Source: Finally, you need to cite the source of your evidence. This could be a parenthetical citation, a footnote, or a reference in the bibliography. The exact format will depend on the citation style you're using (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).