An interpretation has three parts: a claim about what the text suggests, a short piece of evidence, and an explanation of how the evidence supports the claim. Retelling the plot is not a part of it.
This lesson belongs to SPM English and treats literature as a reading skill. The extracts here are original and written for practice, so they are not from any prescribed text.
What is the claim, evidence, explanation frame?
Begin with one sentence that says what the character feels or what the scene suggests. Add a quotation of a few words. Then explain in one or two sentences how those words show your claim.
The explanation earns the marks, because it shows you read closely.
Worked example: an original extract
Extract: “Mei stood at the classroom door, her bag held tightly against her chest. The other students were already laughing at the back of the room. She counted the tiles on the floor before taking one small step in.”
Question: What does this extract suggest about Mei’s feelings?
- Claim: Mei feels nervous and out of place.
- Evidence: “her bag held tightly against her chest”.
- Explanation: Holding the bag tightly suggests she is protecting herself, as if she needs something to hold on to. This shows she is anxious about entering a room where others already seem comfortable.
Put together: “Mei feels nervous and out of place. The writer describes her bag ‘held tightly against her chest’, which suggests she is protecting herself. This shows she is anxious about entering a room where others already seem comfortable.”
A second piece of evidence supports the same claim: “counted the tiles on the floor” shows she avoids looking at others.
The mistake that costs marks
The common slip is to retell the extract or to give a quotation without explaining it. The answer sounds relevant, yet it never says what the text suggests.
| Version | Example | Problem |
|---|---|---|
| Retelling | “Mei stood at the door and then stepped in.” | No interpretation |
| Quote only | “‘Her bag held tightly.’” | No explanation |
| Full | Claim, quotation, then explanation | Complete |
The fix is to finish every quotation with “this suggests” or “this shows”, and then say what.
How do I choose the best evidence?
Choose words that show feeling or attitude, not plain facts. A small action or detail tells you more than a summary sentence does.
If two quotations prove the same point, use the clearer one.
Check yourself
Extract: “Adam folded the letter twice and slipped it under his pillow. At dinner he pushed his rice around the plate and answered only when spoken to.” Write a claim, evidence and explanation about how Adam feels.
Answer
Claim: Adam is worried or hiding something. Evidence: “pushed his rice around the plate”. Explanation: Not eating suggests he has lost his appetite because something is on his mind, and hiding the letter under his pillow supports the idea that he is keeping it secret.
What to study next
Continue with discussing character, setting and conflict. The claim, evidence and revision desk lets you practise this frame on your own paragraphs. If you would like a teacher to read your answers, see online one-to-one English tuition.