Unit 1 · Wit and Wisdom · NCERT Class 8 Poorvi

Examples & Evidence

A point you cannot back up is just an opinion. This skill is about the claim a writer makes and the evidence that earns your belief — especially the concrete example that turns a big idea into something you can picture. You will sort strong evidence from weak, meet the analogy, watch out for the lazy generalisation, and learn to read expository writing for its real point. Every example here is original; we only borrow the title of the Poorvi lesson ‘A Concrete Example’. Tap each term to see what it means.

👥 3 topics⏱ ~25 min📝 13-question quiz

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The language of evidence

A claim needs support, and a concrete example is the most vivid support of all. Tap each term to see what it does and how the pieces — claim, example, evidence, analogy, generalisation and expository text — fit together when you argue or explain.

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The three big ideas

Claim — a statement the writer wants you to accept. “Cycling to school is healthier than going by car.” On its own, it is only an opinion.
Concrete example — a specific, picture-able case that proves the point. “In Pune, students who cycled 3 km daily showed steadier stamina in PE tests over one term.”
Abstract vs concrete — “Exercise helps you” is abstract; “a brisk 20-minute walk before dinner steadied Ravi’s sleep” is concrete. Concrete wins because the reader can see it.
Why it matters — every strong essay answer follows the same shape: state the claim, then give a concrete example. The title of the lesson says it all — show “a concrete example”.

Fact — something that can be checked. “Water boils at 100°C at sea level.”
Statistic — a number from counting or measuring. “7 out of 10 students walk to this school.” Powerful, but ask where it came from.
Anecdote / example — a short true case. Vivid and memorable, but one story alone proves little.
Analogy — a comparison to something familiar. “A budget is like a water tank: spend faster than it fills and it runs dry.”
Expert opinion — the view of someone qualified. Useful when the expert is genuinely in that field.

Worked example. Rank the support for “Our library should open on Sundays.” (a) “It would be nice.” (b) “Last exam season, 64 students signed a request for Sunday hours.” (c) “Libraries are usually quiet.”

(b) is the strongest — a specific, countable fact tied directly to the claim.

(a) is the weakest — a vague feeling, not evidence.

(c) is true but irrelevant — it does not show why Sunday opening is needed.

Common mistake: a single story is not proof. “My uncle smoked and lived to 90” does not undo the evidence from millions of cases. Beware the hasty generalisation — a sweeping claim built on too few examples.

Expository text — writing that explains or informs: textbooks, news reports, how-to guides, encyclopaedia entries. Its job is clarity, not suspense.
The usual shape — a topic sentence states the main idea; the sentences after it add details, examples and evidence that support it.
Read actively — for each example ask, “Which claim is this illustrating?” That links every detail back to the writer’s point.
Signposts to watch — phrases like for example, for instance, such as, in fact, as a result usually announce supporting evidence.

Where you'll meet it

Examples and evidence, at work

Essays and exam answers

Markers reward answers that state a clear claim and then prove it with a concrete example. “Give an example” is one of the most common instructions in any exam — this skill is how you earn those marks instead of writing vague generalities.

Judging news and ads

Headlines and advertisements are full of bold claims. Asking “Where is the evidence, and does it really fit the claim?” is how you avoid being misled by a confident voice with nothing behind it.

Science and projects

A good project does not just assert a result; it shows the data. The habit of backing every claim with measured evidence is the heart of scientific thinking, and it begins with the simple move this lesson teaches.