Support & Evidence

To be persuasive, an essay must support every assertion or opinion with credible evidence in the form of facts, interpretations of facts, experience, and examples. Different kinds of essays require different kinds of evidence. For argumentative essays, writers rely more on factual evidence and expert opinion; for narrative essays, writers may use experiential evidence; and for descriptive or process essays, writers emphasize specific details and concrete examples. To address evidence which may seem to weaken the writer's case is a good strategy and will usually strengthen the essay.

factual evidence: facts are verifiable by objective measures and include quantitative data-- expressed in the form of charts, graphs, and tables-- and statistical data-- the numerical expression of information. Factual evidence also includes dates and historical events.

interpretations of facts: interpretations are valid when they represent the opinions of recognized experts or specialists in a field relevant to the subject of the essay. A person who is an expert in one field is not necessarily an expert in another: for example, a gifted actor's opinion on medical ethics or a renowned physicist's opinion on values-education in the schools is valid only if each has demonstrable expertise in these fields. Being famous doesn't guarantee good judgment. This kind of evidence is often expressed in quotations and summaries of critical commentary.
experiential evidence: the writer's personal experiences or those of colleagues or acquaintances can provide persuasive support for an argument and are usually expressed in the form of an annecdote, scene, or even dialogue.
examples: examples are persuasive when they are carefully constructed or chosen to illustrate specific aspects of the claim or argument. No matter how interesting an example may be, however, if it does not pertain to the writer's subject, it will fail to persuade.

Criteria for Evaluating Evidence:

Is the evidence current? Does it represent the situation now?

Is the evidence relevant to your argument?

Is the evidence representative? Is it typical or does it reflect only a small part of the data base?

Is the evidence weighty or numerous enough to encompass the complexity of the issue?
Is the source of the evidence reliable? This is especially critical in using statistical data, for stastistics can easily be manipulated to deceive unwary readers and writers. Is the evidence reasonably comprehensive? Has the writer omitted important information?

Is the source of the evidence objective? Does it favor one side?

Callaway North 205A | (404) 727-0886


	Support & Evidence To be persuasive, an essay must support every assertion or opinion with credible evidence in the form of facts, interpretations of facts, experience, and examples. Different kinds of essays require different kinds of evidence. For argumentative essays, writers rely more on factual evidence and expert opinion; for narrative essays, writers may use experiential evidence; and for descriptive or process essays, writers emphasize specific details and concrete examples. To address evidence which may seem to weaken the writer's case is a good strategy and will usually strengthen the essay. factual evidence: facts are verifiable by objective measures and include quantitative data-- expressed in the form of charts, graphs, and tables-- and statistical data-- the numerical expression of information. Factual evidence also includes dates and historical events. interpretations of facts: interpretations are valid when they represent the opinions of recognized experts or specialists in a field relevant to the subject of the essay. A person who is an expert in one field is not necessarily an expert in another: for example, a gifted actor's opinion on medical ethics or a renowned physicist's opinion on values-education in the schools is valid only if each has demonstrable expertise in these fields. Being famous doesn't guarantee good judgment. This kind of evidence is often expressed in quotations and summaries of critical commentary. experiential evidence: the writer's personal experiences or those of colleagues or acquaintances can provide persuasive support for an argument and are usually expressed in the form of an annecdote, scene, or even dialogue. examples: examples are persuasive when they are carefully constructed or chosen to illustrate specific aspects of the claim or argument. No matter how interesting an example may be, however, if it does not pertain to the writer's subject, it will fail to persuade. Criteria for Evaluating Evidence: Is the evidence current? Does it represent the situation now? Is the evidence relevant to your argument? Is the evidence representative? Is it typical or does it reflect only a small part of the data base? Is the evidence weighty or numerous enough to encompass the complexity of the issue? Is the source of the evidence reliable? This is especially critical in using statistical data, for stastistics can easily be manipulated to deceive unwary readers and writers. Is the evidence reasonably comprehensive? Has the writer omitted important information? Is the source of the evidence objective? Does it favor one side? Callaway North 205A \| (404) 727-0886