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Types of Evidence (2) S

This document outlines six types of evidence that can be used to support arguments in an essay: 1) Statistical evidence uses numbers and data to back claims, 2) Testimonial evidence cites expert opinions, 3) Anecdotal evidence shares individual stories and experiences, 4) Historical evidence examines past events, people, and time periods, 5) Analogical evidence makes comparisons through analogies, and 6) Logical evidence proposes hypothetical outcomes based on logic. These types of evidence can strengthen arguments when combined with facts from credible sources.

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Jonel Barcelona
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427 views

Types of Evidence (2) S

This document outlines six types of evidence that can be used to support arguments in an essay: 1) Statistical evidence uses numbers and data to back claims, 2) Testimonial evidence cites expert opinions, 3) Anecdotal evidence shares individual stories and experiences, 4) Historical evidence examines past events, people, and time periods, 5) Analogical evidence makes comparisons through analogies, and 6) Logical evidence proposes hypothetical outcomes based on logic. These types of evidence can strengthen arguments when combined with facts from credible sources.

Uploaded by

Jonel Barcelona
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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TYPES OF EVIDENCE

Meaning of Evidence
✓ Evidence doesn't have to prove that you are undeniably correct like in a court of law. But
it should show the reader how you came to your conclusions and why your argument is
logical.
✓ Evidence is what is used to back up the claims of an essay. Evidence can include facts,
examples, or quotes.
Six Types of Evidence:
1. Statistical Evidence
✓ Statistics are a powerful form of evidence. Statistical evidence is numerical data,
meaning it comes from information collected and translated through numbers.
✓ When they come from credible sources, statistics are difficult to argue with.
Therefore, they are effective for supporting your claims.
Statistics are especially useful for:
- Grabbing the reader's attention at the beginning of an essay (if the statistic is
surprising).
- Showing how serious or widespread a problem or issue is.
- Precisely explaining the effects of something.
- Demonstrating the results of a scientific experiment.
These are some examples of statistical evidence you might use in an essay: Numbers
gleaned from your own research or surveys you have conducted. Numbers from personal
experience if you have sources to support them. Percentages from good sources like
government reports or peer-reviewed studies.
2. Testimonial Evidence
✓ Expert opinions are another great way to support your claims. Testimonial evidence
uses expert opinions to establish credibility and support your ideas.
✓ When using testimonial evidence, introduce the expert whose testimony you are
using. Let the reader know who they are. This establishes credibility.
✓ Credibility is trustworthiness. To establish credibility, show the reader your sources
can be trusted.
Example:
Ornithologist Dr. Allison Shultz says the rapid decline in bird populations in America
is "alarming." As the resident bird expert for the Natural History Museum, she knows
how bird populations reflect environmental health.
To get testimonial evidence, ask yourself: who is an expert on my topic?
Here are some places you might look for testimonial evidence:
- Published interviews with an expert.
- Video interviews and documentaries featuring an expert.
- Quotes from an expert’s book, journal article, or newspaper editorial.
- Conclusions from peer-reviewed journal articles written by experts.
3. Anecdotal Evidence
✓ Anecdotal evidence includes stories and case studies about individual experiences.
Consider anecdotal evidence to be real-world experiences that are not documented
anywhere.
There are two types of anecdotal evidence:
• personal stories (stories from your own experience)
• case studies (stories about someone else's experience)
✓ Anecdotal evidence is based on individual experiences rather than group
experiences. This means they're not very reliable for making arguments about large
groups of people.
Here are some more examples of anecdotal evidence:
A case study from an interview you conducted.
Stories about your personal experience.
Case studies from friends, family, and other people you know.
Excerpts from personal diaries, journals, and letters.
4. Historical Evidence
✓ Historical evidence is anything directly related to some event, person, or period of
the past. It reveals information that might help us better understand what happened
previous to our examination.
✓ The first thing a historian does is search for and collect a variety of evidence
concerning the specific history that they are studying. When they do so, they must
consider which evidence is coming from primary sources and which is coming from
secondary sources.
✓ Primary sources were "eyewitnesses" to the event, meaning that they were a part of
the actual history. Secondary sources have come to us through some kind of
intermediary.
5. Analogical Evidence
✓ Analogical evidence uses analogies to support your ideas. Analogies are
comparisons between two or more things to explain an idea or concept. Similar to
similes, analogies might use words such as "like," or "as" to make comparisons
between different situations.
✓ Analogical evidence helps explain complicated ideas. They illustrate your meaning
by making common-sense comparisons.
Here are some examples of analogical evidence you might use:
An expert opinion about a topic that is similar to your own.
A comparison of a concept or object to something that functions similarly.
An event or experience that is similar to one you are describing.
6. Logical Evidence
✓ Logical evidence considers how things could be. This type of evidence uses logic
to propose a hypothetical outcome to a situation. Logical evidence is one of the
weaker types of evidence. It isn't based on real events and facts. Therefore, it's best
to use this type of evidence along with other types of evidence.
Here are some of the ways you could use logical/hypothetical evidence in an essay:
A hypothetical story about what would likely happen if your argument is right.
A hypothesis about what will happen if an action is not taken soon.
A logical explanation of what will happen if experts on the subject turn out to be right.

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