Castillano, Kaye

Mutia, Anna Gayle

Taladro, Nina Lyca

BAELS 3
ELS 74: Argumentation

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INVESTIGATION AND RESEARCH

I - The importance of Evidence

● Evidence supports the reasons offered and helps compel the audience to accept
claims. It answers challenges to the reasons given.

II - The importance of Researching

● Research allows you to explore different perspectives, identify potential
counter-arguments, and refine your own position. This depth demonstrates
critical thinking and a well-rounded understanding of the issue.

● How to Research
- Defining the terms of your debate
- Researching Pros and Cons
- Identify new warrants
- Identify new keywords for future research
- Discover new arguments

● Kind of evidence - Different types of evidence have different strengths and

weaknesses and can appeal to different audiences and situations
○ Facts and statistics
○ Examples, anecdotes, case studies, narratives
○ Testimony or appeals to authority
■ Eyewitness
■ Expert

● Finding Evidence -
○ Print and electronic sources
○ Observations
○ Interviews
○ Surveys
 ○ Experiments

● Pasting and cutting the evidence -

○ Find an article on your topic with information you believe is
pertinent/important/credible
○ Copy your card - Read the article and find 1-2 paragraphs that give a
specific point which you feel is important
○ Make your APA citation - Above your 1-2 paragraphs, give a full MLA
citation for your evidence
○ Cutting the card time - Find the sentences that matter the most to your
particular point you are making. Bold/Underline those words.
○ Write your impact - Your impact is your chance to explain how you connect
the dots from what the author of a paper said to what you are actually
stating during the debate.

● Organizing the evidence - It is necessary to organize evidences for a quick

retrieval during an actual debate setting. The point is to reduce the amount of
time you spend searching for the evidence you want. You can organize it in three
main categories:
○ Affirmative Evidence
○ Negative Evidence
○ General Descriptive Evidence

● Building Arguments - There are many organizational frameworks that can be

used to guide your audience through your reasoning effectively.
○ Toulmin Method - The Toulmin method is an argumentative structure first
outlined by author Stephen Toulmin. This method focuses on supporting
the various key claims of an argument using factual evidence.
■ Claim
■ Grounds
■ Bridge
■ Foundation
■ Counterclaim
■ Rebuttal
○ Classical method - The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, originally outlined the
classical method and others like Roman rhetoricians Cicero and Quintilian
later developed it. This method focuses on the clear definition of an
argument and presentation of evidence that leads an audience to draw
conclusions seamlessly.
■ Introduction
 ■ Background
■ Proposition
■ Proof
■ Refutation
■ Conclusion
○ Rogerian method - Composition scholars adapted the Rogerian method
using the work of American psychologist Carl Rogers. This method is
popular for the discussion of controversial issues and focuses on
identifying a neutral perspective or compromise that individuals of
opposing perspectives can agree upon.
■ Introduction
■ Opposing view
■ Statement validity
■ Position
■ Context
■ Benefit

● Testing the evidence

○ Test of evidence about the source
■ Expertise
■ Objectivity
■ Consistency
■ Access

○ General test of evidence linked to the argument

■ Representative Examples
■ Sufficiency
■ Relevance
■ Accuracy of Citation
■ Recency
References

College, W. (2009). The Argument: Types of Evidence. Wheaton College.

https://www.wheaton.edu/academics/services/writing-center/writing-resources/the-argum
ent-types-of-evidence/

Gillespie, G. (n.d.). Tests of Evidence. Northwest University.

https://eagle.northwestu.edu/faculty/gary-gillespie/tests-of-evidence/

How to Cut Cards. (n.d.). National Speech and Debate Association.

https://www.speechanddebate.org/wp-content/uploads/Handout-How-to-Cut-Cards.docx

How to Research for a Debate Using Library Resources. (2024, April 3). New York Public
Library. https://libguides.nypl.org/howtoresearchforadebatewiththenewyorkpubliclibrary

Indeed Editorial Team. (2022, December 9). How to structure an effective argument in 5 steps.
Indeed Career Guide.
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-structure-an-argumen
t

Silvian, B. (2021, March 24). How Should I Research for Debate?. Debate Source.
https://www.debateresource.com/post/how-should-i-research-for-debate

What are the best ways to use evidence in a debate? (n.d.). Www.linkedin.com. Retrieved April
11, 2024, from
https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/what-best-ways-use-evidence-debate-communication-
advice-ttjqe