The Accuracy of Evidence in Supporting Author’s

Argument
ASGAR WIDHASWORO R.P
NASRUL AMIN
N
 Types of Evidence Can Be Used :
• Scholarly books, articles, and journals
Most disciplines use scholarly books and articles to present research, provide more context, and explain previous arguments; since these
are secondary sources, need to consider who, where, when, why, and how the research was done; be aware of biased or outdated books
and articles; when using these sources, you will use fewer quotes and more paraphrasing.
• Statistics
Often be presented in tables, charts, or graphs, depending on the amount of data or the visualization of it.
• First-hand research
In many disciplines, we might do a study that can include surveys, interviews, or data analysis; the participants’ responses and statistical
results would be the evidence.
• Literary texts
In literary analysis, the type of evidence usually concerns the text of the book or the poem. Fiction and poetry are subjective; our
interpretation must be supported by enough specific evidence and examples; choosing our quotes is important; we should quote the
author too, because we can’t change what they wrote without changing the meaning.
• Primary sources
Frequently used in historical research; can include diaries, letters, newspapers, and official documents; consider also who, where, when,
and why the author wrote it.
 Three common techniques to support claim by using evidence:

Quotations (e.g. dicect quotes, paraphrases, summaries)

Examples (e.g. illustrations of the point)
Statistics (e.g. facts, figures, diagrams)
Be Aware!!!
Don’t put information in your essay that comes from the recesses of your mind without
finding an authority to support your statements.
Don’t use authorities that have no academic credibility (e.g. popular magazine)
Don’t use your lecture notes (even with appropriate referencing) as the sole authority in
your assignments.
 Evidence or examples are the words, ideas, and facts borrowed from the
sources that have been consulted during research.

• Only include source material that is related to the thesis of the paper
• Evaluate the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of your sources by applying
critical thinking skills.
• Develop your own information management system to organize the information
that you have gathered
• Do not use the words or ideas of another author without indicating their source
• Cite the sources by providing a reference for every quotation, paraphrase, and
summary
• Upgrade the bibliography on a regular basis to keep track of all your sources
To evaluate evidence for credibility, accuracy, and reliability, consider the following questions:

• Who/what is the source of the evidence?

• Is the evidence found in a primary or secondary source?
• How does the evidence from one source compare and contrast with the evidence another
source?
• How current is the evidence?
• Is the evidence specific to the reasons for which it is being provided, and does it
ultimately support the claim?
• Why is the evidence important to the argument?
• What does the evidence perhaps suggest, but not explicitly show?
• What is interesting about the evidence that wil make it catch the attention of the reader
and be memorable?
 There are three main categories that are essentials in an evidence to gain the audience’s
confidence in the writer’s assertions:

Fact Judgements Testimony

Facts are among the best tools
to involve the reader in the
argument. Since facts are
indisputable, the writer
automatically wins the reader’s
mutual agreement by utilizing
them. Facts are used primarily
to get the reader to stand on the
writer’s plane of reasoning.
Facts would then force the
reader to agree with the writer
on at least one point.
Judgements are assumptions
that the writer makes about
his/her subject after carefully
considering the facts. Facts
cannot carry the entire
argument. Thus, it is necessary
to utilize judgement as well. The
.
success or failure of the entire
argument rests on whether or
not the writer can utilize fair
reasoning in coming to the right
judgements.
There are two types of testimony, and both lend
validity to an argument. Both are: the account/note of
an eyewitness (can supply important facts for the
writer to use), and the judgement of an expert who
has had the chance to examine and interpret the facts
(can provide valuable judgements in order to give
strength to the argument. However, the writer must
exercise caution when employing these testimonies on
the paper. Witness accounts cannot always be reliable;
no one person has an objective view of an event. Also,
an experts opinion is not beyond dispute/conflict;
another expert in the same field of study may find
faulty reasoning in the first’s judgement. The writer
also must be careful not to use an expert in one field
to make a judgement about a subject in another.
 Levels of Evidence

Filtered evidence:
Level I: Evidence from a systematic review of all relevant randomized controlled trials.
Level II: Evidence from a meta-analysis of all relevant randomized controlled trials.
Level III: Evidence from evidence summaries developed from systematic reviews
Level IV: Evidence from guidelines developed from systematic reviews
Level V: Evidence from meta-syntheses of a group of descriptive or qualitative studies
Level VI: Evidence from evidence summaries of individual studies
Level VII: Evidence from one properly designed randomized controlled trial

Unfiltered evidence:
Level VIII: Evidence from nonrandomized controlled clinical trials, nonrandomized clinical trials, cohort
studies, case series, case reports, and individual qualitative studies.
Level IX: Evidence from opinion of authorities and/or reports of expert committee
THANK YOU!!!
ANY QUESTION?