Argument Writing Part 2

Argument Writing Part 2

Getting specific about types of evidence and credible sources

Multiple Choice

Why must students use credible, reliable sources in their writing?

• So readers will think their evidence is NOT believable.

• So readers will trust the sources of their evidence.

When looking at sources to use in your writing, decide if they are credible by using the 5 W's:

Who, What, When, Where, Why?

How to determine if a source is credible:

• Who is the author? If there is an 'about' page, read it.

• Is this person or group an expert in their field?

• Was the source written by a reporter who did their research?

• When you Google the author, what do you find?

How to determine if a source is credible:

• What type of information is included, and is it high quality?

• If the source provides only general facts, could you find more detailed evidence in another source?

How to determine if a source is credible:

• Where is the source found? What is the web address?

• A .com website is often hosted by a company, usually to make money. Advertisements on the site may suggest that the information will be biased.

• Most newspapers and magazines will have .com websites. Some, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time magazine, and others are well-known an reliable, but beware of impostors!

How to determine if a source is credible:

• Where is the source found? What is the web address?

• A .org website is hosted by a non-profit organization. While they are not trying to make money, they may still have an inherent bias or be trying to convince others to agree with them.

• Be careful and skeptical as you thoroughly explore .org websites.

How to determine if a source is credible:

• Where is the source found? What is the web address?

• A .edu website is hosted by an educational institution, like a college or university. Usually, these are very trustworthy sources, as professors do research for a living.

• A .gov website is hosted by a government institution, and typically is a reliable source with expert information.

How to determine if a source is credible:

• When was it published? Is the information timely, or is the infromation out of date?

How to determine if a source is credible:

• WHY is the author publishing this information?

• Is their goal to provide excellent information to the public? Great!

• Is their goal to persuade people to agree with their opinion? Be careful...

• Is their goal to sell a product or service? Move on, FAST!

Multiple Select

Which of these should students NOT ask when doing research?

• Who is the author?

• Where is the information from?

• Why is the author writing this?

• How did the author choose the title of their writing?

• When was this written?

Gathering evidence

What are the different types of evidence students may find?

Which types of evidence help to make the strongest argument?

Types of Evidence:

• 1) Personal Experience-

• 2) Reasons-

• 3) Confirmed Facts-

• 4) Statistics-

• 5) Research by Experts-

Types of Evidence:

• 1) Personal Experience- any actual experience with the topic that you, your family, and friends have had.

  
  

  EXAMPLE: I forgot fewer of my math skills over the summer because my summer break was so short, thanks to year-round school.

Types of Evidence:

• 2)  Reasons – logical reasons that support the opinions made in the claim.

  
  

  EXAMPLE: Because students have multiple breaks throughout the year, they experience less academic burnout. They have frequent opportunities to refresh and restart their learning experience.

Types of Evidence:

• 3) Confirmed facts –  facts that have been found in reliable/credible sources.

  
  

  EXAMPLE: A review of 39 studies confirmed summertime learning loss: test scores drop over summer vacation (Cooper 17)> This is the name of the expert who did the review and the page from the source that it can be found on.

Types of Evidence:

• 4) Statistics – numbers and percentages that are relevant to the topic and come from reliable/credible sources.

  
  

  EXAMPLE: Year-round schools have lower drop-out rates (2%) than traditional schools (5%) (StatisticBrain.com 1). 

Types of Evidence:

• 5) Research by experts – research that is done by professors, researchers, or doctors who have a deep knowledge of the topic; always found in credible/reliable sources.

  
  

  EXAMPLE: One study of six elementary schools, three on traditional calendars and three on year-round schedules, found positive effects of year-round education. The sample of students in the year-round schools posted overall test-scores that were higher than students at the schools with traditional calendars (Education Week 24).

Open Ended

What do you notice about these types of evidence?

Open Ended

Which types of evidence seem most credible and reliable? Why do you think so?