Strong and Weak Evidence

​Strong and Weak Evidence

Writing​

​Strong and Weak Evidence

​Key Ideas

To make an effective argument, be sure to provide evidence that your readers will find trustworthy and persuasive.

The strongest evidence to support a factual claim

• directly supports the claim;

• comes from a credible source, such as well-conducted research or an expert in the field;

• is not merely anecdotal, or based on the personal experiences of just one person or a small group of people.​

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Writing​

​Strong and Weak Evidence

​Example

Claim: In contrast to previous generations, millennials don't feel as compelled to get married.

• Among all age groups surveyed by a governmental polling agency, millennials were most likely to agree with the statement, "Marriage is becoming obsolete."

  • This evidence directly supports the claim, comes from a credible source, and is not anecdotal.

Writing​

​Strong and Weak Evidence

​Non Example

Claim: In contrast to previous generations, millennials don't feel as compelled to get married.

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• U.S. Census figures indicate that the rate of marriage is at an all-time low.

  • This evidence does not directly support the claim. It gives a fact about marriage in general but does not focus on any particular generation.

Writing​

​Strong and Weak Evidence

​Non Example

Claim: In contrast to previous generations, millennials don't feel as compelled to get married.

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• On a social network, a friend posts, "Marriage is a dying institution. For us millennials, it's just not a requirement anymore."

  This evidence is not credible.

  • Anyone can make a post on a social network. It's also anecdotal, since it shows the perspective of only one person.

Writing​

Multiple Choice

Consider this claim: People should be rewarded for winning, not merely participating.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• Chris Hudson, founder of the website Understanding Teenagers, warns, "Ironically, participation medals don't build confidence, but they do create entitlement. Confidence and resilience don't come from false praise or rewarding normal behavior."

• On giving out participation trophies, parenting blogger Allison Slater Tate writes, "There is something to teach kids that it is worth keeping a commitment, that we value this. Winning and losing is not a lesson that kids need to search out to find. It's everywhere."

• Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison took away his children's participation trophies, posting on Instagram that he wouldn't give them back until his sons earned real trophies by winning.

Multiple Choice

Consider this claim: "Professinal video gaming should be considered a sport because it shares many characteristics with other sports."

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• Competitive video games often occurs in an atmosphere similar to that of other major sports: a large arena with cheering fans and millions of dollars on the table.

• According to Ken Copeland, a sports journalist, "Profesional gaming doesnt' require physical ability or contact. Sports are, and always have been physical."

• Socialogy professor Jill Durham notes, "The definition of a sport has always been up for debate. Is chess a sport? Is dance a sport? This is something people have always disagreed about."

Multiple Choice

Consider this claim: Wikis, or websites that allow users to generate and alter content, are not reliable sources for academic research."

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• Many wikis allow anyone, not just subject-matter experts to post information on their sites.

• Wikies are not print resources; they are only offered online.

• Many wikis were first launched in the twenty-first century, while encyclopedias have been used as reference sources since the eighteenth century.

Multiple Choice

Consider this claim: "Government-funded preschool programs are a wise use of taxpayer dollars."

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• The Head Start program is a federally funded program that provides early childhood education to low-income families.

• One report found that more than half of three-and four-year-olds were not enrolled in a preschool program.

• Several studies have found that children who attend preschool experience long-term benefits, including an increased likelihood of graduating high school.

Multiple Choice

Consider this claim: "For the benefit of all citizens, fluoride should be added to drinking water."

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• More than half of Americans have flouride in their drinking water.

• Many experts agree that the fluoridation of water helps to prevent tooth decay.

• Some experts say that that fluoridation of water may threaten people who suffer from kidney disease.