Using Evidence in a Debate

SELECT THREE: Which of the following should you tell the audience when setting up your evidence in a debate to make it more reliable? (In other words, what should you include in a lead-in to your evidence to make it more credible?)

• The author or organization who published the information

• Why the source should be trusted

• Where the information was found

• The full website link

• The pros and cons of the source

Answer explanation

Here's an example: According to a 2018 study published by the Gates Foundation, a leading researcher on malaria in Africa, "[Insert quote here]."

Notice how it says where I found the information, who published it, and why they should be trusted.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which of these is the best example of how to set up evidence in your debate?

• A source I found on the internet when I Googled this said, "..."

• The Pew Research Center published an article that said, "..."

• NASA, who is at the forefront of space exploration, shared on their website, "..."

• In the text it states, "..."

Answer explanation

Remember, you want to include (1) where you found the information, (2) who published it, and (3) why they should be trusted.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

SELECT TWO: Why do we cite our sources of evidence, especially in a debate?

• To give credit to the original publisher of the information

• To help the audience trust us and the evidence

• So that we don't have to explain the evidence afterward

• To confuse the audience and make them think more

Answer explanation

Citing your sources not only is the right thing to do (and keeps you from accusations of plagiarism), but it also makes your information more trustworthy to the audience.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

True or false: You must give credit (a citation) for every bit of information you take from someone else's work.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

If you use someone else's work without citing it, that is plagiarism. There are laws against plagiarism, and there can be severe penalties for it in extreme circumstances, including getting kicked out of college.

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CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which of the following options is missing an important part of the lead-in or citation for the evidence?

• SeaWorld, known for it's work with sea animals, said in a public statement last March, "..."

• On the National Geographic website, which is well-respected for environmental work, they said, "..."

• In an article published by the Mayo Institute, a leading research group around cancer, they stated, "..."

• The World Wildlife Fund, a conservation advocacy group, has said, "..."

Answer explanation

Notice how the World Wildlife Fund answer doesn't state where the information actually came from (website? article? study?). It's important to always have the source, why they're trustworthy, and where you got the information from.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1