Choose the best evidence to support a claim
Key notes :
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.
Claim: In contrast to previous generations, millennials don’t feel as compelled to get married.
Strong evidence: Among all age groups surveyed, millennials were most likely to agree with the statement, ‘Marriage is becoming obsolete.’
Learn with an example
➡️ Consider this claim:
Parents should limit the sugar-sweetened beverages their children consume because these beverages are linked to obesity.
Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?
- Georgia Clarke, mother of three, describes sugar-sweetened beverages as the single greatest cause of the obesity epidemic in children.
- One study found that children who drank one sweetened beverage per day for eighteen months gained more weight than did children who drank one unsweetened beverage per day.
- A recent study found that nearly seventeen percent of children qualified as obese.
Given the claim Parents should limit the sugar-sweetened beverages their children consume because these beverages are linked to obesity, the second answer choice provides the strongest evidence:
One study found that children who drank one sweetened beverage per day for eighteen months gained more weight than did children who drank one unsweetened beverage per day.
The other answer choices don’t provide strong evidence.
Georgia Clarke, mother of three, describes sugar-sweetened beverages as the single greatest cause of the obesity epidemic in children. This evidence does not come from a credible source.
A recent study found that nearly seventeen percent of children qualified as obese. This evidence doesn’t indicate the link between obesity and sugar-sweetened beverages.
➡️ Consider this claim:
Computer games enhance classroom instruction.
Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?
- Teachers in several regions reported an increase in student engagement during lessons that involved computer games.
- A local high school student stated that playing computer games in her maths class was the highlight of her day.
- Several companies are working around the clock to create computer games that are both appropriate and fun for students in a classroom environment.
Given the claim Computer games enhance classroom instruction, the first answer choice provides the strongest evidence:
Teachers in several regions reported an increase in student engagement during lessons that involved computer games.
The other answer choices don’t provide strong evidence.
A local high school student stated that playing computer games in her maths class was the highlight of her day. This evidence is anecdotal. It may not apply to others.
Several companies are working around the clock to create computer games that are both appropriate and fun for students in a classroom environment. The fact that companies are producing educational computer games doesn’t necessarily mean that these games enhance classroom instruction.
➡️ Consider this claim:
Computer games enhance classroom instruction.
Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?
- A local high school student stated that playing computer games in her maths class was the highlight of her day.
- Several companies are working around the clock to create computer games that are both appropriate and fun for students in a classroom environment.
- Teachers in several regions reported an increase in student engagement during lessons that involved computer games.
Given the claim Computer games enhance classroom instruction, the third answer choice provides the strongest evidence:
Teachers in several regions reported an increase in student engagement during lessons that involved computer games.
The other answer choices don’t provide strong evidence.
A local high school student stated that playing computer games in her maths class was the highlight of her day. This evidence is anecdotal. It may not apply to others.
Several companies are working around the clock to create computer games that are both appropriate and fun for students in a classroom environment. The fact that companies are producing educational computer games doesn’t necessarily mean that these games enhance classroom instruction.
let’s practice!
