{"id":378,"date":"2018-07-16T13:19:48","date_gmt":"2018-07-16T13:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/olemiss-readinganthology\/?post_type=chapter&p=378"},"modified":"2018-07-24T19:05:58","modified_gmt":"2018-07-24T19:05:58","slug":"supporting-claims-with-evidence-and-explanation","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/olemiss-readinganthology\/chapter\/supporting-claims-with-evidence-and-explanation\/","title":{"raw":"Supporting Claims with Evidence and Explanation","rendered":"Supporting Claims with Evidence and Explanation"},"content":{"raw":"

Types of Evidence<\/h3>\r\nTo support their central claim and subclaims, authors use a variety of types of evidence and explain to their readers how the evidence supports the claim. Following are a few types of evidence.\r\n

Exhibits<\/h4>\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n

Shakespeare\u2019s Sonnet 18, which might serve as an exhibit in a text<\/p>\r\nExhibits are examples or excerpts from the object of study. Humanities (like English or religious studies) makes use of exhibits in the form of primary texts. For example, an article about Shakespeare\u2019s sonnets would quote small sections of the poems. A text about Buddhism might quote English translations of the sutras (and perhaps the Sanskrit originals).\r\n\r\nExhibits can also include visual reproductions. A paper on Michelangelo might attach images of the paintings in the Sistine Chapel. A book about the Great Depression might use reproductions of photographs by the WPA. A study of the Jurassic period might provide photographs of dinosaur bones and excavation sites.\r\n\r\nExamples or observed phenomenon can also be exhibit sources. \u00a0Social media scholars might use an Instagram post as an exhibit source, or political scientists might refer to a piece of legislation. \u00a0By themselves, exhibits are not evidence; however, when the author explains how an exhibit supports a reason, it becomes evidence.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nExpert Testimony\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nExpert testimony includes quotations from scholars and summaries of previous research or scholarship. Expert testimony can reinforce an argument; however, a quotation by an expert with similar claims is rarely sufficient as evidence on its own. Authors must explain how those experts support their claims and then reinforce their own claim with evidence from other sources.\r\n\r\nBefore quoting an expert, an author must determine whether he or she counts as an authority. Just because someone has published an academic paper or book does not mean that readers will believe his or her theories are valid. In the sciences and social sciences, readers should expect expert testimony to be the most current research. Quoting a paper written even ten years ago may not be convincing expert testimony.\r\n\r\nIn the sciences, readers rarely expect direct quotations of secondary sources as evidence. Instead, science writers use summaries of previous research and the findings, or data, to support their own claims.\r\n

Interviews and Surveys<\/h4>\r\n

\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/h4>\r\n

Results from a Dallas Morning News article survey relating to students and digital social networking.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\nInterviews and surveys are often used as evidence in the social sciences. For example, a psychology paper might interview teachers and parents about their children\u2019s gender identities and then observe their children\u2019s behavior when playing. Quotations and detailed descriptions of an author\u2019s observations count as evidence in examples like these.\r\n\r\nSurveys are often mistaken for \u201cfacts\u201d or used as \u201cdata.\u201d While they look like statistics or \u201chard numbers,\u201d surveys are created through interviews. Therefore, when seeing a survey as evidence, whether it is one an author created or one found through research, it is important for readers to understand the method of the survey. Who were the participants? How were they selected? How were the questions phrased? Surveys are valid evidence in many disciplines, but they require explanation before readers trust the numbers.\r\n

Personal Anecdotes<\/h4>\r\nIn some texts, stories about an individual\u2019s personal experience may be appropriate. Personal anecdotes may be appropriate in some sociology or psychology papers, but only when accompanied by additional evidence. In some humanities writings, personal anecdotes are acceptable as a stylistic choice in the conclusion or introduction, but not as evidence in the body paragraphs.\r\n\r\nReaders will not be persuaded by personal anecdotes if authors rely on them to support all claims or use them to support a controversial claim. Readers will wonder whether someone\u2019s personal experience represents a common occurrence, or one that just happened to that one person.","rendered":"

Types of Evidence<\/h3>\n

To support their central claim and subclaims, authors use a variety of types of evidence and explain to their readers how the evidence supports the claim. Following are a few types of evidence.<\/p>\n

Exhibits<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Shakespeare\u2019s Sonnet 18, which might serve as an exhibit in a text<\/p>\n

Exhibits are examples or excerpts from the object of study. Humanities (like English or religious studies) makes use of exhibits in the form of primary texts. For example, an article about Shakespeare\u2019s sonnets would quote small sections of the poems. A text about Buddhism might quote English translations of the sutras (and perhaps the Sanskrit originals).<\/p>\n

Exhibits can also include visual reproductions. A paper on Michelangelo might attach images of the paintings in the Sistine Chapel. A book about the Great Depression might use reproductions of photographs by the WPA. A study of the Jurassic period might provide photographs of dinosaur bones and excavation sites.<\/p>\n

Examples or observed phenomenon can also be exhibit sources. \u00a0Social media scholars might use an Instagram post as an exhibit source, or political scientists might refer to a piece of legislation. \u00a0By themselves, exhibits are not evidence; however, when the author explains how an exhibit supports a reason, it becomes evidence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Expert Testimony<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Expert testimony includes quotations from scholars and summaries of previous research or scholarship. Expert testimony can reinforce an argument; however, a quotation by an expert with similar claims is rarely sufficient as evidence on its own. Authors must explain how those experts support their claims and then reinforce their own claim with evidence from other sources.<\/p>\n

Before quoting an expert, an author must determine whether he or she counts as an authority. Just because someone has published an academic paper or book does not mean that readers will believe his or her theories are valid. In the sciences and social sciences, readers should expect expert testimony to be the most current research. Quoting a paper written even ten years ago may not be convincing expert testimony.<\/p>\n

In the sciences, readers rarely expect direct quotations of secondary sources as evidence. Instead, science writers use summaries of previous research and the findings, or data, to support their own claims.<\/p>\n

Interviews and Surveys<\/h4>\n

\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/h4>\n

Results from a Dallas Morning News article survey relating to students and digital social networking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Interviews and surveys are often used as evidence in the social sciences. For example, a psychology paper might interview teachers and parents about their children\u2019s gender identities and then observe their children\u2019s behavior when playing. Quotations and detailed descriptions of an author\u2019s observations count as evidence in examples like these.<\/p>\n

Surveys are often mistaken for \u201cfacts\u201d or used as \u201cdata.\u201d While they look like statistics or \u201chard numbers,\u201d surveys are created through interviews. Therefore, when seeing a survey as evidence, whether it is one an author created or one found through research, it is important for readers to understand the method of the survey. Who were the participants? How were they selected? How were the questions phrased? Surveys are valid evidence in many disciplines, but they require explanation before readers trust the numbers.<\/p>\n

Personal Anecdotes<\/h4>\n

In some texts, stories about an individual\u2019s personal experience may be appropriate. Personal anecdotes may be appropriate in some sociology or psychology papers, but only when accompanied by additional evidence. In some humanities writings, personal anecdotes are acceptable as a stylistic choice in the conclusion or introduction, but not as evidence in the body paragraphs.<\/p>\n

Readers will not be persuaded by personal anecdotes if authors rely on them to support all claims or use them to support a controversial claim. Readers will wonder whether someone\u2019s personal experience represents a common occurrence, or one that just happened to that one person.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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