- In class we have been working on identifying arguments in written material. You’ll remember that an argument must have both a conclusion and reasons. The next step in evaluating information critically is looking for the evidence that supports the reasons. Summarize, in your own words, the textbook’s definition of evidence (don’t forget to provide an in-text citation).
- Evidence is the product of clear and specific gathering of facts (Browne et al., 89)
- Provide a brief definition of each of the four different types of evidence discussed in this chapter (personal experience, case examples, testimonials, and appeals to authority). What is a potential problem with the validity and/or reliability of each of the four types of evidence?
- Personal Experience evidence is based on an argument that deals with ones own personal experiences. Its weakness includes drawing generalizations and false conclusions about something based on an experience.
- Case Examples evidence includes arguments that use detailed stories or descriptions, often including one or more individuals and events, that support a conclusion. They are often based also on observations or interviews. One problem is that they often rely heavily on the response from the listener.
- Testimonial evidence includes quoting someone who has used a product, that person often giving their personal experience about that product in an effort to persuade the listener in one or another way. We should be wary of personal testimonials as they are often biased and may be disingenuine.
- Appeals to Authority evidence is evidence or a claim made by an authority figure, often someone who is an expert on the topic and claim they are making. One should be careful about how reliable a source is, and often question why they are making their claim.
- Go to www.theconversation.com, www.theatlantic.com, or quillette.com and look for an article that uses one of the four types of evidence discussed in this chapter. Briefly summarize the article and describe the evidence the author provides. How reliable do you think the evidence is, given the topic of the article, and why? Include an MLA citation for the article (hint, the publication/journal title is The Conversation, The Atlantic, or Quillette).
- I read “‘Nobody Likes the Other Guy’: On the Road With Donald Trump’s Diehards” by Stephen Elliott. First of all, this was such a weird article. This article and the author use a lot of Personal Experiences evidence. This is seen throughout the article, but mostly in the beginning of the article in which he talks about the experiences he’s had with friends and conversations with them surrounding politics. I think the article is reliable in its personal experiences, as the author uses first hand experiences and quotes from different events. This was such a strange article.
- Citation:Elliott, written by Stephen, and Published by Quillette Magazine. “’Nobody Likes the Other Guy’: On the Road With Donald Trump’s Diehards.” Quillette, Quillette, 3 Nov. 2020, quillette.com/2020/11/02/nobody-likes-the-other-guy-on-the-road-with-donald-trumps-diehards/.