Types of Evidence

Writers support their arguments with many different types of evidence. These different types of evidence serve different purposes and have varying degrees of reliability and usefulness.

Evaluating Evidence

A variety of types of evidence can be used to support an argument. For example, suppose your friend complains that AP® Psychology won’t fit into his schedule because he has to take a PE class. His personal experience may cause you to begin thinking about whether requiring all students to take PE is a good idea. You think about other friends who feel out of place in gym class as well— and you come to the conclusion that requiring PE is not a good idea. 

At this point, your specific claim emerges: “Requiring PE in high schools harms many students more than it helps them.” You can support your claim with your friends’ personal experiences, but those are only two examples, and there is not enough evidence to create a solid argument. To create a well-rounded argument likely to be accepted by a diverse audience, you would do well to include additional types of evidence—facts and expert opinions, for example. The table below outlines the various types of evidence you can use and their strengths and weaknesses. 

As with all other aspects of an argument, the evidence a writer chooses to use will depend on the specific elements of the rhetorical situation. Take the example of a person arguing against requiring PE in high school. What kinds of evidence would work best?

Remember: Types of evidence may include facts, anecdotes, analogies, statistics, examples, details, illustrations, expert opinions, observations, personal experiences, testimonies, or experiments. 

Checking Your Understanding