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The Importance of Providing Evidence
The Importance of Providing Evidence
The validity of an argument doesn’t derive from critical thinking and analysis, but rather from the quality of evidence provided to the audience. Providing evidence and examples is an integral writing method used to deliver information and data to back a claim or argument. This component of writing enables the author to build credibility by establishing data and research to back the claims made, while also providing readers with the decision-making process behind their argument. Additionally, maintaining precise citations (in-text and reference page) will develop a more structured and organized claim appealing to the writer's ethos. This webpage will deliver step-by-step instructions for providing sophisticated evidence and where to find sources for any project the student is working on. A writer’s foundation of evidence and examples is an essential piece of the writing that will progress the clarity of their argument making the information further listed necessary tools for any student in this class.
Example #1 (With Evidence)
Example #1 (With Evidence)
"Even with strict GMO containment for 20 years, GMO trial sites still contain GM canola plants. The invasiveness of GMOs with the human efforts of extortion, showcases their ability to self-replicate and utilize different ecosystem resources. This trait of immense replication and self-sustaining life will lead to the destruction of ecosystems, as many resources will be abused by different GMOs. Therefore, this leads to a possible monoculture, which would destroy biodiversity. Without proper containment and application of GMOs, the world’s ecosystem will fail to work, thus meaning the government should be heavily invested in operating this area of agriculture."
Example #2 (Without Evidence)
Example #2 (Without Evidence)
"As physical appearances have a great impact on society today, buying your traits will grant you extra perks. This adds to the inequality aspect of Gene-editing, as the rich will get richer, and the poor will get poorer. Designing traits and aesthetic aspects of future offspring is immoral and is a major inequality of genetic engineering. Therefore, the law must prevent all-signs or efforts for aesthetic gene engineering."
Which example makes for the stronger argument?
Which example makes for the stronger argument?
The basis of example #2’s analysis is obvious human trends that don’t need to be re-emphasized. It utilizes mostly common sense to accentuate its argument with no data or statistics to back it up. With no validated data, the analysis and argument of example 2 becomes extremely surface-level, only enabling the readers to see what they already know. On the alternative, example #1 offers a line graph, with data illustrating a trend that supports the author’s claim. Not only does the evidence offer visuals to the reader, but it also provides legitimate statistics up to current dates stating how GMOs are invasive. With this evidence, the author can expand and bring deeper analysis to effectively back its thesis.
How to Detect Suspect Evidence
How to Detect Suspect Evidence
Providing evidence can strengthen the argument but when the evidence is false, the argument is weakened. If the information came from a source that hasn’t been peer-reviewed by experts, caution needs to be taken to ensure the information isn’t false or misleading. Detecting false information is important because false information will poorly support the claims being argued.
Why News Media Publish False Information
Why News Media Publish False Information
When information or data is published in a Journal, experts have peer-reviewed the article and validated the accuracy of the information. News media sources are not reviewed by experts and can spread misinformation. The news media receives funds based on the advertisements or the amount of views the article attracts. There is an incentive to produce information that is interesting to view even if the information has been altered. The peer-reviewing process is intensive because other experts in a field of study will scrutinize the work of their peers. The experts want to understand the truth and make advancements to their knowledge. The information published by the news media hasn’t been peer-reviewed and can be false. News sources are not a good source of information and should not be used to support your claims in your argument.
Example of News Media Publishing False Information
Example of News Media Publishing False Information
The Argument of Evaluation essay is the second essay within ENGL-147 and has the highest grade weight in the class. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate how misinformation is spread by media sources. Understanding the goal of the site can inform you if the information will be credible. On the topic of climate change, for example, experts have confirmed that human activity is the primary reason for the changing temperatures. Jennifer Marohasy published a blog on the reason behind climate change and explains, “All these changes are essentially driven by the Sun, or at least the Earth’s distance and position relative to the Sun’s irradiance that is ever-changing but in measurable and predictable ways” (Marohasy np). Marohasy reports her own opinion on the cause of climate change that contradicts the expert findings. This example shows that people will spread misinformation because of an ulterior motive. Marohasy receives funds when people join her blog. The more people who view her blog, the greater the chance people will pay for her subscription to gain access to her blogs. Marohasy created this blog to receive funds, which is the goal of the site. By publishing a contradicting statement, people will be curious and read the false information. The audience will believe the information because they aren’t experts in the field. By understanding the goal of the site, you can distinguish if a site has been created to benefit the advancement of knowledge or the publisher’s own self-interest.
Why Open Source Sites aren't Credible
Why Open Source Sites aren't Credible
Using open-source articles is not a reliable source because anyone is able to edit the information. Wikipedia is the most well-known open-source site where many people will search for information about a topic. Using Wikipedia for the references page is good for finding other sources about a topic. Using the information published on Wikipedia is not credible because the articles are able to be edited by non-experts. When non-experts publish information, they will mislead the audience because they haven’t been taught and tested on the topic by experts. Do not use Wikipedia as a source for truthful information.
How to Detect Credible Evidence
How to Detect Credible Evidence
Learning how to source useful and factual pieces of evidence is crucial for an argument. To differentiate factual evidence from false scientific claims that could hurt the validity of an essay is a skill. This section focuses on the intricate process of detecting reliable and scholarly information, by examining the many key factors that contribute to the credibility of a source.
Checking the Publication of a Site
Checking the Publication of a Site
A good way of checking an article's validity is by looking at its references. Most properly published pieces of scientific work have cited other work. When they do that they create a references page listing who and where they cited from. Having a references page helps build the credibility of a site.
Any published material must have the certification of their publisher on their page. A quick Google search can show you who the publisher is. In this case, the publisher John Wiley & Sons Ltd. is a multinational publishing company focusing primarily on academic and instructional material.
Another thing to look for is the publication date. In the above example, it will show you when the manuscript was given to the publication company, when it was revised and accepted, and when it was finally published.
This portion aligns with part 3. Here you can just see when a journal/article is published.
Determining if the Journal is Peer-Reviewed
Determining if the Journal is Peer-Reviewed
Using peer-reviewed articles and journals instead of not peer-reviewed for evidence is crucial for creating credibility. Peer-reviewed material has been analyzed and verified by other professionals within that field. This ensures the validity of the source. Finding peer-reviewed articles can be challenging. Most scientific journals don't explicitly indicate they are peer-reviewed. Using Cal Poly OneSearch allows you to search for only peer-reviewed sources as indicated above.
Use Specific Evidence to Avoid Generalizaitons
Use Specific Evidence to Avoid Generalizaitons
Throughout this class, students will have two essays to work on, the tech review or the argument of fact and the argument of evaluation. These essays will require extensive research after a topic is chosen including specific examples of whatever argument is made. A common mistake made in the Tech Review essay is a lack of specificity. Students will make overgeneralizations, for example: “autonomous cars are dangerous” or “autonomous cars are prone to accidents” and not provide enough evidence to support the claims. To support the claim made about autonomous cars one could cite the fines GM Motors is expected to receive after “a robotaxi dragged a pedestrian 20 feet (6.1 meters) after being struck by another vehicle” (White). Ensure that your essay reviews specific examples of whichever technology is being reviewed and doesn’t include overly generic evidence as a basis for its claims.
Where to find credible evidence
Where to find credible evidence
Websites like Calpoly’s OneSearch, Google Scholar, Jstor, and many others will provide a plethora of journals, books, newspaper articles and images to be used in subject research. Utilizing these various websites to learn about a subject will allow for an in-depth scan of the internet's store of credible information regarding the topic.
Cal Poly's OneSearch
Cal Poly's OneSearch
Cal Poly’s onesearch is used to search through Kennedy Library's physical and digital resources to find whatever source is helpful for the research. Students can find where to request material if the paper/article/book cannot be found in Cal Poly's collection, learn how to submit the senior project or master thesis, and even access research guides specific to each major and class.
Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Another digital library is Google Scholar. This easy-to-use website will provide extensive search results and contains an easy-to-access section specifically for Case Law where the results can be narrowed to specific court cases by region and court system.
Jstor
Jstor
One of the largest digital libraries, Jstor has a collection of over 12 million primary sources and academic journals. Like the other websites mentioned this site contains an advanced search feature and an area to save articles and sources for future reference.
Works Cited
Works Cited
Casper. “Fake News.” Philnews” , 2019, https://philnews.ph/2019/06/25/online-game-that-helps-combat-false-information-spread/
Chen, Youyi, et al. “Energy-Efficient Cabin Climate Control of Electric Vehicles Using Linear Time-Varying Model Predictive Control.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, 6 Nov. 2021, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oca.2816.
Elturkey, Mostafa. “Among Us Character Red.” Pixabay, 2020, https://pixabay.com/vectors/among-us-character-red-imposter-5659730/
Google Scholar, Google, scholar.google.com/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
Jstor, Ithaka, www.jstor.org/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
Marco, De. “Wikipedia Logo.” Logosmarcas”, 2022, https://logosmarcas.net/wikipedia-logo/
Marohasy, Jennifer. “Willie Soon Explains About the Sun, and How to Better Report Science” Jennifer Marohasy, 11 September 2021, Willie Soon Explains About the Sun, and How to Better Report Science - Jennifer Marohasy
“One Search.” CSU, csu-calpoly.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01CALS_PSU%3A01CALS_PSU&mode=simple. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Paul, John. “The Failures of Genetically Modified Organisms(GMOS): Resistance,
Regulation, and Rejection” AGROFOR International Journal, vol.4, 2019,
P.142-143.
10.7251/AGRENG1903139P
White, Joseph, et al. “GM’s Cruise May Face Fines for ‘Misleading’ Regulator Over Accident.” Reuters, 4 Dec. 2023, www.reuters.com/world/us/gm-cruise-could-face- state-fines-over-oct-2-pedestrian-accident-2023-12-04/.
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