FORMS OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

• Personal experience – eyewitness testimony, personal observation, and firsthand knowledge.
• Outside authority – opinions or knowledge of experts or specialists in a field.
• Facts and examples – up-to-date information, historical background, scientific studies, and relevant cases.
• Statistics – percentages, scientific data, figures, and indexes.

EVALUATING SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

Use the following list of questions to determine if your evidence is adequate and convincing:

• Is the evidence sufficient?
  The amount of evidence you need to support your claim will depend on how much you limit your claim. For instance, if you state that women's sports teams at most universities are inadequately funded, you will need numerous examples of many different sports to prove your point. If you state that this lack of funding occurs at a particular school or in one specific sport, you can use less evidence to support your claim.
• Is the evidence detailed enough?
  Specific facts, figures, and examples are always more persuasive than generalities.
• Is the evidence relevant?
  Be certain that your evidence relates directly to the point you are arguing.
• Is the evidence up to date and verifiable?
  Out of date evidence will undermine your argument. Always check the dates of studies, statistics, facts, and figures to ensure that they are current. References to your sources will assure readers that your evidence can be confirmed.
• Is your evidence slanted?
  You strengthen your argument by acknowledging and responding to all relevant evidence. Slanting or suppressing evidence will undermine your effectiveness by destroying your credibility. Check out sources and outside authorities for bias or lack of objectivity.

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