The claims you make while writing does not hold any grounds if you do not provide supporting evidence. Just like a lawyer includes proof of the statements made in court, you should also provide evidence to show your claims are valid. It would help if you incorporated references in your paper to take the reader through credible reasoning that proves your research topic’s validity. The strength of the evidence determines the power of your writing. Types of evidence vary from case to case. For example, you cannot quote a medical research study when writing a literary critic paper. There are numerous aspects you should know to use supporting evidence appropriately. Here are some of them.
Where To Include Supporting Evidence?
A paper has different sections; the introduction, body, and conclusion. You need to know where and how to incorporate your supporting evidence. The opening takes up about 5% of the total word count. It is advisable to avoid using references in this section unless you need to reference an introductory statement or a definition. The body section takes up 90% of the essays. All the explanations, experiments, arguments are in the body. Therefore, you should include the bulk of your supporting evidence here. Conclusions take up 5% of the essay. It is not advisable to include references here unless you have a dramatic statement from a particular source.
Supporting evidence needs to fit in organically with the rest of the essay. You can include references after a quotation, an illustration, or after stating facts and figures. Quotations include direct quotes, paraphrases, and summaries of a source. You can write a citation after quoting a reference directly to indicate the original writer, the page, or publication year. In paraphrasing, you write the citation after using different words to express ideas in a source. Summaries present the overall thoughts of the source then give the citation.
When you give an example of a research study or any other illustration, you should indicate the source. Additionally, when you share facts and figures from other studies or organizations, it is essential to note that different writing styles have different referencing rules. This is visible when you search, write my research paper by writepaper.com, and access samples from the writing aid platform. For example, APA requires the author’s name and the year of publication, whereas MLA requires the author’s name and the exact page number you are referencing. Different universities may also have varying styles. Refer to the instructions from your professor.
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The Right Sources
The primary requirement for supporting evidence is that it is relevant to your research topic. Ask yourself what the information in the source implies and whether it strengthens your argument. In some cases, you can use opposing sources, then show how they build up your view. Be careful about the sources you use. Take your time and understand what they mean to avoid sounding off-topic in your paper. Also, make sure the sources you use are credible. Credible sources have the following attributes: relevant, appropriate, authorized, unbiased, current, and detailed.
Vetting the Sources
Appropriateness of a source refers to how well it fits in with your research topic. An anecdote may work well in a personal statement or narrative but may be inappropriate for a scientific case. A good source should also have sufficient details on your research topic. Ensure they give specific information and not generalized ideas. The date of publication of a source is also essential. An article should not be too old or too new, depending on your research topic. For example, if you are writing about common medical problems in the current world, you cannot cite sources from 1990. Also, check on the authority of the source. What are the credentials of the organization, website, author, etc? Lastly, check on the level of bias in the paper. Ensure they do not have any hidden motives in the information they convey and the facts and figures are correct. You can achieve this by checking if other sources have similar information or analyzing the tone, mission statement, and other attributes that show the author’s motive.
Types of Supporting Evidence
There are different types of sources you can apply in your paper. They include anecdotal evidence, testimonial evidence, statistical evidence, textual evidence, analogical evidence, and hypothetical evidence. Anecdotal evidence refers to stories or experiences. It is a retelling of events in your life or someone else’s. On its own, it is not a strong source, but it helps develop a connection with your readers. Limit the use of anecdotal evidence in your academic writing. Testimonial evidence comes from sources who have unquestionable credibility. Its authority on the subject of research is strong. For the best results, you should mix the sources in a balanced manner. This way, you achieve the right balance of personal and professional.
When researching, you get access to millions of sources. You need to have the skill to choose references that strengthen your paper. Sources such as Wikipedia and personal blog posts diminish your paper standards tremendously. More importantly, you must know how to utilize them. Thoroughly explain how they back up your thesis.
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