MODULE 2

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master English for Academic and Professional Purposes. The scope of this module
permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used
recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to
follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them
can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

defends a stand on an issue by presenting reasonable arguments
supported by properly cited factual evidence.

Defending a Stand and

Lesson
Presenting Reasonable

2 Arguments by Properly
Cited Evidence

What is Evidence?

Evidence may include the claims, facts and figures, graphs, statics, surveys,
experiment, etc. as the core sources to support your opinion. Adding evidence in your
opinionated write-up helps the student to conceptualize and textually imply in
writing. It serves as the base to convince the readers of your opinion backed up by
evidence.
Here are some tricks that help you use evidence properly to support opinions and
promptly convince readers of your claims.

Using Factual Text: Using factual text that is verified and authentic is the key to
convince your reader. The persuasive text that supports your opinion and helps

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readers to relate and get answers to the raised questions/concerns is the perfect use
of text evidence. It may include a diagram, chat quotation, chart, quotation, image,
graphics, etc.

Rhetorical Questions A text that helps to nourish the debate on your topic and
emphasize readers to think is another best form of captivating your reader. The
rhetorical question serves as another example of using evidence when you can
connect a past event and ask your reader to comprehend the opinion based on the
current situation.
Work on Multiple Perspectives: Supporting your opinion write-up with multiple
perspective evidence is the way forward technique to persuade your readers. Multiple
perspective evidence may include quotations, statements, before and after analysis,
etc.

Sufficient Evidence and Proper Citation: An author should include multiple pieces
of evidence from various sources to reflect authenticity and relevance. Use proper
citation to ensure that your reader knows that the evidence is legitimate.

Defending a Stand on an Issue by Presenting Reasonable Arguments Supported

by Properly Cited Factual Evidences.

Usage of Evidence to support Opinion Write-Ups:

Like a debate, defending a stand presents one side of an arguable opinion about an
issue. The goal of is to convince the audience that your opinion is valid and
defensible. Ideas that you are considering need to be carefully examined in choosing
a topic, developing your argument, and organizing your paper.

Defending a stand tends to increase an author's thinking and persuasive capabilities.

It requires an author to butter the context with evidence to back up his opinion. To
convince your target audience with your opinion, ensure proper

When Should You Incorporate Evidence?

Once you have formulated your claim, your thesis, you should use evidence to help
strengthen your thesis and any assertion you make that relates to your thesis. Here
are some ways to work evidence into your writing:

Weak and Strong Uses of Evidence

[Link] your claim.

[Link] your evidence, remembering to relate it to the claim.

[Link] on the evidence to show how it supports the claim.

Weak use of evidence

Today, we are too self-centered. Most families no longer sit down to eat together,
preferring instead to eat on the go while rushing to the next appointment (Gleick 148).
Everything is about what we want.

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This is a weak example of evidence because the evidence is not related to the claim.
What does the claim about self-centeredness have to do with families eating together?
The writer does not explain the connection.

The same evidence can be used to support the same claim, but only with the addition
of a clear connection between claim and evidence, and some analysis of the evidence
cited.

Stronger use of evidence

Today, Americans are too self-centered. Even our families don't matter as much
anymore as they once did. Other people and activities take precedence. In fact, the
evidence shows that most American families no longer eat together, preferring instead
to eat on the go while rushing to the next appointment (Gleick 148). Sit-down meals are
a time to share and connect with others; however, that connection has become less
valued, as families begin to prize individual activities over shared time, promoting self-
centeredness over group identity.
Using Quotations: A Special Type of Evidence

One effective way to support your claim is to use quotations. However, because
quotations involve someone else's words, you need to take special care to integrate this
kind of evidence into your essay. Here are two examples using quotations, one less
effective and one more so.

Ineffective Use of Quotation

Today, we are too self-centered. "We are consumers-on-the-run . . . the very notion of
the family meal as a sit-down occasion is vanishing. Adults and children alike eat . . .
on the way to their next activity" (Gleick 148). Everything is about what we want.
This example is ineffective because the quotation is not integrated with the writer's
ideas. Notice how the writer has dropped the quotation into the paragraph without
making any connection between it and the claim.

A More Effective Use of Quotation

Today, Americans are too self-centered. Even our families don't matter as much
anymore as they once did. Other people and activities take precedence, as James
Gleick says in his book, faster. "We are consumers-on-the-run . . . the very notion
of the family meal as a sit-down occasion is vanishing. Adults and children alike
eat . . . on the way to their next activity" (148). Sit-down meals are a time to share
and connect with others; however, that connection has become less valued, as
families begin to prize individual activities over shared time, promoting self-
centeredness over group identity.

Citing Your Sources

Evidence appears in essays in the form of quotations and paraphrasing. Both forms
of evidence must be cited in your text. Citing evidence means distinguishing other
writers' information from your own ideas and giving credit to your sources. There are

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plenty of general ways to do citations. Note both the lead-in phrases and the
punctuation (except the brackets) in the following examples:
Quoting: According to Source X, "[direct quotation]" ([date or page #]).

Summarizing: In her book, Source P's main points are Q, R, and S

[citation].
Your job during your essay is to persuade your readers that your claims are feasible
and are the most effective way of interpreting the evidence.

Evidence vs. Citation

Don’t confuse evidence with citation. Evidence is the facts used to support the claim.
Citation tells the reader where the writer got the facts. Just because a writer does not cite
her or his sources, does not mean she or he has no evidence.

( The Trustees of Indiana University, 2020)

[Link]

ACTIVITY: Ex- CITING!

Directions: Find any book that you have at home. Write MLA citations
correctly by completing the form below.

Author, Last name First name

______________________________________________________

Title

________________________________: ____________________, ______________ Print Place

of publication (city) Publisher Year

Write the citation:

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

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