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94 Unit 2 ■ Appealing to an Audience

INFORMATION THAT CAN BECOME EVIDENCE
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Relevant Evidence

In order for a claim to be proven true, it has to be supported and defended with
relevant evidence. Just because evidence is related to your topic does not make
it relevant. Evidence becomes relevant when a writer connects and explains its
significance and relevance to the line of reasoning for a particular audience. As
writers develop arguments to convey their perspectives, they select evidence
based on not just what supports their perspective and line of reasoning, but also
what they believe their specific audience will find persuasive.

Sufficient Evidence
There must also be sufficient evidence to support each reason in the line of
reasoning. Sufficient evidence refers to the quantity and quality appropriate
for the argument. While there is no magic formula for the amount of evidence
needed for any given argument, a writer should select multiple pieces of evidence
to effectively support their argument based on the audience and context.
When you read, hear, or view an argument, you should look for the reasoning
and evidence the writer uses to support his or her claim. Evidence can take many
forms, and effective writers draw on information that is appropriate and relevant
for the audience and situation.

Typical Evidence
Many times, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Typical evidence is evidence
that is representative of a population or issue. While some pieces of evidence may
be shocking or surprising, writers should rely on a balanced, impartial judgment
to determine if their evidence is plausible. Moreover, when writers select evidence
from data with a small sample size, or when they rely entirely on an outlying
perspective, their use of evidence is unethical and unsubstantiated.

Accurate Evidence
Incorrect (or fallacious) evidence cannot effectively support a claim. Accurate
evidence is verifiable, meaning other credible sources can check that it is correct.
Accurate evidence often indicates the practices, procedures, or experiences that
led to its creation so others can verify the details.

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