EvidenceThe Building Blocks of an Argument

Claim

Contention #1 Contention #2 Contention #3

Evidence

Reasoning

Reasoning

Reasoning

Reasoning

Reasoning

Reasoning

An Argument

Claim

Contention #1 Contention #2 Contention #3

Evidence

Reasoning

Reasoning

Reasoning

Reasoning

Reasoning

Reasoning

An Argument Proof: combination of evidence and reasoning

Evidence

Facts or information presented to support a claim

May be directly observed or obtained from secondary sources

Can have different levels of quality

Evidence

Without evidence you just have an assertion on the lower end of the Continuum of Certainty

Evidence Overview

Data

Information

Knowledge

Different Levels of Evidence

Wisdom

Raw Cognitions

Interpreted Cognitions

Organized Information

Effective use of knowledge

Evidence Overview

All information is biased

Key Understanding

All information results from interpretation

Evidence

1. Precedent

Types

past events that suggest future actions

Two Kinds

Legal Precedent

Personal Precedent

Past court verdicts

What others have done

Evidence

Numerical reporting of specific instances

Polls, surveys, scientific observation

But, there is a difference between raw data and information

2. Statistical

EvidenceTypes

An opinion of reality as stated by another person

What others say about a situation

Sometimes referred to as secondary sources

3. Testimonial

EvidenceTypes

Three Kinds

Eye Witness

Expert Witness

3. Testimonial

EvidenceTypes

Historiography

Assertions repeated from person to person

Often called rumor or gossip evidence

4. Hearsay

EvidenceTypes

Reached new heights on social media

But, they can be accurate

What is assumed everyone knows

Used when not dealing in a real controversy

5. Common Knowledge

EvidenceTypes

Audience will generally accept the assertion without further challenge

But, not always that common

Evidence

Precedent

Statistical

Testimonial

Hearsay

Common Knowledge

past suggesting the future

Numbers

What others saw

What others say

What most accept

Types

Verified

Best

Acceptable

Can other sources corroborate?

Is there a better source?

Is this evidence acceptable to the audience

Tests for Evidence

Recency

Sufficiency

Consistent

Is evidence too old to be of use?

Is there enough evidence?

Do other sources contradict?