Evidence There may not be a “silver bullet” article that directly relates to your thesis and/or topic sentence

A Scenario Let’s say that you are writing a paper about video cameras being used during Supreme Court hearings for your ENG 102 class. During your preliminary research, you find out that, over the years, justices have given many reasons for banning cameras. Among them: the Court needs to preserve its tradition; people will not understand the function of oral arguments; the media will use embarrassing sound bites; and cameras will encourage showboating. Currently, only audio is allowed during the court cases and that is released months later when they release their rulings on cases. One of your main points is that allowing cameras will provide transparency and public oversight. How can you support that claim? There may be a specific article out there about transparency and public oversight, but that doesn’t mean that you will find it. You search for hours and can’t find 1 article that says what you want it to say. How can you support the claim?

Select the Right Evidence for the Purpose and Audience Types of Evidence 1. Brief Personal Examples or Observations 2. Brief Examples from Other Sources 3. Extended Examples or Observations from Personal Experience or from Other Sources 4. Facts 5. Statistics 6. Information/Opinions from Expert Sources (Authorities) 7. Definitions 8. Descriptive Details 9. Logical Reasoning (explaining compare/contrast, cause/effect)

A Scenario I could use any one of those kinds of evidence to support my point, but they don’t all fit. I could tell a story about why I want to see the court on TV (personal example).I could use an author’s description of what the Supreme Court looks like during arguments to make the case for why more people should get to see the event (brief example from someone else). I could define transparency and transparency and public oversight and argue that the current situation doesn’t meet either definition (definition). After careful consideration, I decide to make a comparison: The Winner: make a comparison between two like things. In this case, a comparison between the Supreme Court and the Congress and Senate makes sense. The Congress and Senate allow video cameras for votes and a number of other proceedings. Why shouldn’t another branch of government be held to a similar standard?

Apples to Apples Comparisons The key is to make an apples to apples comparison. Comparing apples to apples means comparing things that can reasonably be compared, while the phrase apples to oranges often is used to represent a comparison that is unreasonable or perhaps impossible. Comparing the Supreme Court (Judicial Branch) to the Congress and Senate (Legislative Branch) is apples to apples because they are both branches of government. An apples to oranges comparison would be trying to compare the Supreme Court needing cameras to police officers needing to wear cameras. Yes, they both involve cameras, but there are too many major differences between them for a fair comparison. You want to make a fair comparison for it to be considered strong evidence.

Select the Right Evidence for the Purpose and Audience Remember, your readers aren’t necessarily kind and generous readers. "Few people are logical. Most of us are prejudiced and biased. Most of us are blighted with preconceived notions, with jealousy, suspicion, fear, envy and pride. And most citizens don't want to change their minds about their religion or their haircut or communism or their favorite movie star." Carnegie later quotes another author as saying, "The result is that most of our so- called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do.“ If you know this is the case, you have to always ask yourself, is this the best evidence given my audience and purpose? You might have to piece together a few different kinds of evidence to make the point that you want to make.

Audience-Based Reasons An argument to amend the law to allow people to own exotic pets within city limits: aim the argument to representatives of Animal Care and Control who are responsible for responding to calls about animal ordinances An argument to mandate that all official government action be conducted in English: aim the argument at people who advocate for bilingual education and rights (FYI: the US has does not have an “official language”) An argument to repeal the smoking ban on MCCCD campuses: aim the argument at people who support the ban on the grounds that secondhand smoke jeopardizes their health An argument to allow same-sex couples right to enter civil partnerships in Arizona: aim the argument at people who believe that the state should wait for the federal government to pass legislation An argument for the right of students to bring their guns on campus: aim the argument at college president and faculty who believe that more guns will make the environment more dangerous An argument to provide aid from the state to private and parochial schools: aim the argument at people who think that change would violate the separation of church and state