1. Types of Evidence
AHS ELAR

2. Pretest
Let’s see what you already know….

3. Evidence that is based on scientific research Evidence derived from stories and personal experiences. Evidence relying on facts, appealing to an audience’s sense of reason.

4. Now, let’s review…
Get your pencils and paper, it is time for our old buddy Cornell Notes.
There are always 3-4 questions on the exam that are about the types of evidence, so know this can be the difference between making “commended” or passing.

5. What is logical evidence?
Logical evidence, simply put, refers to FACTS.
When a writer uses facts and reason to develop to support a position. Because of A and B, then C must be correct.
Logical evidence is convincing for the reader/audience because a fact is something that can be verified, something real or actual. Often accepted as true without verification, because it makes sense.

6. What is empirical evidence?
Empirical evidence is evidence that can be experienced or observed. PROVEN TO BE TRUE AND EASY TO VERIFY.
Scientific research is considered empirical evidence.
Empirical evidence is data used to analyze, compare, evaluate, and monitor progress.

7. What is anecdotal evidence?
Anecdotal evidence consists of an anecdote or a descriptive story about an event or experience. Another name for this type of evidence is a testimonial. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
We are all familiar with this kind of evidence and commonly use it in everyday decision making. For example, when choosing a babysitter or dentist, we would often ask for the experiences of friends and family.
Anecdotal evidence falls short of what is necessary for a reasonable standard of proof.

8. Practice
According to American Automobile Association (AAA) studies conducted between 1995 and 2004, crashes that involved 15 to17-year-old drivers took the lives of 30,917 people nationwide. It also showed that during the decade of the 1990s, 63,000 youngsters between the age of 15 and 18 died in traffic crashes. This means that more than 120 children die every week. In 2002, the National Center for Statistics and Analysis reported that 8,278 adolescents were involved in fatal crashes. In 2003 alone, teenagers were involved in an estimated 1.5 million accidents. Those studies show that the number of children who die because of car accidents is increasing.

9. Empirical-- Explanation
In this relatively short excerpt, the writer includes a lot of research-based evidence to support the argument that teenagers under the age of 18 probably should not have licenses to drive. It’s important to know what empirical evidence is and what it isn’t, though. From the definition, we know that empirical evidence is based on testing or experience. It is also based on scientific research. In other words, empirical evidence requires solid proof or facts to support it.

10. Practice
“Foyers shop and cafe owner Jan Hargreaves and her husband Simon believe they caught a glimpse of “Nessie.” It was while taking a break on the store's front decking, looking out to the loch, when Mrs. Hargreaves and kitchen worker Graham Baine spotted an unusual figure cutting a strange shape on the loch.
“We were standing looking out and saw something that looked bizarre,” said Mrs. Hargreaves. I said to my husband to come and have a look. “We stand here all the time and look out and see boats and kayaks but it didn't look like anything we have seen here before.” Despite the unidentified creature being quite a distance from their vantage point, Mrs. Hargreaves said it had a long neck which was too long to be that of a seal, and it was black in appearance.

11. Anecdotal - Explanation
This is an example of the kind of anecdotal evidence, or personal accounts, we might see or hear on television or the Internet. They are not what you would consider solid facts, nor would you be likely to consider them as scientifically tested or proven, but they are still considered evidence—anecdotal evidence.

12. Practice
What is likely to happen if we make contact with Extraterrestrial Intelligence (ETI)? Given the size of astronomical distances and assuming the speed of light as the maximum possible velocity, the most likely outcome is not real contact but merely an exchange of messages, perhaps at very long intervals. Little chance of harm there.
But there is still non-zero probability of real contact. Since we have no way of predicting with any certainty the outcome of such contact, it might seem that we have no reason to assume a bad rather than a good result. From this we might conclude that there is no objection to pursuing SETI, if only to satisfy our curiosity.

13. Logical - Explanation
The author thought about possible outcomes using sound reasoning based on what we currently know. In the article, you were presented with expert opinion from a study conducted by NASA and Penn State. Notice that these were not “facts” but “expert opinions” based on current technology and logical reasoning. Given this information, the writer came to this conclusion through the use of logical evidence: if we discover life elsewhere in the cosmos, it may be more harmful than beneficial. Logical evidence is based on sound reasoning.

14. Reflection
How can understanding the different types of evidence help you improve your body paragraphs on your STAAR essay?

15. Your turn…
Read the following prompt and think of a good piece of anecdotal evidence… Should there be a nationwide 10:00pm curfew for anyone under the age of 17?

16. Your turn…
Read the following prompt and think of a good piece of empirical evidence… Should the U.S. increase the restrictions on guns and firearms?

17. Your turn…
Read the following prompt and think of a good piece of logical evidence… What is the most important trait for an effective leader to possess?

18. Post Test
Evidence that is based on scientific research Evidence derived from stories and personal experiences. Evidence relying on facts, appealing to an audience’s sense of reason.