Academic Writing

Assignment and Assessment . Content Assignment 1. Using Evidence...A bit of guidance! . Assignment 1. Using Evidence Ask yourself the questions "Why do I believe my argument that such and such is a contemporary social problem? Why should others believe it too?" The answers are the reasons you'll use to try to convince your readers that your argument is valid. Presenting these reasons and the evidence on which they are based (as well as explaining how they relate to your argument) are what constitutes your ‘evidence portfolio’ (assignment 1). The basic components of an argument i.e. your claim that 'such and such' is a contemporary social problem: •The claim (that typically answers the question: “What do I think?...I think 'such and such' is a social problem”) •The reasons (that typically answer the question: “Why do I think this?”) •The evidence (that typically answers the question: “How do I know this is the case?”). Evidence can come in many forms, which you can use as examples that support your argument for example: •Statistics •Research / Reports •Opinions and quotes from 'qualified' secondary sources - experts / politicians / academics •Real life experiences - case studies If you are having trouble finding suitable evidence, you might need to rethink your claim. Why did you believe it in the first place? Further investigate the source of your belief. If it is based on your life experience, you'll need to find examples of others who agree and perhaps think through a more rigorous reason behind your claim. Further questions to ask yourself: •Is your claim / evidence thought through carefully? •Could I use the evidence to offer a different interpretation? •Is the evidence based on reliable sources and facts? •What evidence is there to dispute my claim? •Have I organised my evidence into meaningful points and explained the evidence? •What is the connection between your evidence and your claim? Have you explained this connection clearly to your reader? •Have you done enough to defend the connection to an unconvinced reader? . Designing Your Portfolio . Attached Files: File Designing Your [login to view URL] (15.754 KB