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NAME: ___________________________

Analyzing Evidence

DIRECTIONS: While you are reading or watching an argument, take notes, following the guidelines below.

Title of Source: ____________________________________________ Author(s):__________________________ Originally published: _______________________ Date: _________________________

1. As you read, gather evidence below.

EMOTIONAL APPEAL, or appeal to pathos: List the emotions that the writers want you, as a reader or viewer, to feel? List moments in the argument that exhibit an emotional appeal in support of its claim.

ETHICAL APPEAL, or appeal to ethos: Arguments often rely on expert opinion. As you read or watch, list the names and titles of the experts who are offered as support. Also known as Testimonial Evidence a.k.a CITING EXPERT OPINION: Testimonial evidence is when a writer cites an expert or authority to support his/her claims. This is an appeal to ethos. Commercials that use spokespersons to testify about the quality of a company’s product, lawyers who rely on eye-witness accounts to win a case, and students who quote an authority in their essays are all using testimonial evidence.

Are these emotions genuine or do you think the writers are being manipulative?

Can you trust these experts? Why or why not?

Appeal to logos: As you read/watch, list specific logical evidence (historical facts, statistics, examples, illustrations) that is used to support the claim.

FACTS & STATISTICS Statistical evidence is the kind of data people tend to look for first when trying to prove a point. That’s not surprising when you consider how prevalent it is in today’s society. Every time the writer uses numbers to support a main point, they are relying on statistical evidence to carry their argument. Be careful of the source, though...

Anecdotal Evidence a.k.a EXAMPLES & ILLUSTRATIONS Anecdotal evidence is evidence that is based on a person’s observations of the world, so it can also be an emotional appeal. An anecdote is a shorty, personal story. Anecdotal evidence is often dismissed as untrustworthy and meaningless, but anecdotal evidence can be used to disprove broad claims and exaggerated evidence. Also, you CAN use this type of evidence with support claims, though, IF you use it in conjunction with other types of evidence.

HISTORICAL EVIDENCE Writers often look to history for supporting evidence for their claims. Events of history can provide us with good support for our claims. However, the historical evidence may be irrelevant to current times.

CAUSE AND EFFECT Writers like to show cause and effect, especially by referring to scientific data/research. This is an appeal to logos. Remember: Correlation* Does not Equal Causation *correlation means there is a relationship between two events, but one may not have caused the other…

2. Based on the evidence, respond to the overall text. To what extent is the argument justified? How persuasive is the overall claim? How persuasive is the evidence offered in support of that claim? Which evidence did you find most convincing? Which did you find problematic? Why?