Defending your argument Finding and organizing your evidence

Finding credible sources Q: What makes a source reliable or scholarly? Peer-reviewed journals EBSCO Credentials of the author Is s/he an expert in the field? What post-undergraduate degrees do they have?

Types of evidential support  Primary sources (original documents, photographs)  Scholarly books, academic journals (testimony)  If referring to/citing the author, you need to double check their credentials  Statistics from quantifiable studies  Q: What were they attempting to study when gathering the study? What was the pool of participants?

Organizing your evidence (cards) In the context of debates, a card is a paragraph or several paragraphs taken from a credible source to prove a specific argument true. They back up your argument through the use of an authority. Tip: Extend this practice to include any statistics and observations that you’ll use to argue a claim. Organization is a key factor in your debate!

What makes a card The card is comprised of a claim “tag” (1-2 sentences), the citation, and a word-for-word quotation. A good card  Is concise and forceful;  Offers empirical or analytical reason;  Should be an expert in the related field;  Explains why your claim is true (warrant);  Draws from a credible source. In history, it does not have to be recent.

Examples 