use evidence to support claims, arguments and perspectives

What We’ll Cover

• 🔍 Types of evidence you can use
• 📚 How to gather evidence effectively
• ⚖️ Evaluating the quality of evidence
• 📝 Using evidence to build strong arguments
• 🎯 Exam tips and strategies

Think of evidence as the ingredients in a recipe. Different ingredients give different flavours.

• 📊 Statistical data – numbers that show patterns (e.g., “$75\%$ of students prefer online learning”).
• 📜 Textual evidence – quotes or summaries from texts (e.g., a paragraph from a UN report).
• 🗺️ Geographical evidence – maps, charts, or spatial data.
• 📹 Visual evidence – photographs, videos, infographics.
• 🗣️ Oral evidence – interviews, speeches, podcasts.

Step‑by‑Step Guide

1. 🔎 Define your question – e.g., “Does climate change affect crop yields in Africa?”
2. 📚 Search reliable sources – academic journals, reputable news outlets, official statistics.
3. 🗂️ Organise your findings – use a spreadsheet or note‑taking app.
4. 📝 Record citations – author, year, title, URL, and access date.

Quality Checklist

Imagine you’re a detective 🕵️‍♂️. Each piece of evidence helps you solve the mystery.

1. 📌 State your claim – e.g., “Renewable energy reduces air pollution.”
2. 📈 Present evidence – show a graph of CO₂ levels before and after solar adoption.
3. 🔗 Explain the link – describe how the evidence supports the claim.
4. ⚠️ Address counter‑evidence – acknowledge opposing data and explain why your evidence is stronger.

Quick Checklist for the Paper

• 🗂️ Plan first – spend 2–3 minutes outlining your answer.
• 📌 Use evidence sparingly – 2–3 strong pieces are better than many weak ones.
• 🔍 Show evaluation – comment on the reliability of each source.
• 📝 Link back to the question – keep your answer focused.
• ⏱️ Time management – allocate 1–2 minutes for reviewing your answer.