Use of Evidence

When you’re writing an academic paper, it’s not enough to state your ideas—you need to prove them with concrete examples. That’s where evidence comes in. But one common issue many students face is not including enough evidence to back up their arguments. This can weaken your paper and make your ideas seem less convincing. Let’s talk about what this problem looks like, share some examples, and go over ways to fix it.

What Is “Lack of Evidence”?

“Lack of evidence” happens when you make a claim but don’t provide enough information to support it. Imagine telling your friend, “Ryan is the best professor in the world” without any back-up evidence. They’ll probably ask, “Why? How do you know? I don’t think so”. But if you tell them the story that professor Ryan never blames you for your poor English ability, always guides you with super patience, and finally gives you an A plus, they will probably say “wow” at this fact and select Ryan’s course in later semesters.

In academic writing, it’s the same idea. If you don’t show proof—like research, data, or examples—your reader might not believe you. For example, if you write, “Taking in too much sugar will harm people’s health” but don’t include studies, statistics, or specific examples to explain why, your statement won’t feel reliable. Similarly, if you say, “The main character wants to kill himself” without pointing to parts of the book that show this, your reader might not understand how you reached that conclusion.

Examples of the Problem

1. Too General: Saying “Technology helps everyone learn better” is too vague. Who benefits? How does it help? Where’s the proof?
2. No Support: Writing “College students are always stressed” without citing surveys, studies, or data is just an assumption.
3. Not Enough Detail: Writing “The study is unreliable” in a response essay but not showing “why” and “how” doesn’t explain what “unreliable” means.

How to Fix It?

Here’s a breakdown of different types of evidence you can use in your writing, along with examples for each. These examples show how you can strengthen your arguments with clear, specific support.

1. Research Studies and Data

Use findings from experiments, surveys, or research papers.

• “A study from the University of Texas Health Science Center indicates that, rather than promoting weight loss, the use of diet drinks might actually be a marker for increasing weight gain and obesity.”
• “During the pandemic, 54% of working moms have reported feeling they could not focus on work because they are balancing work and parenting responsibilities (Pew Research Center).”

2. Expert Opinions

Quote or paraphrase insights from recognized experts or organizations in the field.

• (Expert) “According to Dr. Jane Goodall, a world-renowned primatologist, protecting biodiversity is essential for maintaining a balanced ecosystem.”
• (Organization) “The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting calories from added sugars to less than 10 percent of total calories per day.”

3. Real-Life Examples

Include specific, relatable examples to illustrate your point.

• “During the COVID-19 pandemic, online platforms like Zoom allowed schools to continue functioning, demonstrating how technology can ensure educational continuity in emergencies.”
• “The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s serves as a powerful example of how grassroots activism can drive systemic change.”

4. Quotation or Paraphrase

Directly quote or paraphrase relevant passages from literature, speeches, or documents.

• (Quotation) “When speculating the underlying causes for pop writers’ cognition acts, Batchelor assumes that ‘the pop corpus’s use of think and believe may be due to the fact that popular articles report on very recently published research.’”
• (Paraphrase) “As Kirtida R. Tandel claims, the majority of experiments in this field are conducted on animals, which may not be directly applicable to human consumption, and caution must be exercised in extrapolating their findings.”

5. Logical Reasoning and Analogies

Logical reasoning uses logic to propose a hypothetical outcome to a situation. Analogies are comparisons between two or more things to explain an idea or concept. These are weaker types of evidence, which are not based on real events and facts. Therefore, it’s best to use this type of evidence along with other types of evidence.

• (Logical) “If the school district imposed the same dress code on all students regardless of gender, students would get to spend more time on their studies and less time dealing with suspensions for violating gendered dress code rules.”
• (Analogy) “Like Pavlov’s dogs, Americans have been conditioned to respond to ads designed to make them want.”

6. Individual Stories

Individual anecdotes include personal stories (stories from your own experience) and case studies (stories about someone else’s experience). These are also weaker types of evidence. Usually, they are most helpful at the beginning of an essay as attention-grabbers.

• (Personal) “When I started meditating for just ten minutes a day, I noticed I became less stressed and more focused, which aligns with research showing mindfulness improves mental health.”
• (Case studies) “My sister has a speech impediment. She struggles with simple tasks like ordering fast food from a drive-thru menu, participating in oral school exams, or asking store workers for help. Why? Because society does not accommodate people with speech impediments.”

Each type of evidence strengthens your argument in a unique way. By using specific, relevant examples, you provide proof that your ideas are grounded in fact, logic, or experience. When writing, think about your audience and the purpose of your paper to decide which types of evidence work best. A combination of these types of evidence often makes the most persuasive case.