How can you identify strong evidence?

• A. It is widely known and widely accepted, regardless of sources.
• B. It is credible, relevant, specific, and directly supports a claim; properly sourced; explains its significance.
• C. It is the most recent study regardless of relevance.
• D. It comes from a single source and is anecdotal.

Answer: (B)

Strong evidence is credible, relevant, specific, and directly supports a claim, with proper sourcing and an explanation of its significance. Credible sources come from trustworthy research or data and use sound methods. It must address the exact claim, not something tangential, and include concrete details like data or examples. It should clearly show how it supports the claim, and it must be traceable through citations so others can verify it. Explaining its significance ties the evidence to the argument and shows why the claim is supported.

Relying on something widely known and accepted without sources can be misleading if the source is biased or outdated. The most recent study isn’t automatically strong if it isn’t relevant or well-designed. A single anecdotal source lacks breadth and generalizability, making it weaker evidence.