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One of the central features of scholarly writing is the use of evidence to make an argument. You must learn how to incorporate other scholars' writing and arguments into your own.

Importance of Including Evidence

Why is using evidence important in scholarly writing? Why can’t we just write our own thoughts? The social sciences rely on research and studies. To prove a point, we need to show where our ideas come from because scholarly writing builds on previous work, creating a larger conversation. Using research also makes our writing more credible and less biased. The goal is to present facts supported by research, allowing readers to form their own opinions.

Without using evidence, I could write something like this:

All writing instructors at Walden drink a lot of orange juice. They drink more orange juice because it gives them energy and makes them more intelligent.

Without evidence, I can’t prove to you, my reader, that what I’m saying is true. I’m just presenting information and making conclusions without any context or support. Evidence gives both the writer and the readers the necessary context and backing for the claims made.

With Evidence, I could write something like this:

A recent survey of Walden writing instructors found that 80% drink at least two glasses of orange juice daily. Smith (2024) found a strong correlation between orange juice and increased energy and intelligence. Instructors reported that orange juice boosts their energy and helps them solve complex writing issues.

Evidence is essential to support our claims, which is why scholarly writing is such a rigorous and credible source of information.

What is evidence?

When we mention evidence, you might picture a crime scene with investigators gathering clues to solve a case. This association isn’t far off. In that context, evidence consists of proof and clues that help investigators piece together information they receive second-hand. In scholarly writing, “evidence” refers to research that serves as proof or support to build an argument. If the idea of finding evidence feels overwhelming, don’t worry! You’ll be reading numerous articles and works in your field for your coursework at Walden. The good news is that all of this is evidence! Not only will you find evidence for your own papers, but you’ll also see how these articles use evidence, allowing you to adopt similar approaches in your scholarly writing.

To put it simply: Evidence is research you have conducted to support your points and ideas. This might be quotations (direct wording from a source), paraphrases (you rephrasing an idea from a source), or summaries (you summarizing findings or information).

What are some types of evidence?

There are several types of evidence you will find as you research for scholarly work through course readings and your own efforts. In your early classes you will also receive prompts with specific topics to explore, which will help you focus your research.  When you find an article, book, webpage, or other useful information, make sure to save it! You can utilize this information in your coursework in two primary ways.

Paraphrase-Review the source material and rewrite it using your own unique sentence structure. Then, incorporate this rephrased content into your paragraph, ensuring you include a citation.

Quotation-Directly repeat the exact wording from the source, place it within quotation marks, and add a citation. Keep in mind that APA guidelines suggest using quotations sparingly and favoring paraphrasing whenever possible.

When should evidence be used?

There are specific times you will want to use evidence:

  1. To support your thesis
  2. To give evidence of a main idea
  3. To strengthen your argument
  4. To illustrate a point

Using evidence appropriately also means citing your sources every time you use information that is not originally your own. Whether paraphrasing or quoting, you must use in-text citations.

Including Direct Quotes

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Problematic Usage

"APA is essential to all Walden students” (Timmerman, 2013, p. 43).

lightbulbDoes not include introduction to help connect the direct quote to the surrounding sentences.
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Revised Version

Timmerman (2013) wrote, “APA is essential to all Walden students” (p. 43).

Includes a clear introductory phrase before the direct quote to connect it to surrounding sentences.

Material from Multiple Sources

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Problematic Usage

Timmerman (2013) wrote, “APA is essential to all Walden students” (p. 43). According to Prince (2013), APA’s main purpose is to provide consistency for publications within a field of study.

lightbulbLists material from multiple sources back-to-back without an explanation, becomes simply a list of sources.
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Revised Version

Because APA’s main purpose is to provide consistency for publications within a field of study (Prince, 2013), one can see how Timmerman’s (2013) statement, “APA is essential to all Walden students” (p. 43), is accurate.

Includes a clear introductory phrase before the quote to connect it to surrounding sentences.

Including Relevancy of Source Material

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Problematic Usage

Timmerman (2013) wrote, “APA is essential to all Walden students” (p. 43). According to Prince (2013), APA’s main purpose is to provide consistency for publications within a field of study.

lightbulbDoes not clearly explain how the ideas are relevant to the claim or argument.
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Revised Version

Because APA’s main purpose is to provide consistency for publications within a field of study (Prince, 2013), one can see how Timmerman’s (2013) statement, “APA is essential to all Walden students” (p. 43), is accurate. For clarity, Walden students must maintain consistency with others in their field of study.

Includes ideas with clear explanation of the relevancy to support the claim or argument.

Also, avoid the following when integrating evidence:

  • Using only source material in a paragraph. Be sure to begin and end paragraphs with your own voice and include clear analysis.
  • Relying too heavily on one source. Try to vary your sources so that your reader can see that multiple sources support your ideas.
  • Using too many direct quotations. Instead, paraphrase to show a deeper understanding and engagement with the ideas.

Key Takeaways

  • In scholarly writing, it's crucial to use evidence and integrate other scholars' work to support your argument.
  • Support your points and ideas with evidence from your research.
  • Always cite your sources with in-text citations when using information that isn't your own, whether paraphrasing or quoting.
  • Begin and end paragraphs with your own voice with clear analysis, use multiple sources for support, and paraphrase instead of overusing direct quotations.

Check Your Understanding