Avoiding Debatable Supports

Who Said It? (Delivery)

There are four acceptable sources of supports: Experts (whose work you cite), author (descriptions of your own beliefs and experiences), generally accepted beliefs (“as everyone knows ….”) and logical argument (beginning with a “given’ from an expert, the author or generalization). All must be introduced and “cited” correctly.

“Expert”: Quote/Summary of what someone else said/wrote

· Clear signal phrase, Proper in-text citation

Author: Opinion, Personal evidence of what you believe or have experienced

· Clear signal phrase, Separate from other sources

“Everyone Knows”: Generalizations of what “We” believe

· Clear signal phrase, Separate from other sources

· Careful! Is it really something the reader agrees with or believes?

Logical Argument: Analysis beginning with one of the above.

· Clear signal phrase, Separate from other sources

· Careful! Are you using sound logic? (See “Fallacies”)

Who Said It? (Context)

Even if the source is clear, the support may not fit the argument. If it isn’t relevant or valid, don’t use it!

· Relevance of Support: Important to reader and problem discussed

· Validity of Source: Accepted as expert or common knowledge/value

How Was It Said?

Supports should be non-debatable statements that reinforce a single thesis.

· Value Statements: Someone should do/feel/believe something (Debatable)

o NOT acceptable as supports

§ A separate thesis? (Multiple theses)

§ Restating original thesis? (Begs question)

· Report Statements: Someone said/did/expressed something or logical argument (Non-debatable)

o Acceptable as supports

Where Does It Occur?

Readers expect the thesis to be separate from the supports.

· Keep supports in body

· Keep thesis in introduction and conclusion