The Showing Evidence Tool

1. The Showing Evidence Tool How to use it

2. Elements of an effective argument • Claim • Evidence • Reliability

3. What is a Claim • An assertion, proposition. • A statement affirming or denying something, • The answer to the question "What are you trying to prove?” • "What's your point?”

4. What is Evidence • Support, material which will convince audience/opponent • Not likely to be disputed, can be further supported, more concrete • An answer to the question, "How so?" "Why do you think so?" "Prove it!” • It is appropriate for the claim because it is relevant and strong.

5. Reliability • What links support • Can stand as proof for the claim • A principle of logic or reasoning

6. Counter Arguments • Anticipate counter arguments • we look for potential objections to the argument's reasons, objections which the person expects his or her opponents to make. Usually, these are included in arguments as opportunities for the writer to present her or his own reasons as refutations/rebuttals.

7. Types of Evidence • Personal opinion is of lower quality than published information by an expert source • Evidence that goes to the heart of a claim is stronger than evidence giving superficial support.

8. Rate the Evidence • The evidence is just someone’s opinion without any basis to back it up. • The source of the evidence appears to be credible and trustworthy, but there is no way to check. • The evidence is verifiable and the source is very reliable.

9. Organize your Evidence Work in your teams to gather, discuss, create, and rate their evidence.

10. Creating a Claim • As soon as you have gathered enough evidence • Create a claim

11. Linking Evidence

12. Evaluating a Claim • Considering all of the evidence and the quality of that evidence, this claim has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be untrue. • Circumstantial or minor evidence does seem to support this claim, but not enough to make a decision. “Reasonable doubt” exists. • The evidence provided does support the claim, but there are still uncertainties as to whether that support really proves the claim is true. This rating is the result of a “hung jury.” • There is room for interpretation or other possibility, but considering all of the evidence and the quality of that evidence, the claim is strongly supported and is most likely true and/or valid. • Considering all the evidence and the quality of that evidence, it is quite obvious that this claim is true and valid.

13. Reviewing and Accessing Work • At various points throughout the project, I can review and comment on any team’s work. • Anywhere a small triangle appears in the corner of an evidence description, quality rating, support rating, or claim, a comment can be made by the teacher, team member, or a reviewing team. 


14. Viewing Instructor Comments

15. Sources for Information • http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/reading/toulmin/pop3d.cfm • http://educate.intel.com/en/ThinkingTools/ShowingEvidence/InstructionalStrategies/ • http://educate.intel.com/en/ThinkingTools/ShowingEvidence/InstructionalStrategies/ • http://janbrett.com/games/addition_flash_cards_main.htm • http://www.google.com