Using Evidence

Depending upon the purpose of the assignment, research can be used to accomplish many things. Whether you are writing to inform, persuade, or critique, research can be used in conjunction with your own ideas to support your thesis and your purpose. You can not let the research speak for itself. You, the writer of the document, are the most important voice. You are using outside sources to support your thesis. Therefore, let your comments, connections, objections, etc. play the strongest role in your paper for your audience.

In practical terms, some ways to develop and back up your assertions include:

• Blend sources with your assertions. Organize your sources so that they blend within paragraphs. Your paper—both as a whole and at the paragraph level—should aim to reveal relationships between your own ideas and those of your sources.
• Write an original introduction and conclusion. Make your introduction and conclusion reflect your ideas and understanding from your research. Use sources minimally in your introduction and conclusion.
• Open and close paragraphs with originality. Use the openings and closings of your paragraphs as a way to guide your readers through your thinking on the topic.
• Use transparent rhetorical strategies. When appropriate, practice such rhetorical strategies as analysis, synthesis, comparison, contrast, summary, description, definition, evaluation, classification, and even narration. Show your reader that you are thinking as you write.

MEAL Paragraphs

Your paragraphs in a research paper will focus on presenting the information you found in your source material and commenting on or analyzing that information. It’s not enough to simply present the information in your body paragraphs and move on. You want to give that information a purpose and connect it to your main idea or thesis statement.

Your body paragraphs in a research paper will include summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting your source material, but you may be wondering if there is an effective way to organize this information.

Duke University coined a term called the “MEAL Plan” that provides an effective structure for paragraphs in an academic research paper: Main Idea, Evidence, Analysis, and Lead out, or Link. Select the pluses to learn more about what each letter stands for. Click on the plus signs to read more about the main idea, evidence, analysis, and lead out.

Anytime you include evidence in your paper, you must clarify where your own ideas end and the cited information begins. Part of your job is to help your reader draw the line between your original thoughts and your research. The best way to do this is to create context for the cited information. A phrase such as “A 1979 study reveals…” is an obvious announcement of a citation to come.

When you quote or paraphrase an outside source, provide appropriate in-text citations. Following the citation, you must comment on this information: its significance, relevance, or even failure of the information as it relates to the thesis of your essay. Avoid stacking together quote after quote without showing your audience the purpose of the information. Always provide context for what you think of a citation and how it relates to your thesis.

It is essential to use outside sources to support your argument. In many cases, researching will reveal evidence that might relate to the topic but does not support your position or “side” of the argument. Many assignments will ask you to acknowledge the other sides of the argument, so be sure to research your topic thoroughly and from many angles. Don’t just find sources that agree with your view. Remember that most issues are complex and have multiple “sides” or perspectives; a simple pro-con may not help you address the nuances or complexities of issues. Listen to and understand the variety of perspectives offered.

Within the pages of your research essay, it is important to properly reference and cite your sources to avoid plagiarism and to give credit for original ideas.