AP Seminar: Incorporating Evidence

Summary

In this lesson, AP Seminar and Research teacher Allison Malloy guides students through the process of incorporating evidence into their arguments. She emphasizes the importance of using relevant, credible, and sufficient evidence to support claims and reasoning. Malloy explains how to evaluate the quality of evidence and the role of commentary in connecting evidence to arguments. She also discusses the significance of the reference page in assessing the range and quality of evidence, and provides tips on integrating evidence smoothly into an argument, using the metaphor of a smooth elevator ride to illustrate the concept. The lesson aims to help students develop clear, convincing arguments backed by strong evidence.

Takeaways

• 📚 The lesson focuses on incorporating evidence into an argument, emphasizing the use of qualitative and quantitative data from various sources.
• 🔍 Evidence should be used to support, extend, or complicate claims within an argument, and it must be relevant, credible, and sufficient.
• 💡 The importance of having an outline or draft before discussing evidence is stressed, as it helps in planning how to use evidence effectively.
• 📝 The rubric for evaluating evidence is explained, with a high score requiring relevant, credible, and sufficient evidence that supports an argument.
• 🔑 Credibility is determined by accuracy, trustworthiness, and consistency across sources, with questions to consider about the author's reputation and expertise.
• 🔗 Relevance means the evidence has a definitive relationship to the claim and can be defended in a logical argument.
• 📉 Sufficiency refers to the adequate amount of evidence needed to convince the reader of the validity of the claim.
• 📑 The reference page is crucial as it provides the first impression of the quality and range of evidence used in an argument.
• ✍️ Commentary is essential as it acts as a bridge between evidence and claims, explaining the relevance and credibility, and should be clear and explicit.
• 🔄 The integration of evidence should be smooth, without making the reader feel the 'stops' between different pieces of evidence, like a smooth elevator ride.
• 📈 The final advice includes using less evidence but making it essential, focusing on commentary over evidence, and using resources like Purdue OWL for grammar and formatting help.

Q & A

What is the name of the teacher presenting the lesson?

The teacher's name is Allison Malloy.

What subjects does Allison Malloy teach?

Allison Malloy teaches AP Seminar and AP Research.

At which school does Allison Malloy teach?

Allison Malloy teaches at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana.

What is the main focus of the lesson eight in the transcript?

The main focus of lesson eight is incorporating evidence to support an argument in academic writing.

What are the three key aspects of evidence discussed in the lesson?

The three key aspects of evidence discussed are sufficiency, relevance, and credibility.

What does the term 'credible' refer to in the context of academic evidence?

In the context of academic evidence, 'credible' refers to sources that are accurate, trustworthy, consistent across sources, and have a reputation for reliability.

How does the lesson define 'relevant' evidence?

'Relevant' evidence is defined as having a definitive relationship to the claim and being defensible, especially to an educated audience.

What does 'sufficient' evidence mean in the context of the lesson?

'Sufficient' evidence means providing enough facts or examples to convince someone of the validity of a claim, without being excessive.

Why is the reference page important according to the lesson?

The reference page is important because it gives the first impression of the quality and range of evidence included in the paper, and it helps determine the credibility of the sources used.

What role does commentary play in the integration of evidence and argument?

Commentary acts as a bridge that unites evidence with the purpose of the argument, explaining the relevance, credibility, and how the evidence supports, extends, or complicates the claims.

How should evidence be used to develop an argument according to the lesson?

Evidence should be used to support, extend, or complicate the claims within the argument, and it should be integrated smoothly without dominating or dictating the argument's direction.

What advice is given for improving the integration of evidence in writing?

The advice given includes using less evidence and only essential information, using commentary effectively, and ensuring that the evidence supports rather than dictates the argument's direction for a smooth and convincing integration.

What is the importance of starting with a claim rather than evidence in an argument paragraph?

Starting with a claim rather than evidence ensures that the argument is clear and focused, preventing the evidence from overshadowing or confusing the main point of the argument.

How does the lesson differentiate between the emphasis on evidence in an IRR versus the emphasis on argument in an IWA?

In an IRR, the emphasis is on the evidence itself and how different pieces of evidence connect. In contrast, an IWA emphasizes the student's argument, using evidence to support, extend, or complicate the student's claims.

What is the final advice given for evaluating and improving the use of evidence in academic writing?

The final advice includes evaluating the evidence through highlighting and checking the ratio of evidence to commentary, composing a rough draft with a bibliography, ensuring alignment between the research question and argument, and seeking help from resources like Purdue OWL for formatting and grammar questions.