Arguments & Evidence

Time to read: 10-12 minutes

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Evidence is your best friend

Here's something I learned early on: knowing stuff isn't enough. You need to prove you know it. That's where evidence comes in.

But here's the thing — most students treat evidence like a box-ticking exercise. They drop a quote, slap a citation on it, and move on. That's what I call "quote dumping," and markers hate it.

In this guide, I'll show you:

• What actually counts as good evidence
• When to quote, paraphrase, or summarise
• How to integrate sources smoothly (no quote dumping)
• The "So what?" test — why analysis matters

Let's get into it.

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What Counts as Good Evidence?

Not all evidence is created equal. Here's what markers look for:

Strong Evidence:

✅ Academic sources — peer-reviewed journals, books by experts, official reports
✅ Recent research — unless you're doing history, stick to the last 5-10 years
✅ Relevant to your argument — it should directly support the point you're making
✅ Credible authors — recognised experts in the field

Weak Evidence:

❌ Random websites — Wikipedia, blogs, opinion pieces
❌ Outdated research — a 1987 study on social media won't cut it
❌ Off-topic sources — tangentially related doesn't count
❌ Anecdotal evidence — "my mate reckons..." isn't academic

Pro tip: If you wouldn't cite it in front of your lecturer, don't use it.

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The Evidence Sandwich (No Quote Dumping Allowed)

Here's the golden rule: never drop a quote and run. Every piece of evidence needs three things:

1. Introduce the source

Tell your reader who said it and why they matter.

Bad: "Social media increases anxiety (Smith, 2020)."
Good: "Leading psychologist Dr. Sarah Smith (2020) argues that social media increases anxiety..."

2. Present the evidence

Quote, paraphrase, or summarise. More on this in a sec.

3. Analyse it (the "So what?")

This is the bit most students skip. Explain why this evidence matters and how it supports your argument.

Bad: Smith (2020) found that 60% of teenagers report anxiety from social media.
Good: Smith (2020) found that 60% of teenagers report anxiety from social media. This suggests that platforms designed for connection may paradoxically be increasing isolation and mental health struggles among young people.

See the difference? The second version doesn't just present a fact — it explains what it means.

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Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarise?

Right, so when do you use each? Here's my rule of thumb:

Quote directly when:

• The author's exact words are unique or powerful
• You're analysing the language itself
• The phrasing is so clear it can't be improved

Example:

As Orwell (1946) famously wrote, "If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought."

Paraphrase when:

• You want to use the idea but the original is wordy or complex
• You're combining points from multiple sources
• The specific wording doesn't matter

Example:

Orwell (1946) argued that the relationship between thought and language is reciprocal — each shapes the other.

Summarise when:

• You need the general gist, not the details
• You're referencing a larger argument or study
• Space is tight

Example:

Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language" (1946) explores how unclear writing reflects unclear thinking.

Golden rule: Paraphrase > Quote. Markers want to see your writing, not a patchwork quilt of other people's words.

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Synthesis: Weaving Sources Together

Here's where things level up. Instead of presenting sources one by one, you synthesise them — combine multiple perspectives into one cohesive argument.

Bad (list format):

Smith (2020) says social media increases anxiety. Jones (2019) found that teenagers spend 4 hours a day online. Brown (2021) argues that platforms exploit attention.

Good (synthesis):

Social media's impact on teenage mental health stems from both overuse and design. While Smith (2020) links platform use to increased anxiety, Jones (2019) found that teenagers spend an average of 4 hours daily online — a figure Brown (2021) attributes to platforms deliberately exploiting attention for profit. Together, these studies suggest a systemic problem rather than isolated user behaviour.

See how the second version connects the dots? That's synthesis. You're showing how sources relate to each other and building a bigger picture.

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Avoiding "Quote Dumping"

Quote dumping is when you drop a quote into your essay without introduction or analysis. It looks like this:

Social media has changed how we communicate. "60% of teenagers report anxiety from social media use" (Smith, 2020). This is a problem.

What's wrong with this?

• No context (who is Smith? Why should we trust them?)
• No analysis (why does this statistic matter?)
• The quote just floats there awkwardly

Here's the fix:

Social media has fundamentally altered teenage communication patterns, often to their detriment. Leading psychologist Dr. Sarah Smith (2020) found that 60% of teenagers report anxiety directly linked to social media use. This alarming figure suggests that platforms designed for connection may paradoxically be driving isolation and mental health struggles among young people.

Much better. Now the evidence is integrated — it flows naturally and serves a clear purpose.

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The "So What?" Test

After every piece of evidence, ask yourself: So what?

• You've quoted a statistic. So what does it mean?
• You've cited an expert. So what does their view tell us?
• You've presented a case study. So what does it prove?

If you can't answer "So what?" — if the evidence just sits there without explanation — it's not doing its job.

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How Much Evidence Is Enough?

Good question. Here's my rule:

• One key piece of evidence per paragraph (minimum)
• Two to three sources per major point if you're synthesising
• Don't overload — more evidence doesn't always mean a better argument

Quality > Quantity. One well-analysed source beats five poorly integrated ones.

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Key Takeaways

✅ Use credible, recent, relevant sources
✅ Never quote dump — always introduce, present, and analyse
✅ Paraphrase more than you quote
✅ Synthesise sources to build a bigger argument
✅ Always answer "So what?" — explain why the evidence matters

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