Using evidence in your paper to support your thesis statement is important. The term evidence refers to ____________.

• A. Statistics, illustrations, speeches or direct quotes that prove your argument.
• B. Personal opinions without data.
• C. Anecdotes from memory.
• D. Vague impressions.

Answer: (D)

Evidence in a paper means the data and reliable information you bring in to back up your thesis. It is the material that can be checked and verified, showing how your claim is supported. This includes statistics, well-chosen examples, visuals or illustrations, and direct quotes from credible sources—anything that directly supports your argument and can be tied to your main claim.

Personal opinions without data don’t count as evidence because they aren’t verifiable or generalizable. Anecdotes from memory can illustrate a point, but they’re limited by scope and memory bias, so they don’t provide solid support for broad conclusions. Vague impressions lack specifics and aren’t persuasive because they don’t demonstrate how the claim is supported.