Strong vs Weak Evidence
This type of evidence includes specific numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts.
What is concrete data / quantitative evidence?
This is how many paragraphs are in the basic essay template.
What is four paragraphs?
The essay prompt asks you to do this to both passages, not just argue your own opinion.
What is analyze / compare / determine which has stronger evidence?
The Better Business Bureau, the CDC, and Yale University are all examples of these.
What are named sources / authoritative sources / credible organizations?
You have this amount of time to complete the task.
What is “no more than 45 minutes”?
This is the number of points possible for each writing trait on the GED and HiSET Essays.
What is 2 points
When a passage says "many people believe" or "some experts think," it's using this type of weak evidence.
What are vague claims / weasel words / unsupported generalizations?
In Paragraph 1, you must state both passages' positions and do this critical thing.
What is state which passage has stronger evidence / choose which passage is stronger?
If you write "I believe rent-to-own is better," you're making this common mistake.
What is arguing your opinion instead of analyzing evidence / missing the task?
"$1,300 for a $585 laptop" is this type of evidence that's stronger than "costs significantly more."
What is specific data / concrete numbers / quantitative evidence?
A full response typically includes 4 to 7 of these, each 3-7 sentences long.
What are paragraphs?
The highest-scoring responses clearly take a stand and defend it using evidence from both passages.
What is “state a clear argument and support it with evidence from both texts”?
A study with 10,000 participants is stronger than a study with this many participants.
What is 50 participants / a small sample size / fewer people?
This paragraph requires you to include a direct quote from the stronger passage and explain what it proves.
What is Paragraph 2?
The question "Which passage provides stronger evidence?" means you must analyze this many passages.
What is both passages / two passages?
When both passages cite the same study but reach opposite conclusions, you should evaluate this.
What is how completely/accurately each passage uses the study / which interpretation is better supported?
In evaluating the passages, you should focus on claims, assumptions, reasoning, and credibility — the authors’ use of these is called this.
What is argumentation?
A writer earns full points here by using transitions such as “One example…” and “Another example…” to connect ideas smoothly.
What is “organization and logical development”?
This government agency or major university study would be more authoritative than an industry-funded report.
What is CDC / NIH / Harvard / Yale / Stanford / any major university or government source?
In Paragraph 3, you must explain why the weaker passage is weak AND do this additional thing.
What is show how the weakness proves the stronger passage's point / connect it back to the stronger argument?
Even if you personally disagree with a passage, you might still have to do this if it has better evidence.
What is choose it as the stronger passage / acknowledge its evidence is more convincing?
A passage that addresses counterarguments is generally stronger than one that does this.
What is ignores opposing views / pretends there are no valid criticisms / oversimplifies?
Your response must do this: pick which position is better supported, explain why, and support your assertions with multiple pieces of evidence.
What is “determine which position is better supported and defend it with evidence”?
High-scoring essays strengthen their argument by doing this to the opposing point of view: recognizing its weaknesses and countering with facts.
What is “acknowledging and refuting the opposing argument”?
This is what makes a 2023 study generally stronger than a 2001 study, especially for technology or policy topics.
What is being more recent / having current data / reflecting modern conditions?
If you're running out of time, these two paragraphs are MOST critical to complete
What are Paragraphs 1 and 2 / the introduction and stronger passage paragraph?
This is the difference between an argumentative essay and an analytical essay about evidence.
What is: argumentative = defend your position, analytical = evaluate which passage makes a better case?
"Studies show" without naming the study is weaker than evidence that includes these three specific details.
What are: who conducted the study, sample size, and specific findings / source name, date, and data?
At the end you must do this: choose words carefully, vary your sentence structure, and then do this to polish your work.
What is “reread and revise your response to correct errors in grammar, usage, or punctuation”?
To earn full credit in Trait 3, a writer must do this consistently—using correct grammar, sentence variety, and clear word choice.
What is “follow the conventions of standard written English”?