✍️ Part 10: How to Integrate Evidence and Examples in Persuasive Writing
(For IGCSE, AS Level, and IB English Exams)
A persuasive argument is only as strong as the evidence that supports it. Whether you’re arguing for animal rights, climate action, or school reform, you must back up your claims with well-chosen facts, examples, and expert opinion—without sounding like a textbook.
🎯 Why Evidence Matters
✔️ Builds credibility
✔️ Enhances logical appeal (logos)
✔️ Makes arguments more convincing and specific
✔️ Shows examiner you’re informed, not just opinionated
🔍 Facts tell. Examples sell. Combine both for impact.
🧱 Types of Evidence to Use
| Type | Example |
| Statistics/Data | “One in five children go to school hungry each day.” |
| Real-world Examples | “In Sweden, schools provide free lunches—and performance has soared.” |
| Expert Opinion | “Dr. Maria Chen, a child psychologist, warns that lack of play damages emotional growth.” |
| Anecdotes | “I once taught a boy who hadn’t eaten since the night before. He couldn’t write his own name.” |
| Historical/Current Events | “History has shown that silence during crises only worsens suffering.” |
🔗 How to Weave Evidence Smoothly Into Writing
Avoid “fact-dropping.” Instead, introduce, explain, and connect.
🔧 Use These Sentence Frames:
- According to [source/expert/statistic],
- Take the example of…
- This mirrors the situation in…
- Studies show that…
- This clearly demonstrates…
- Consider this:
🧠 Model:
According to the World Health Organization, over 800,000 people die by suicide each year. That’s one person every 40 seconds—an alarming reality that demands immediate global attention.
🛠️ Example Paragraph Using Evidence
Point: Teenagers today face intense pressure.
Evidence: A 2022 report by UNICEF revealed that 1 in 7 adolescents experiences mental health issues.
Explanation: This reflects how school stress, social media, and unstable home lives are contributing to a silent epidemic.
Link: If we don’t address this now, we risk failing an entire generation.
🧠 Higher-Level (IB/AS) Tip: Evaluate Your Evidence
Instead of just inserting facts, comment on them:
- “While statistics suggest improvement, they hide the regional disparities that still exist.”
- “Although this example is extreme, it’s not uncommon in underfunded schools.”
This shows critical thinking and gets credit in Paper 2 or HL essay.
⚠️ Common Pitfalls
| Pitfall | Solution |
| Throwing in a stat with no context | Introduce and explain the relevance |
| Using fake or generalised info | Use realistic, specific examples |
| Relying only on facts | Mix with emotional appeal and rhetorical style |
| Too many stats | Balance logic with storytelling and analysis |
💡 Examiner Tip
- IGCSE/AS: A good balance of factual accuracy, language control, and clarity of purpose is key.
- IB: Evidence is assessed under criterion C (engagement) and D (style/tone).
- You’re marked for how well you integrate and respond to your own content—not just what you insert.
📌 “Effective writers don’t just present information—they guide the reader’s response to it.”
🧪 Quick Practice Task
Prompt:
Write 1 persuasive paragraph arguing that school uniforms should be optional.
Include:
- 1 statistic or real-world example
- 1 sentence linking the evidence to your argument