Business Writing: Using Evidence to Prove Your Point

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Business WritingUsing Evidence to Prove Your
Point

• Center for Professional Communication

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Types of Reports

• Informational Reports offer data, facts,
  feedback, and other types of information without
  analysis or recommendations.
• Analytical Reports offer both information and
  analysis, and they can also include
  recommendations.

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Critical Thinking
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Persuasion

• is the ability to use argument or discussion to
  influence an individuals beliefs or actions

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Evidence

• is a term commonly used to describe the
  supporting material in persuasive writing

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Types of Evidence

• Facts and figures
• Examples
• Narratives
• Testimony
• Definition

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Analysis

• is the interpretations drawn from evidence that
  provide readers with good reasons for changing an
  attitude or following a course of conduct or
  action.

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Using Logical Analysis in Your Work

• Lay out each statement/premise clearly
• Use clear, well-edited, declarative sentences
• Provide evidence for each premise
• Use credible sources use cites
• Draw a clear connection to the conclusion
• Connect the dots for the reader dont make them
  guess

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Compare and Contrast Evidence

• Compare and contrast can build author credibility
• Use reliable sources to demonstrate knowledge
• Can demonstrate impartiality, disinterest,
  fairness

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An Example

• Statement/Premise
• Better Communication will improve our recruiting
  record.
• Evidence
• We are losing recruits to other schools. (data,
  data, data)
• Bridge
• Recruits are more likely to choose schools which
  communicate with them often during the recruiting
  process.

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An Example

• Foundation
• Research shows that frequency and quality of
  communication were key factors in influencing
  recruits to attend a specific school.
  Communication strengthened recruits initial
  interest and helped overcome objections. Our
  informal survey of recruits show that they
  receive more mail and phone calls from other
  schools than from us. (provide concrete data)

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An Example

• Claim/Point of Persuasion
• We should contact all potential recruits by
  telephone and follow up in writing.
• Counterclaim
• Our communication style might be poor. Frequent
  communication might hurt rather than help.

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An Example

• Rebuttal
• We will offer training sessions to our coaches
  and hire a consultant to help them write
  effective letters.
• Limiter
• Better communication will help us recruit more
  effectively.

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Common Flaws in Cluster Projects
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Common Flaws in Cluster Projects

• Slippery Slope
• If A happens, then B through Z will happen
• Hasty Generalizations
• Insufficient or biased evidence
• Either/or
• Oversimplifies the arguments

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Remember
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Remember
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Remember
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Remember

• Your job is to connect the dots!