Final answer:
The legitimacy of evidence supporting a writer's claims depends on the credibility and reliability of the sources, such as primary or secondary documents, statistics, and examples. Assessing for bias and corroborating findings with additional sources is essential to validating claims. A close reading of literary texts and consideration of all evidence, including points that may contradict a position, are critical steps in evaluating an argument.
Step-by-step explanation:
The evidence used to support a writer's claims typically comes from a variety of sources, such as primary or secondary documents, statistical data, real-world examples, expert opinions, and historical texts. Whether these sources are legitimate often depends on their credibility, reliability, and absence of bias. It is imperative to determine if evidence is drawn from a reputable source, and whether it is presented fairly, without distortion by personal beliefs or other influences.
Primary sources provide firsthand accounts from the time period being studied, while secondary sources interpret or analyze primary sources. Knowing whether a source is primary or secondary is crucial as it impacts the interpretation of the information. Trevor's use of facts, statistics, and examples should be assessed for their origins. The author's logic and whether they omit relevant points should be considered when determining the persuasiveness of their evidence. Additionally, documents should be evaluated on their reliability; for instance, considering the context, Morris Rossabi as a historian specializing in Mongol history might be a reliable source.
Researchers often need to corroborate findings with additional sources. This involves locating multiple sources that agree with each other, thus adding weight to the conclusions drawn. In literature, evidence from the text itself is crucial and should be selected through careful analysis and close reading. Authors may also make claims supported by evidence in non-academic activities, providing a practical context for how arguments are constructed and supported. It's necessary to scrutinize each piece of evidence against the claims made and consider if the article presents anything contrary to one's position.