Final answer:
The three main types of evidence in a legal context are verbal, real, and documentary. These include witness testimony, physical objects relevant to a case, and documents, respectively. Recognizing the appropriate use of these types of evidence is critical in both legal and academic settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Types of Evidence
The three main types of evidence often considered in legal contexts are verbal, real, and documentary evidence. Verbal evidence is what a witness says in court, which encompasses anything from testimony about what the witness saw or heard, to expert opinions. Real evidence, also known as physical evidence, includes any material objects, such as a weapon or a piece of clothing, that plays some role in the matter before the court. Documentary evidence consists of documents like written contracts, emails, or financial records. Depending on the context of the investigation or trial, different types of evidence may be required or be more persuasive.
For instance, consider a scenario where the police apprehend suspects of an armed robbery. If they have real evidence that the suspects carried unlawful weapons, this could strongly support the charges. Without direct, tangible evidence tying the suspects to the armed robbery itself, however, the police would need to rely on other forms of evidence, such as witness testimony, which is a form of verbal evidence, or maybe security footage, which could be considered documentary evidence if it is in a digital or video format.
In academic contexts, citing evidence also holds significant importance. The common types of citation to present evidence in an academic argument are quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing. Each field has its own standards for what constitutes strong evidence, so attention should be paid to the requirements of the specific academic discipline.