Final answer:
In essay writing, evidence is derived from multiple sources, with peer-reviewed academic publications constituting the most reliable form. While online articles and encyclopedias offer introductory information, they should lead to more in-depth study. Using three to five trustworthy sources is essential for a strong essay.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evidence in essay writing can come from a variety of sources, such as books, newspapers, magazines, academic journals, credible websites, and encyclopedias. However, the strength of your essay largely depends on the quality of your sources. Peer-reviewed academic publications, which include textbooks, essays, journals, articles, reports, and scholarly books, are the gold standard of research and usually provide strong evidence for an author's claims. These sources have undergone a rigorous process called peer review, ensuring their credibility and reliability. Nonetheless, credible facts can also be obtained from newspaper articles or pieces on credible websites, which, while limited in scope, can still support your arguments or lead you to more thorough sources.
Remember that online searches may yield a mixture of credible information and misinformation. Critical thinking is required to evaluate the strength of primary and secondary sources, especially on the internet. A good rule of thumb is to consult and cite three to five reliable sources, which don't necessarily have to be scholarly but must be trustworthy and unbiased. Examples of credible sources might include government publications, reputable websites, visual sources like TED Talks, or the results of experiments or surveys.
When starting your research, encyclopedic sources like Wikipedia and Encyclopedia.com can introduce a topic and guide you to more in-depth sources. However, these should be a springboard to more refined study rather than an endpoint. As you conduct research, keep track of all your sources and the information you gather to ensure you can credit your sources accurately and return to them if further information is needed.