You've learned how to check a source's credibility with the "3 As" and how to test if evidence is relevant and sufficient. Now, let's combine these skills to perform a full evidence checkup.

Engagement Message

Ready to put it all together?

Type

Sort Into Boxes

Practice Question

Let's start with a quick review. Sort these evidence characteristics into "Good Signs" versus "Red Flags" for trustworthy evidence.

Labels

• First Box Label: Good Signs
• Second Box Label: Red Flags

First Box Items

• Cites Studies
• Sufficient Sample

Second Box Items

• Anonymous Author
• Irrelevant Data
• Sponsored Content
• Small Sample Size

Type

Multiple Choice

Practice Question

A website claims, "Our new brain-boosting supplement is proven to make you smarter!" The only evidence is a testimonial from one customer who says he "feels sharper."

What is the primary weakness of this evidence?

A. The website doesn't cite any scientific studies. B. The testimonial should include the customer's full name and photo. C. The customer testimonial is completely irrelevant. D. The source has a clear agenda to sell a product.

Suggested Answers

• A
• B
• C
• D - Correct

Type

Fill In The Blanks

Markdown With Blanks

Let's analyze another scenario. Fill in the blanks to identify the flaws.

A politician argues that he improved the economy by pointing out that the city's most popular sports team won a championship during his term. This evidence is [[blank:irrelevant]] because a sports victory doesn't cause economic growth. Furthermore, since he is trying to win votes, the claim has a biased [[blank:agenda]].

Suggested Answers

• irrelevant
• agenda
• insufficient
• author

Type

Swipe Left or Right

Practice Question

Time to judge some evidence scenarios. Swipe left for "Strong Evidence" and right for "Flawed Evidence."

Labels

• Left Label: Strong Evidence
• Right Label: Flawed Evidence

Left Label Items

• A large, peer-reviewed study showing a new vaccine is 95% effective.
• A government report on unemployment that cites specific data sources.

Right Label Items

• An anonymous blog post claiming a miracle cure with no sources.
• An argument that a new school policy is great, based only on the principal's opinion.
• A claim that a diet works for everyone, based on the author's personal success story.

Type

Multiple Choice

Practice Question

A company claims, "9 out of 10 dentists recommend our toothpaste!" The study was funded by the toothpaste company and only surveyed ten dentists who were paid for their time.

Which of the "3 As" is most compromised here?

A. Author B. Agenda C. Accuracy D. All of the above

Suggested Answers

• A
• B - Correct
• C
• D