Evidence Analysis:

Hierarchy of evidence

1.     Assertion: a claim with facts. Relies entirely on the ethos of the speaker.

2.     Common Knowledge: Generally known in the community and non controversial. Christmas falls on December 25^th.

3.     Lay opinions: Opinion of a person with no formal training in the subject. Testifying if someone were drunk.

4.     Expert opinion/Consensus of lay opinion: Expert is someone qualified by background.  Consensus-public opinion poll

5.     Empirical Study/Consensus of expert opinion: An actual case study. A sampling of experts.

6.     Consensus of studies: Many studies confirming the same finding.

Tests for Evidence:

1.     Relevant to the claim or proposition.

2.     Adequate-

a.     Importance

b.    Quality of the evidence

c.     Likelihood of conflicting evidence

d.    Salience of claim to the audience