Evidence consists of facts or conditions that are objectively observable, beliefs or statements generally accepted as true by the recipients or conclusions previously established.

• Evidence comes in many forms, but always functions as the foundation for an argument or the grounds on which argument is based.

• When we make an argument, we move from statements we believe our receivers will accept (evidence) to statements that are disputable (claims)

• If a statement is accepted by only one party--the arguer--then it is a claim not evidence.

In the past, library catalogs and "real world" research were the primary means of obtaining evidence. While books, periodicals, and scholarly literature still contain the majority of the evidence you will use, digital technology and the World Wide Web have both added a vast array of new sources of evidence and changed the way we locate traditional sources. The information contained in this portion of the website is divided into four parts and will help you locate and evaluate both traditional and new sources of evidence:

• Searching: Whether you are looking for books and periodicals or websites, there are common strategies that you can use in conducting computer searches.

• Locating Traditional Sources: Searching your library.

• Locating New Media Sources: Searching the World Wide Web.

• Evaluating Evidence: Sorting the good from the bad.