Question

An effective argumentative essay must provide evidence because
evidence appeals to the reader's sense of logic.
the evidence will be used to support the counterclaim.
a conclusion cannot be made without it.
it explains the source of the claim.

Answer 1

Best answer: "evidence appeals to the reader's sense of logic."

Why: evidence (facts, statistics, expert testimony, examples) provides the logical support (logos) that makes an argument convincing. It shows why your claim is reasonable and helps readers accept your conclusion.

Why the others are off:
- Evidence is not used to support the counterclaim; it’s used to support your claim and to rebut or weaken opposing claims.
- Saying “a conclusion cannot be made without it” is overstated — you can state a conclusion without evidence, but it won’t be persuasive or well-supported.
- Evidence doesn’t “explain the source of the claim”; citations identify sources, while the evidence itself supports the claim.