Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The relevance of evidence refers to how closely it relates to the claim being made by an author. It is important for authors to evaluate the relevance of evidence in order to ensure that it supports their argument effectively.
This term refers to the trustworthiness or reliability of a source. Authors should consider the credibility of their evidence in order to determine its relevance.
Consistency: Consistency means that all pieces of evidence within an argument align with each other and support the same claim. Authors should check for consistency when evaluating the relevance of evidence.
A counterargument is an opposing viewpoint or claim that challenges the author's position. Considering counterarguments helps authors assess if their chosen evidence is relevant enough to refute them effectively.