what is a direct and indirect support when writing an essay? what makes it direct or indirect?
When writing an essay, support refers to the evidence, examples, or reasoning you use to back up your main points or arguments. Both direct and indirect support can be used to strengthen your essay.
Direct support is when you provide explicit information or facts to support your main point. It includes direct quotations, statistics, expert opinions, or specific examples. Direct support is considered strong and reliable because it presents concrete evidence that can be easily verified by the reader. When using direct support, it is important to ensure that you accurately cite your sources to maintain academic integrity.
For example, if you are writing an essay about the benefits of exercise, a direct support could be a quotation from a reputable health expert stating that physical activity improves cardiovascular health.
On the other hand, indirect support is when you use evidence that is not explicitly stated but can be inferred or assumed. It includes anecdotal evidence, general observations, analogies, or logical reasoning. Indirect support helps to provide context, make connections, or appeal to the reader's emotions. However, it is considered less strong because it relies on interpretation and may vary in credibility.
Continuing the example of an essay about the benefits of exercise, an indirect support could be a personal story about how exercise improved your own mental health. While it lacks the objectivity of direct support, it still adds a persuasive element to your argument.
In summary, direct support provides specific and verifiable evidence, while indirect support relies on inference, observation, or personal experiences. Both types of support can be effective depending on the context and purpose of your essay.