Minutes a day n e w y o r k

A Word of Advice
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The strength of expert opinion and analysis as evidence comes from the fact that your sources are experts.
They’ve spend a great deal of time studying the issue or experiencing the phenomenon you’re describing. In some
cases, they know the issue far better that you or your readers do.
That’s why you must give the credentials of any cited expert. It is not good to quote the author of Jane Austen:
The Ultimate Readers’ Guide on his opinions about Pride and Prejudice if you don’t mention his book. This also
helps avoid plagiarism. For another example, recall the flat tax essay. Its assertions could be supported with the
following expert sources and their opinions:
■
Dr. Alan Auerbach, professor of Economics at the University of California of Berkeley and former chief economist
at the Joint Committee on Taxation, estimates that the average family of four will have $3,000 more in income
per year with a flat tax.
■
The Tax Foundation, a nonprofit tax think tank, estimates that America spends $140 billion complying with the
current tax code—a cost that would be reduced 94% by instituting a flat tax.
Be certain to give enough identifying information about each expert source to convince your reader of the
importance of his or her opinion.