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Dont just pull numbers out of a hat

• It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to
  be moved by statistics.

Statistics as Supporting Details
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Statistics as Supporting Details
Support your IDEAS
Showcase your WORD CHOICE
Increase your essays SENTENCE FLUENCY!!
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What are Statistics?
Quite simply put Statistics are numbers.
Numbers and statistics are powerful pieces of
evidence that can effectively strengthen any
argument. However, as simple and straightforward
as these little numbers promise to be,
statistics, if not used carefully, can create
more problems than they solve.
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What are Statistics?
Percentages In a recent survey, 74 of all
students agreed.
Proportions An article in the local paper
stated, 4 out of 5 people would rather . . .
Fractions At my school, 1/3 of everyone
surveyed believed.
Using Statistics will support the idea and/or
belief you are presenting in your essay. (Also,
notice how each Statistic begins with a
Transitional Device).
Write On!
It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to
be moved by statistics.
Statistics as Supporting Details
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When using Statistics, you should
Use a transitional device to introduce the
statistic
When I asked some of my classmates . . .
A recent article stated . . .
In fact
Write On!
Current research found . . .
Evidence has shown . . .
Studies have concluded. . .
in The Sun Sentinel . . .
in Time Magazine .
on AOL News . . .
Recently, an article
cite a newspaper, magazine, or Internet source
It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to
be moved by statistics.
Statistics as Supporting Details
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When using Statistics, you should
Use proper punctuation.
Identify the source
Link it to the topic.
Make sure the Statistics supports the reason.
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How do I know if I am using Statistics
effectively?

• Ask yourself these questions

Does the Statistic support the evidence I am
trying to establish?
Does the Statistic make sense in relation to the
topic I am discussing?
Have I cited my source for the Statistic?
Have I Linked my Statistic to the information in
the paragraph effectively?
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Why is it important to use a Statistic?
By incorporating a Statistic in your quote, you
will show evidence of
Word Choice - the terminology associated with
statistics is a wonderful way to exhibit Word
Choice.
Sentence Fluency starting a sentence with a
transitional element will demonstrate a more
complicated form of sentence as opposed to the
standard S-V-O sentence.
Conventions Remember that comma after the
transition!
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Why is it important to use a Statistic?
By incorporating a Statistic in your quote, you
will show evidence of
Ideas Linking Statistics from various sources
demonstrates your ability to connect your ideas
to the topic.
Voice - Your personality can shine through when
you rephrase the quote in your own personal
style.
Organization Using a transition to introduce a
statistic and presenting it in a sequential
fashion is a logical progression from one point
to the next.
It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to
be moved by statistics.
Statistics as Supporting Details
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Important rules for writing numbers
The numbers one through nine should be spelled
out use figures for numbers 10 and above. I want
three copies. I want 10 copies.
With a group of related numbers where one number
is above nine in a sentence, write the numbers
all in figures. Use words if all related numbers
are below 10. I asked for 5 pencils, not 50. My
10 students talked to the other teachers 2
students. My nine students talked with the other
teachers two students.
Always spell out simple fractions and use hyphens
with them. One-half of the students ordered pizza
for lunch. A two-thirds majority is required for
a bill to pass in Congress.
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Important rules for writing numbers
The simplest way to express large numbers is
best. Be careful to be consistent within a
sentence. You can earn anywhere between one
million to five million dollars. You can earn
anywhere between 1,000,000 to 5,000,000.
The following examples apply when using
dates The last day of school is scheduled for
June 1. The last day of school is scheduled for
the first of June. We have had tricks played on
us on April 1. The first of April makes some
people nervous.
When expressing decades, you may spell them out
and lowercase them. During the eighties and
nineties, the United States economy grew.
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Important rules for writing numbers
You may also express decades in complete
numerals. Don't use an apostrophe between the
year and the s. During the 1980s and 1990s, the
United States economy grew.
Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one
through ninety-nine. Forty-three students were
honored at the school assembly. Twenty-three of
them were seniors.
Write out a number if it begins a
sentence. Twenty-nine students won an award for
helping their communities. The fact that 29
students won an award for helping their
communities was fantastic
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Statistics as Supporting Details
Body paragraphs using Statistics as supporting
details
Furthermore, modern technology has increased the
ease of traveling. Currently, one can reach the
other side of the globe while resting
comfortably. Its like having a living room that
can fly all around the world. Recently, the New
York Times posted an article that revealed that
almost one fourth of Americans travel on an
airplane at least twice a year, and there are
many more ways to travel besides flying. One can
easily travel by car, train, bicycle, motor home,
and a great deal more. Obviously, technology is
crucial because it allows a person to travel in
ways one never thought possible.
Furthermore, modern technology has increased the
ease of traveling. Currently, one can reach the
other side of the globe while resting
comfortably. Its like having a living room that
can fly all around the world. Recently, the New
York Times posted an article that revealed that
almost one fourth of Americans travel on an
airplane at least twice a year, and there are
many more ways to travel besides flying. One can
easily travel by car, train, bicycle, motor home,
and a great deal more. Obviously, technology is
crucial because it allows a person to travel in
ways one never thought possible.
Furthermore, modern technology has increased the
ease of traveling. Currently, one can reach the
other side of the globe while resting
comfortably. Its like having a living room that
can fly all around the world. Recently, the New
York Times posted an article that revealed that
almost one fourth of Americans travel on an
airplane at least twice a year, and there are
many more ways to travel besides flying. One can
easily travel by car, train, bicycle, motor home,
and a great deal more. Obviously, technology is
crucial because it allows a person to travel in
ways one never thought possible.
Fraction
Identify the Statistic
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Body paragraphs using Statisticsas supporting
details
Statistics as Supporting Details
To begin with, I would choose Spanish, a foreign
language, as my extra class in school because
Spanish is necessary in life to climb the career
ladder. Recent studies have shown seven out of
eight young adults who speak Spanish as well as
English are more successful in life and have more
prestigious jobs than those who do not speak
Spanish at all. Also, by being able to speak
Spanish I would be able to communicate with
people who do not speak English. I can also
have more job opportunities because many
positions now request job applicants be
bilingual. Indeed, knowing how to speak Spanish
is quickly becoming a necessity in life.  
To begin with, I would choose Spanish, a foreign
language, as my extra class in school because
Spanish is necessary in life to climb the career
ladder. Recent studies have shown seven out of
eight young adults who speak Spanish as well as
English are more successful in life and have more
prestigious jobs than those who do not speak
Spanish at all. Also, by being able to speak
Spanish I would be able to communicate with
people who do not speak English. I can also
have more job opportunities because many
positions now request job applicants be
bilingual. Indeed, knowing how to speak Spanish
is quickly becoming a necessity in life.  
Proportion
Identify the Statistic
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Body paragraphs using Statistics as supporting
details
Statistics as Supporting Details
Initially, basketball is my preferred sport to
watch because all the players, coaches, and staff
cooperate with each other. It is like seeing an
octopus all the tentacles guided by one brain.
Watching CNN last week, I learned that 70 of
Americans chose basketball as their preferred
sport to observe. Basically, in basketball there
are many positions to fill, but no one person can
do every job. If the players cooperate together
and work with their coaches, the team will be up
and running like an NBA squad. Evidently,
cooperation is one of the key aspects that makes
me love watching basketball.
Initially, basketball is my preferred sport to
watch because all the players, coaches, and staff
cooperate with each other. It is like seeing an
octopus all the tentacles guided by one brain.
Watching CNN last week, I learned that 70 of
Americans chose basketball as their preferred
sport to observe. Basically, in basketball there
are many positions to fill, but no one person can
do every job. If the players cooperate together
and work with their coaches, the team will be up
and running like an NBA squad. Evidently,
cooperation is one of the key aspects that makes
me love watching basketball.
Percentage
Identify the Statistic
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Body paragraphs using Statistics as supporting
details
Statistics as Supporting Details
First of all, technology makes the living
experience less complex. From calculating taxes
to researching information for a project,
technology is there to help. Without it, tasks
would either be nearly impossible to complete or
would take twice as much time. Comparing the
work done by a human and work done by a computer
is like racing a turtle against a cheetah there
is no competition. In fact, four out of five
teachers believe that work completed using a
computer is more thoroughly researched, more
organized, and is completed in a fraction of the
time compared to the outdated method of roaming
endlessly around the library. Thus, making tasks
easier and clearer is an important aspect of
technology.
First of all, technology makes the living
experience less complex. From calculating taxes
to researching information for a project,
technology is there to help. Without it, tasks
would either be nearly impossible to complete or
would take twice as much time. Comparing the
work done by a human and work done by a computer
is like racing a turtle against a cheetah there
is no competition. In fact, four out of five
teachers believe that work completed using a
computer is more thoroughly researched, more
organized, and is completed in a fraction of the
time compared to the outdated method of roaming
endlessly around the library. Thus, making tasks
easier and clearer is an important aspect of
technology.
Identify the Statistic
Proportion
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Body paragraphs using Statistics as supporting
details
Statistics as Supporting Details
To begin with, the curfew law should be kept in
effect because it helps keep children safe.
Studies have shown that one fourth of juvenile
occur past 1000 p.m. In fact, the rate of these
instances increase by one third between daytime
hours into nighttime hours. If children are
allowed to wander aimlessly around without adult
supervision, they will eventually become bored
and this is when the trouble starts! When a
curfew is in effect, cases of fights between
teenagers drop dramatically. Obviously, keeping
the 1000 PM curfew law is essential in keeping
our children safe.
To begin with, the curfew law should be kept in
effect because it helps keep children safe.
Studies have shown that one fourth of juvenile
occur past 1000 p.m. In fact, the rate of these
instances increase by one third between daytime
hours into nighttime hours. If children are
allowed to wander aimlessly around without adult
supervision, they will eventually become bored
and this is when the trouble starts! When a
curfew is in effect, cases of fights between
teenagers drop dramatically. Obviously, keeping
the 1000 PM curfew law is essential in keeping
our children safe.
Identify the Statistic
Fraction
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What if you dont have access to research?

• Use common sense

• Think of people you know and their opinions on
  the topic.

• Incorporate this knowledge in the form of a
  Statistic.

• General terms such as majority, minority, for
  the most part, etc.
• can take the place of specific Statistics.

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Body paragraphs using Statistics as supporting
details
Statistics as Supporting Details
Equally important, coming back with a fresher
mind is why students should not get homework over
the weekends. At my school, a majority of
students said they felt more invigorated and as
if they could work better after a homework free
weekend. If assignments are piled on students
during the weekend, then they will be studying
all weekend and wont be refreshed when school
starts again. Unquestionably, students should not
be forced to complete homework on the weekends
because then their minds will not be relaxed and
ready for the knowledge their teachers are
presenting.
Equally important, coming back with a fresher
mind is why students should not get homework over
the weekends. At my school, a majority of
students said they felt more invigorated and as
if they could work better after a homework free
weekend. If assignments are piled on students
during the weekend, then they will be studying
all weekend and wont be refreshed when school
starts again. Unquestionably, students should not
be forced to complete homework on the weekends
because then their minds will not be relaxed and
ready for the knowledge their teachers are
presenting.
Percentage
Identify the Statistic
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Body paragraphs using Statistics as supporting
details
Statistics as Supporting Details
Equally important, music soothes the soul. No
matter what age a person is, music has the
ability to immediately raise his or her spirits.
A baby is rocked to sleep with a lullaby sung by
a mother or a classical CD of baby tunes. For a
young girl, Justin Bieber automatically puts a
smile on her face and gets her feet tapping. A
bunch of teenage guys may get together to release
energy by playing Rock Band and jamming to all
kinds of classic rock songs. In fact, three out
of four of my friends admit to turning to their
iPods when stress overwhelms them. We dont
count number four because nothing ever bothers
her. Clearly, music transcends age and has the
ability to make any person feel good.
Equally important, music soothes the soul. No
matter what age a person is, music has the
ability to immediately raise his or her spirits.
A baby is rocked to sleep with a lullaby sung by
a mother or a classical CD of baby tunes. For a
young girl, Justin Bieber automatically puts a
smile on her face and gets her feet tapping. A
bunch of teenage guys may get together to release
energy by playing Rock Band and jamming to all
kinds of classic rock songs. In fact, three out
of four of my friends admit to turning to their
iPods when stress overwhelms them. We dont
count number four because nothing ever bothers
her. Clearly, music transcends age and has the
ability to make any person feel good.
Proportion
Identify the Statistic