How to Support Your Statements
Example
According to Duffy and Stannard (2014), our perceptions about the rate of teen pregnancy, immigration, unemployment, and other social issues are often inaccurate. For instance, Americans estimated that 24% of teenage girls had given birth, when in reality it is only 3% (Duffy & Stannard, 2014). Many people believe that teen pregnancy rates are increasing because of personal or anecdotal experience with this issue, while, in fact, teen pregnancy rates have been steadily decreasing for the past twenty years according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Trends in Teen Pregnancy, 2014).
Because teen pregnancy has such a serious and profound impact on people affected by it, it may appear to be more prevalent than it actually is. As Duffy and Stannard’s (2014) research shows, our perceptions often differ from reality. This is why it is important to support your analysis with factual information and reputable statistical/scholarly sources. Our impressions and personal experience may not always match up with overall statistical trends.
References
Duffy, B., & Stannard, J. (2014). Perceptions are not reality: Things the world gets wrong. Retrieved from https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3466/Perceptions-are-not-reality-10-things-the-world-gets-wrong.aspx
Trends in teen pregnancy and childbearing. (2014). Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/teen-pregnancy/trends.html