<p>Ok, so I know that the GRE essays will not ask you for outside research, but what if your evidence is not common knowledge? </p>
<p>For example (this is from the Princeton Review book), a topic that debates censorship of music and film is presented and you are arguing against it. You want to say that research has not yet formed a causal link between violent programing and violent behavior.</p>
<p>If this were any other essay, most readers would first ask: Where the hell did you get that bit of information? Which journal? What year?</p>
<p>Is it OK to just say stuff like this without proof? If so, what's stopping me or anyone else from fabricating information when it isn't common knowledge?</p>
<p>Furthermore, if you don't know a number, but you know it's significant or insignificant, what do you do?</p>
<p>Another example: The casualties from the Vietnam War. Do I just say that many died? Or should I guess a number to seem more specific?</p>