Final answer:
To persuade an audience to change their point of view, an argument that uses statistical evidence is the most effective, as it appeals to logic and provides concrete support for a claim. Understanding your audience is also crucial for selecting the type of evidence that will be most compelling.
Step-by-step explanation:
The argument that would present an audience with statistics and numbers to convince them to change their point of view is one that relies on statistical evidence. This type of evidence appeals to the audience's sense of logic and provides concrete data to support a claim. For example, in the context of a debate about the Vietnam War, a protestor might use specific numbers to underscore the human and financial costs of the conflict, thereby strengthening their argument. Similarly, President Johnson might use statistics as supporting evidence to highlight the transformative potential of the Great Society in classrooms. Desmond's approach of incorporating statistical evidence along with anecdotal evidence shows a well-rounded strategy to craft a persuasive argument. Using statistical evidence effectively answers the 'So what?' question by clarifying the importance of the topic and demonstrating why the audience should care.
Understanding the target audience plays a vital role in crafting an argument. Different types of evidence may resonate differently depending on the audience's predispositions and their receptiveness to logical or emotional appeals. An academic audience, for instance, might require more rigorously presented statistics compared to a general public gathering, which might be moved by a combination of statistics and personalized stories.