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Kari is responsible for presenting a controversial topic to an audience that does not support her position. Which type of opening statement would best help Kari show her listeners that she understands their perspective

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Final answer:

To effectively present a controversial topic to an oppositional audience, Kari must acknowledge their perspective in her opening statement. She should use pathos to foster empathy and pair this with a balanced and respectful explanation of her own stance, providing evidence and addressing possible counterarguments.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order for Kari to most effectively present a controversial topic to an audience that does not support her position, she should utilize an opening statement that acknowledges the opposing view. In doing so, Kari would demonstrate that she recognizes and understands their perspective, a strategy often referred to as acknowledging the opposition.

For instance, if Kari was arguing that homework is beneficial for student learning, but her audience is comprised of students who do not like homework, her opening statement could recognize their views by saying something like, 'I understand that homework can feel overwhelming and time-consuming.'

This method, used with pathos, evokes empathy and tends to make the audience more responsive to the presenter. Matching this with a factual, respectful, and thorough explanation of her own position creates a balance that can open up the audience's willingness to consider her perspective. She should also provide evidence to challenge conventional expectations in rhetorically effective ways and anticipate potential counterarguments to enforce her position.

Learn more about acknowledging the opposition

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