1. Visual Representation of Data: Graphs provide a clear and concise way to visualize complex data sets. They make trends, patterns, and relationships easier to understand than simply listing numbers or statistics.
2. Strong Evidence: Graphs offer strong, visual evidence to support claims made in an argument. They can be used to demonstrate correlations, illustrate trends over time, or compare different sets of data.
3. Persuasion: Graphs can be persuasive tools, helping to convince the audience of the author's point of view. A well-designed graph can be more impactful than a lengthy description of data.
4. Clarity and Objectivity: Graphs can help to present information in a clear and objective manner. They can avoid bias by showing the raw data without interpretation.
5. Engagement: Graphs can be more engaging and interesting to readers than blocks of text. They can help to break up the monotony and make the argument more visually appealing.
Specific examples of why an author might use a graph:
* To show a trend over time: For example, a graph showing the increase in global temperature over the past century could support an argument about climate change.
* To compare different groups: A bar graph comparing the percentage of men and women in STEM fields could be used to argue for greater representation of women in these fields.
* To illustrate a relationship between two variables: A scatter plot showing the relationship between income and education levels could be used to argue for the importance of education in achieving financial success.
In general, using graphs as sources can strengthen an argument by providing strong, visual evidence and enhancing the clarity and persuasiveness of the presentation.