Question

read this statement from an argumentative speech.

the 15 percent increase in orchestra enrollment is in-your-face proof that publicity pays off.

what is most needed to strengthen this statement?

facts and statistics
grammatical revisions
a personal anecdote
academic language

Explanation:

Analyze the given statement

The statement is: "The 15 percent increase in orchestra enrollment is in-your-face proof that publicity pays off."
This statement contains a statistic ("15 percent increase") which serves as factual evidence, so it does not lack facts and statistics. Grammatically, the sentence is structured correctly. A personal anecdote is not appropriate or necessary for strengthening a formal argumentative claim of this nature.

Identify the weakness in tone

The phrase "in-your-face proof" is highly informal, colloquial, and subjective. In an argumentative speech or essay, maintaining a professional, objective, and authoritative tone is crucial for credibility.

Determine the best improvement

Replacing the slang phrase "in-your-face proof" with more formal, scholarly, or objective phrasing is necessary. Therefore, the statement most needs academic language to elevate its tone and strengthen its persuasive impact.

Answer:

• facts and statistics
• grammatical revisions
• a personal anecdote
• academic language (Correct answer)