If a nonfiction text starts with surprising statistics and follows with personal stories, what is the likely effect on readers?

• A. It helps inform and persuade by combining data with relatable anecdotes.
• B. It undermines credibility
• C. It slows the narrative
• D. It hides the issue's complexity

Answer: (A)

Using surprising statistics at the start grabs attention and sets the scale of the issue, while following with personal stories connects those numbers to real people's lives. The statistics provide evidence and establish credibility by quantifying the problem (appealing to logic), and the personal stories engage readers’ emotions, making the issue feel tangible and memorable (appealing to empathy). Together, they inform readers with data and context while also persuading them by showing how the issue affects actual people. This approach generally enhances credibility, maintains engagement, and can reveal the nuances behind the data when stories illustrate different facets of the situation.