Doing this Fuentes makes the argument strong because right then the reader knows where Fuentes is coming from.
Statistics and other types of data in an argument can either help strengthen or it can weaken the argument this, depends on whether or not the statistics or data presented are relevant to your case or not. She uses these in paragraphs 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and throughout the rest of this article. She uses data form the National Center for Juvenile Justice to show that "between 1987 and 1996, the number of juvenile arrests increased 35 percent. Juvenile violent-crime arrests were up 60 percent" so that she can make her argument stronger by showing a recent study in 1997 by the same center that "today's violent youth commits the same number of violent acts as his/her predecessor of 15 years ago." (Paragraph 5) This type of data supports Fuentes's argument because of two things: (1) she tells the reader that things haven't changed as much as they think; which helps seeing as now the reader is enlightened by some interesting news. This news gives the reader some time to be open to what Fuentes is saying. (2) The data that she gives is from a legitimate source. Through the entire article if she uses data and statistics she says where they came from. .
Another type of evidence is outside authorities. One used is Robert Shepherd Jr. a law professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia. He is used in this article to point out that his views are like Fuentes's, people want there to be trouble in young people. This helps support her argument because it is on her way of thinking. "Exaggerated claims about juvenile crime would be a hard sell if people weren't ready to believe the worst about young people." (Paragraph 8) She then states other reasons as to why adults are "willing to condemn" these children. One thing is that children cost too much, the government intervenes all the time, all in all, they are a straight pain in the butt and a liability that no adult want to take the blame for them-selves.
