Some evidence prove a point. Others merely support it. Drawing that distinction is very important, as plenty of students make the mistake of assigning one to the other, leaving their arguments cracking before it even gets a chance of convincing the reader.
Proof is undeniable. When you quote how many died during wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, then it’s easy proof that war destroys lives. However, it doesn’t prove that the results of wars are entirely negative. While it does suggest it, there are too many facets required to draw that conclusion.
Suggestion is a mere interpretation. A data on the number who died in the wars can be interpreted to mean that these actions only lead to negative results. However, it can also be interpreted to mean that the wars were waged incorrectly and that, under the right circumstances, those casualties could have been prevented.
When you’re writing an essay and attempting to argue for a point, most of what you will do is interpreting information. The strength of your arguments is not the numbers itself, but the reasoning behind your interpretations. If they’re logical and well laid out, then you could make a convincing case for your main thesis.
The strength of your reasoning is actually what’s being graded in your essays for school, not the facts you were able to collate. Of course, your actual writing ability will have a bearing on it (you can’t argue well if you can’t be understood), so always use a good proofreading software to help clean up your text.
