What term describes an idea presented to an audience to provide information or persuade them?

The term that best describes an idea presented to an audience to provide information or persuade them is "presentation." A presentation involves the systematic arrangement of information delivered to an audience, often with the aid of visual aids like slides, charts, or videos, making the content more engaging and easier to understand. Presentations are typically structured to not only convey information but also to persuade the audience towards a particular viewpoint or action, which aligns well with the goals stated in the question.

Proposals, while they can be part of a presentation, focus primarily on suggesting an idea or plan, often in a more formal written format. Lectures are usually more focused on teaching rather than persuading, and they often involve a one-way flow of information from the instructor to the students without active participation. Discussions involve dialogue and exchange of ideas among participants, which differs from the structured format of a presentation aimed at conveying a specific message or perspective to an audience. Thus, the characteristics of a presentation align perfectly with the definition provided in the question.