FACTS OR OPINION
Much of what you read in newspapers or magazines is a mix of factual
information and the opinion of the author
Opinion are disguised as fact, to make the author’s argument seem
more believable
• For example:
• “ Registration and control of firearms in
Canada is not supported by the Canadian public, and will not lead to decrease in gun- related crime.”
• The statement in red is fact.
• The statement in blue is an opinion.
Mixing Fact with Opinion
• There is nothing wrong with mixing
opinions and fact together in an argument, of course…it’s done all the time. What is important is that the reader be able to
distinguish the fact from the opinion, in
order to make a sound judgment about the information they are receiving
Facts VS Opinion
• A statement of fact expresses only what
actually happened, or what could be proven by objective data.
• A statement of opinion expresses an attitude toward something – it makes a
judgment, view, or conclusion, or gives an opinion that cannot be proven true or false.
Fact or opinion?
• 1. More and more women are deciding to give birth to their children at home. A
hospital, after all, is not the best place for a baby to be born.
• 2. More and more women are deciding to give birth to their children at home. A
hospital, after all, is not the best place for a baby to be born.
Fact or Opinion?
• 3. B.J. Vukovich, author of Claws, the bes t-written novel of the disaster genre, will sp eak at tonight’s “How I Became An Author”
meeting.
• 4. Phillip Luttgen, satirical columnist for th e Daily News, will give a rebuttal entitled “ What is An Author?”
Fact or Opinion?
• 5. The national coal strike, now into its seventh week, has caused untold
hardships on the miners, their families, and the rest of the winter-weary nation.
• 6. Janet Guthrie, world famous auto racer, was the least nervous driver at the Indy
500.
Fact or Opinion?
7. Once the cavity reaches the dentin (the hard, dense, bone-like material that
composes the principal mass of the tooth), it must be cleaned and filled. Some
researchers, however, are beginning to question whether periodic cleaning and checking of the enamel (the calcareous substance that forms a thin layer capping the teeth) plays a significant role in
preventing tooth decay.
Fact or Opinion?
• 8. Once the cavity reaches the dentin (the hard, dense, borne-like material that
composes the principal mass of the tooth), it must be cleaned and filled. Some
researchers, however, are beginning to question whether periodic cleaning and checking of the enamel (the calcareous substance that forms a thin layer capping the teeth) plays a significant role in
preventing tooth decay.
Opinion…
• Does the author use words that interpret or
label, such as: pretty, ugly, safe, dangerous, evil, attractive, well-dressed, good, and so on?
• Are there words that clue you to statements of opinion such as: probably, perhaps, usually,
often, sometimes, on occasion, I believe, I think, in my opinion, I feel, I suggest
Fact…
• Can the fact be verified by direct observation?
• Can the facts be trusted? How did the author come to the facts?
• Does the author have the skill and
experience to make such a statement?
• Are the facts presented in an objective
manner? (any bias evident of suspected?)
Fact…
• Does the author make clear the sources of state ments from authorities? Are these authorities reli able?
• Can the study which generates the facts be dupli cated?
• Are the facts relevant to the point being made?
• Have unfavorable or negative points been left ou t? (are there counter-studies?)
• Do the facts prove the claim being made or do th ey merely suggest that the claim is reasonable?
