Facts, Opinions, and BiasNotes pages 9 - 14

Fact versus OpinionOpinions are the

beliefs you hold and the judgements you make about the events in the world around you.

They are subjective and form as a result of your life experience. 

• Facts are indisputable truths, knowledge that is certain and incontestable.

• Personal experience cannot change factual information .

• Facts are objective.

Although the information (facts) is the same, opinions are highly subjective and can be very different reflecting the experience of the observer.Public opinion in N.A.

turned against DDT when the mosquito control was no longer seen to be worth the environmental costs.

Opinions, based on facts, led to a ban of DDT in North America.

Ban promoted globally, accepted by many countries affected by malaria.

High death toll in malarial nations led to backlash against the DDT ban.

Public opinion in these nations: better to use DDT to prevent malaria and save lives.

DDT is banned in 120 countries but used in many malarial nations for mosquito control.

New facts can lead to a change in opinion.

West Nile virus kills 17 in Texas, sickens hundredsAFP – Wed, 15 Aug, 2012

Mosquitos are seen inside a trap in June 2012. The US state of Texas is battling …The southwestern US state of Texas is battling an outbreak of the West Nile virus, with17 deaths blamed on the mosquito-borne disease, authorities said Wednesday.Throughout the state 465 people have been sickened since the start of the year, putting it on track to have the most cases since the disease first emerged a decade ago, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.

Bias is the presentation of an issue from a single point of view. It can be detected be examining use of language, especially the

choice of verbs & adjectives.

Denver Post

red wings 5, avalanche 3Injury begins Avs' tumble

Detroit News

Red Wings 5, Avalanche 3

Wings are too much for Avalanche

http://www.umich.edu/~newsbias/wordchoice.html

Ottawa Citizen

Senators snap winless skid at 11EDMONTON — It was relief a long time coming.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Senators+snap+winless+skid/4272699/story.html

The Ottawa Sun

Sens end losing streak at 11EDMONTON — The bleeding has stopped.

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2011/02/12/17253711.html

Levels of confidence:Highest in academic articles, professional

journals, and most scholarly books because they are subject to independent editorial review.

Lower in magazines and newspapers not subject to review but which are financially responsible.

Lowest in sources where peer review & financial accountability are absent.

World’s largest hydropower plantWorld’s largest water conservation facilityGuarantee smooth navigation at the construction

siteWorld’s largest inundated area by a single projectCharming scenery untouched by damming of the

mid-sectionFavourable start of the massive resettlement drive

Some Facts About The Three Gorges Dam Project

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China (USA)

Unfavourable political and economic conditionsToo costlyCatastrophic floodingnot contribute much to shippingopposition or abstention from one third of

delegatescorruption scandals, briberyskimped, shoddyhuman rights violatedclogged portsobsolete

Three Gorges Dam Project

Probe International

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~vanti20m/classweb/website/benefits.html

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~vanti20m/classweb/website/benefits.html

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Chinese-government-fears-Three-Gorges-Dam-%E2%80%9Ccatastrophe%E2%80%9D-10404.html

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~vanti20m/classweb/website/environmentalimpact.html

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~vanti20m/classweb/website/socialconsequences.html

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