Welcome to the Welcome to the Unit 8 Seminar Unit 8 Seminar

for KU 120!for KU 120!Fact vs. OpinionFact vs. Opinion

Week’s AssignmentsWeek’s Assignments

Discussion Board PostsDiscussion Board Posts SeminarSeminar KU 085 Activities- Critical Thinking KU 085 Activities- Critical Thinking

TestTest Complete Math Placement ExamComplete Math Placement Exam Read Chapter Nine in textbookRead Chapter Nine in textbook

Key ConceptsKey Concepts Fact –- Fact –- Something that exists and can be verified that Something that exists and can be verified that

has happened; an objective piece of information. For has happened; an objective piece of information. For example, this statement is factual: “The temperature example, this statement is factual: “The temperature outside is 45 degrees Fahrenheit” because it can be outside is 45 degrees Fahrenheit” because it can be verified by a thermometer.verified by a thermometer.

Opinion –- Opinion –- A personal feeling or view about a situation; A personal feeling or view about a situation; a subjective piece of information. For example: “It feels a subjective piece of information. For example: “It feels cold outside” is an opinion that is dependent upon the cold outside” is an opinion that is dependent upon the speaker’s point of view. Someone from a tropical area speaker’s point of view. Someone from a tropical area like Hawaii may think that temperatures below 60 like Hawaii may think that temperatures below 60 degree Fahrenheit are cooler, but a person from Alaska degree Fahrenheit are cooler, but a person from Alaska may have a different perspective and think that “cold” may have a different perspective and think that “cold” is anything below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.is anything below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Objective –- Objective –- Information not based on emotion or bias.Information not based on emotion or bias. Subjective –- Subjective –- Influenced or based on a person’s Influenced or based on a person’s

feelings or thoughts.feelings or thoughts.

Facts…Facts…

1. Can be verified for accuracy.1. Can be verified for accuracy.

2. Rely on denotative language.2. Rely on denotative language.

3. Are not shaped or affected by a 3. Are not shaped or affected by a writer’s personality, background, or writer’s personality, background, or training.training.

4. Frequently use numbers, statistics, 4. Frequently use numbers, statistics, dates, and measurements.dates, and measurements.

5. Name and describe but do not 5. Name and describe but do not evaluate.evaluate.

Opinions…Opinions…

1. Cannot be verified for accuracy.1. Cannot be verified for accuracy.2. Can be labeled valid or invalid, sound or 2. Can be labeled valid or invalid, sound or

unsound, informed or uninformed unsound, informed or uninformed depending on amount of support offered.depending on amount of support offered.

3. Rely on connotative language.3. Rely on connotative language.4. Are affected by the writer’s personality, 4. Are affected by the writer’s personality,

background, and training.background, and training.5. Frequently express comparisons.5. Frequently express comparisons.6. Often make value judgments.6. Often make value judgments.7. Are often introduced by words such as 7. Are often introduced by words such as

“appears, seems, apparently, probably, etc.“appears, seems, apparently, probably, etc.

Facts and OpinionsFacts and Opinions A A fact fact is a specific detail that can be is a specific detail that can be

proven as true based on objective proven as true based on objective evidence.evidence.

An An opinion opinion is a feeling, judgment, is a feeling, judgment, belief, or conclusion that cannot be belief, or conclusion that cannot be proven true by objective evidence.proven true by objective evidence.

Objective proofObjective proof can be one or more can be one or more of the following: physical evidence, of the following: physical evidence, an eyewitness account, or the result an eyewitness account, or the result of an accepted scientific method.of an accepted scientific method.

Separating Fact from Separating Fact from OpinionOpinion Know the traits of facts and Know the traits of facts and

opinions. opinions.

Fact:Fact: Spinach is a source of iron. Spinach is a source of iron.

Opinion:Opinion: Spinach tastes awful. Spinach tastes awful.

Facts and OpinionsFacts and Opinions FactFact

ObjectiveObjective States realityStates reality Can be verifiedCan be verified Presented with Presented with

unbiased wordsunbiased words

““Spinach is a form of Spinach is a form of iron.”iron.”

OpinionOpinion SubjectiveSubjective Interprets realityInterprets reality Can NOT be Can NOT be

verifiedverified Presented with Presented with

value wordsvalue words

““Spinach tastes awful.”Spinach tastes awful.”

Fact or Opinion?Fact or Opinion?

1. Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, 1. Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany, in 1879.Germany, in 1879.

2. Physicians are notoriously scornful 2. Physicians are notoriously scornful of scientists from other fields.of scientists from other fields.

3. Moenia is the best alternative rock 3. Moenia is the best alternative rock group ever to come out of Mexico.group ever to come out of Mexico.

Fact or Opinion?Fact or Opinion? __A spinning class is a group __A spinning class is a group

exercise program of about 45 exercise program of about 45 minutes riding on a stationary minutes riding on a stationary bike.bike.

__A spinning class is a form of __A spinning class is a form of torture.torture.

Fact or Opinion?Fact or Opinion? FF A spinning class is a group A spinning class is a group

exercise program of about 45 exercise program of about 45 minutes riding on a stationary bike. minutes riding on a stationary bike. (Can be verified by going to a class.)(Can be verified by going to a class.)

OO A spinning class is a form of A spinning class is a form of torture. torture. (Some people may enjoy the (Some people may enjoy the class.)class.)

Fact or Opinion?Fact or Opinion?

4. Politicians too often base their 4. Politicians too often base their positions on polls rather than on the positions on polls rather than on the public good.public good.

5. Comedian Lenny Bruce dies of a 5. Comedian Lenny Bruce dies of a morphine overdose in 1966.morphine overdose in 1966.

6. The 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case 6. The 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case Miller v. California resulted in a Miller v. California resulted in a method for testing obscenity.method for testing obscenity.

Biased WordsBiased Words awfulawful amazingamazing betterbetter bestbest badbad beautifulbeautiful believebelieve disgustingdisgusting excitingexciting

favoritefavorite frightfulfrightful funfun horriblehorrible miserablemiserable nevernever probably probably thinkthink smartsmart

Example:Example: ““In point of fact, computers make In point of fact, computers make

life miserable.”life miserable.”

Explanation: “Miserable” makes this Explanation: “Miserable” makes this a general opinion.a general opinion.

Example:Example:

““The great grasslands of the West The great grasslands of the West should not have been plowed under should not have been plowed under for crops.”for crops.”

Explanation: The grasslands Explanation: The grasslands werewere plowed under, but whether or not plowed under, but whether or not they “should not have been” is a they “should not have been” is a matter of opinion.matter of opinion.

Note Qualifiers to Identify Note Qualifiers to Identify OpinionsOpinions

Beware of false facts, or Beware of false facts, or statements presented as facts statements presented as facts that are actually untrue.that are actually untrue.

A qualifier may express an A qualifier may express an absolute, unwavering opinion absolute, unwavering opinion using words like using words like always always or or never.never.

Mixing Fact and OpinionMixing Fact and Opinion

Often, you will find facts mixed Often, you will find facts mixed with opinions.with opinions.

Example: “In 1985, Tommy Example: “In 1985, Tommy “Muskrat” Green ate six pounds “Muskrat” Green ate six pounds of oysters in one minute and of oysters in one minute and thirty-three seconds. That’s thirty-three seconds. That’s sick.”sick.”

Fact, Opinion, or Mixed?Fact, Opinion, or Mixed?

1. Measles have an incubation period 1. Measles have an incubation period of seven to fourteen days.of seven to fourteen days.

2. Within twenty years, online colleges 2. Within twenty years, online colleges will replace brick-and-mortar ones.will replace brick-and-mortar ones.

3. The tragic battle of the Alamo, 3. The tragic battle of the Alamo, where frontier hero Davy Crockett where frontier hero Davy Crockett died, began on February 23, 1836.died, began on February 23, 1836.

Fact, Opinion, or Mixed?Fact, Opinion, or Mixed?

4. It’s a Wonderful Life, probably the 4. It’s a Wonderful Life, probably the corniest movie ever made, first corniest movie ever made, first appeared in 1946, and it wasn’t a appeared in 1946, and it wasn’t a particularly popular film until it turned particularly popular film until it turned up on television.up on television.

5. Ann Richards, the former governor of 5. Ann Richards, the former governor of Texas who died in 2006 at age 73, broke Texas who died in 2006 at age 73, broke through the gender barriers that had through the gender barriers that had kept Texas women out of high political kept Texas women out of high political office.office.

Fact, Opinion, or Mixed?Fact, Opinion, or Mixed?

6. A new species of land mammal has been 6. A new species of land mammal has been discovered in the forests of Vietnam.discovered in the forests of Vietnam.

7. The Japanese mushrooms called 7. The Japanese mushrooms called maitake sometimes grow as big as maitake sometimes grow as big as footballs.footballs.

8. The Food and Drug Administration 8. The Food and Drug Administration should more carefully control the way should more carefully control the way drug makers advertise their products.drug makers advertise their products.

Fact, Opinion, or Mixed?Fact, Opinion, or Mixed?

9. Today’s parents don’t spend enough 9. Today’s parents don’t spend enough time with their children.time with their children.

10. Today there are 3.3 workers 10. Today there are 3.3 workers supporting every Social Security supporting every Social Security recipient.recipient.

11. Adopted children should be allowed 11. Adopted children should be allowed to know who their parents are.to know who their parents are.

Fact, Opinion, or Mixed?Fact, Opinion, or Mixed?

12. Mexican leader Benito Juarez is a 12. Mexican leader Benito Juarez is a heroic figure in Mexican history.heroic figure in Mexican history.

13. Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii.13. Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii.

14. The most oft-quoted and best-14. The most oft-quoted and best-loved play around the world is loved play around the world is Shakespeare's Hamlet.Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Evaluate the Context Evaluate the Context of the Passageof the Passage

1.1. Alexander the Great was one of the Alexander the Great was one of the greatest military leaders in world greatest military leaders in world history.history.

2.2. He was born in Pella, Macedonia.He was born in Pella, Macedonia.

3.3. The exact date of his birth was probably The exact date of his birth was probably July 20 or 26, 356 B.C.July 20 or 26, 356 B.C.

4.4. Shortly before his 33Shortly before his 33rdrd birthday, birthday, Alexander the Great died.Alexander the Great died.

5.5. The cause of his death remains The cause of his death remains unknown.unknown.Is each statement a fact, opinion, or Is each statement a fact, opinion, or

fact/opinion both?fact/opinion both?

Evaluate the Context Evaluate the Context of the Passageof the Passage

1.1. F/O His name and title are factual, but F/O His name and title are factual, but the value word greatest is an opinion.the value word greatest is an opinion.

2.2. F This statement can be verified in F This statement can be verified in historical records.historical records.

3.3. O The word probably makes this a O The word probably makes this a statement of opinion.statement of opinion.

4.4. F This statement can be checked and F This statement can be checked and verified as true.verified as true.

5.5. F This is a factual statement that F This is a factual statement that something isn’t known.something isn’t known.Is each statement a fact, opinion, or Is each statement a fact, opinion, or

fact/opinion both?fact/opinion both?

Evaluate the Context of the Evaluate the Context of the AuthorAuthor

An An informed opinioninformed opinion is developed by is developed by gathering and analyzing evidence.gathering and analyzing evidence.

An An expert opinionexpert opinion is developed is developed through much training and extensive through much training and extensive knowledge in a given field.knowledge in a given field.

Examples:Examples: Informed opinionInformed opinion::

Shopping around for a carShopping around for a car Researching an essay for a college classResearching an essay for a college class

Expert opinionExpert opinion:: Doctor’s diagnosis of an illnessDoctor’s diagnosis of an illness Economics professor’s lecture on the Economics professor’s lecture on the

economyeconomy

Evaluate the Context of Evaluate the Context of the Sourcethe Source

Examples of good factual Examples of good factual sources:sources:Medical dictionaryMedical dictionaryEnglish handbookEnglish handbookWorld AtlasWorld Atlas

Chapter ReviewChapter Review An An expert opinionexpert opinion is developed is developed

through much training and through much training and extensive knowledge in a given extensive knowledge in a given field.field.

A A factfact statesstates reality. reality. An An opinionopinion interpretsinterprets reality. reality. A fact uses A fact uses unbiasedunbiased words. words. An opinion uses An opinion uses biasedbiased words. words.

Patterns of Organization – Patterns of Organization – Final ReviewFinal Review

What do you remember about each.What do you remember about each.

A. Definition/ExampleA. Definition/Example

B. Time order B. Time order

C. Space OrderC. Space Order

D. Comparison and contrastD. Comparison and contrast

E. Cause and effectE. Cause and effect

F. ClassificationF. Classification