Fact and Opinion: Is There Fact and Opinion: Is There Really a DifferenceReally a Difference
Every man has a right to be wrong in his opinions. But no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.
--Baruch, Bernard M 1870-Baruch, Bernard M 1870-1965 1965 American FinancierAmerican Financier
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How to Navigate How to Navigate Through a Through a
PowerPoint PowerPoint WorkshopWorkshop
This PowerPoint Presentation is This PowerPoint Presentation is designed to be experienced as a designed to be experienced as a
workshop. workshop.
To ensure that you do not miss To ensure that you do not miss important information, only use your important information, only use your
mouse at this prompt:mouse at this prompt:
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Let’s Get The Facts Let’s Get The Facts Straight!Straight!
There is a difference between There is a difference between FACT and OPINION.FACT and OPINION.
FactsFacts are statements that can be proven.OpinionsOpinions can not be proven. They are based on someone's thoughts, their feelings and their understanding.Though you may be able to use facts to add credibility to an opinion, it is still an opinion!Though an opinion may be widely accepted, that does not make it a fact.{Click mouse to {Click mouse to
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Let’s Get The Facts Let’s Get The Facts Straight!Straight!A fact is something that can be
proven by a reliable authority such as:
Note : None of these authorities are fool proof, but information that they provide is considered to be fact.
A
history book
An observation
Governmental
law
Proven
scientific lawStatistics
Mathematics
Measurements
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Lets Look at Some Lets Look at Some Examples of FactsExamples of Facts
John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy was President 1961-was President 1961-19631963
History BookHistory Book
The adult human The adult human body has 206 bonesbody has 206 bones
ScienceScience
56% of US gun 56% of US gun Deaths are suicidesDeaths are suicides
StatisticStatistic
21 is the legal 21 is the legal drinking age in drinking age in Cincinnati, OHCincinnati, OH
Governmental Governmental LawLaw
FactFactss
Reliable Reliable AuthorityAuthorityMust Must
Have aHave a
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More Examples More Examples of Factsof Facts
What About Observations? Observations are facts because they can be proven by the senses.
Some flowers are Some flowers are larger than others.larger than others.
You can bring in You can bring in flowers of various flowers of various sizessizes
The shirt is green.The shirt is green. You can bring in the You can bring in the shirt so that the shirt so that the color can be seencolor can be seen
FactFact How it is How it is ProvableProvable
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Getting the Facts on Getting the Facts on FactsFacts
Some facts change over time.Some facts change over time. For example:
It was once considered to be a fact that the world was It was once considered to be a fact that the world was flat.flat.
We believed that those traveling too far in either We believed that those traveling too far in either direction could literally fall off!direction could literally fall off!
Because new things are being discovered everyday, reliable authorities are
sometimes forced to alter what we all once considered to be facts.
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Lets Look at Some Lets Look at Some Examples of Examples of
OpinionsOpinions
John F. Kennedy was an President.John F. Kennedy was an President.
the adult human body has more the adult human body has more bones thanbones than
that the US suicide rate will that the US suicide rate will decrease soon.decrease soon.
for the legal drinking age to be 21.for the legal drinking age to be 21.
Here are some of the same topics that we saw as Here are some of the same topics that we saw as facts. Can you figure out how they were changed facts. Can you figure out how they were changed
to opinions?to opinions?excellentexcellent
Apparently, Apparently,
It is unfairIt is unfair
It is likelyIt is likely necessary.necessary.
All of these All of these words are hints words are hints that there is an that there is an
opinion opinion present.present.
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Types of OpinionsTypes of Opinions
There are Several There are Several Types of Opinions:Types of Opinions:
Hypothesis StatementsHypothesis Statements Theory StatementsTheory Statements Assumptive StatementsAssumptive Statements Value StatementsValue Statements Exaggerated StatementsExaggerated Statements
Lets Take a Quick Look at all of them.{Click mouse to {Click mouse to
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A Hypothesis is an assumption made in an attempt to explain an
observation. Though an Observation is a Fact, a
Hypothesis is an Opinion. Some flowers are larger than others because they are in more fertile
soil.This hypothesis would have to be further
investigated and scientifically proven to be considered a fact.
For Example, if I were to elaborate on a previous observation and say:
Types of Opinions: Types of Opinions: Statements of Statements of
HypothesisHypothesis
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The Theory of Relativity.The Theory of Relativity. The Evolutionary Theory.The Evolutionary Theory.
Types of Opinions: Types of Opinions: Statements of Statements of
TheoryTheoryA theory is an opinion that is a widely believed
explanation for a group of observations. Here are two
well known examples:
Though many scientists believe that these theories are true, we still consider them to be opinions rather than facts because they
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If Hillary Clinton ran for President she If Hillary Clinton ran for President she would definitely win.would definitely win.
The war in Iraq will eventually cost the US The war in Iraq will eventually cost the US all of its allies.all of its allies.
When that new movie comes out it will When that new movie comes out it will definitely be at the top of the charts!definitely be at the top of the charts!
Types of Opinions: Types of Opinions: Statements of Statements of AssumptionAssumption
An assumptive statement is an opinion that is an
improvable prediction. Here are three examples
Though these are stated as though they are true, they are only assumptive
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Colin Powell is an excellent candidate for Colin Powell is an excellent candidate for president. president.
The use of animals in lab testing is cruel and The use of animals in lab testing is cruel and must be stopped.must be stopped.
The Bahamas is the most beautiful place on The Bahamas is the most beautiful place on Earth.Earth.
Types of Opinions: Types of Opinions: Statements of ValueStatements of Value
A value statement is any claim that is based on
someone's beliefs. Here are three examples
Value Statements are often opinions attempting to sway the reader to a certain belief.{Click mouse to {Click mouse to
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There were millions of people rioting There were millions of people rioting on the streets of down town on the streets of down town Cincinnati.Cincinnati.
The president has not made one The president has not made one good decision since he has been in good decision since he has been in office!office!
Types of Opinions: Types of Opinions: Statements of Statements of ExaggerationExaggeration
An exaggerated statement is one that embellishes the
facts, often to sway the reader. Here are two
examples
Writers often use exaggeration to make their point more clear. They are still opinions.{Click mouse to {Click mouse to
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Opinions: Words To Opinions: Words To Look Out ForLook Out ForThere are Certain Words that will Warn You
that You are Being Given an Opinion andNot a Fact!
Perhaps
Apparently
Experts Agree
Necessary
Best / Worst
SuccessfulMaybe
Probably
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Getting the Facts Getting the Facts About OpinionsAbout OpinionsAn opinion is not necessarily wrong, it is An opinion is not necessarily wrong, it is
merely not a provable fact.merely not a provable fact.
For example:For example:
““Bridgett is a very beautiful young Bridgett is a very beautiful young lady.”lady.”
Even if everyone agreed with this statement, it is still an opinion because it is
not provable. Beauty is relative.{Click mouse to {Click mouse to continue}continue}
Keeping Your Facts StraightDo you think that you can separate facts from
opinions?
The next slide will have five statements. Decide whether
each statement is a factfact, or an opinionopinion. Write down you
answers on a separate sheet of paper.{Click mouse to {Click mouse to
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The best way to choose a spouse is based on brains, not beauty.The car probably stopped running because it ran out of gas.The Learning Center is in the Educational Services Building.If I were to go on to receive my Bachelors, I would not be successful.There are 121 prescription drugs that come from plants.
Keeping Your Facts Straight
Separate the facts from the opinions.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.{Click mouse to {Click mouse to
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Keeping Your Facts StraightHow well did you do?
The best way to choose a spouse is based on brains, not beauty. -Opinion: value statement
The car probably stopped running because it ran out of gas.-Opinion: hypothesis
The Learning Center is in the Educational Services Building. -Fact
If I were to go on to receive my Bachelors, I would not be successful.-Opinion: Assumption
There are 121 prescription drugs that come from plants.-Fact
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Need more help Need more help Separating Facts Separating Facts from Opinions?from Opinions?
Visit Us on Campus Visit Us on Campus at: at:
The Learning Center The Learning Center
Room 100 Room 100
Educational Educational Services BuildingServices Building
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