Appendix A: Fact and Opinion

1. Appendix A: Fact and Opinion The Skilled Reader (Updated Edition) by D. J. Henry PowerPoint Presentation by Gretchen Starks-Martin St. Cloud State University, MN © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

2. Fact and Opinion • A fact is a specific detail that is true based on objective proof. • An opinion is an interpretation, value judgment, or belief that cannot be proved or disproved. An opinion is created. • Objective proof can be physical evidence, an eyewitness account, and the conclusion arrived at by an accepted scientific method. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

3. Facts Objective (not personal) State reality Are discovered Can be verified Are presented with unbiased words Opinions Subjective (personal) Interpret reality Are created Cannot be verified Are presented with biased words. Traits of Fact and Opinion © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

4. FACT Lance Armstrong has competed in the Olympics twice, won the Tour De France four times, and overcome cancer. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

5. Opinion Lance Armstrong is a fearless champion. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

6. Ask These Questions • Can the statement be proved or demonstrated to be true? • Can the statement be observed in practice or operation? • Can the statement be verified by witnesses, manuscripts, or documents? © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

7. Fact or Opinion? _____The blue whale has been listed as an endangered species for over twenty years. _____Fast food restaurants serve mouth-watering food. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

8. __F___The blue whale has been listed as an endangered species for over twenty years. (this can be verified by research.) __O__Fast food restaurants serve mouth-watering food. (Whether a food is “mouth-watering” is a matter of personal taste.) © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

9. Amazing Awful Bad Beautiful Best Better Disgusting Exciting Favorite Frightful Fun Good Great Greatest Handsome Horrible More Most Smart Stupid Unbelievable Ugly Very Some Biased Words to Identify Opinions © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

10. All Always Appear Believe Could Every Has/have to It is believed May Might Must Never Often Only Ought to Possibly, possible Probably, probable Seem Should Sometimes Think Usually Qualifiers to Identify Opinions © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

11. A statement can be both fact and opinion. • Because walking in high heels strains the back and knees, women should never wear high-heels. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

12. Beware of False Facts • Lightening never strikes twice in the same place. • Bats are blind. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

13. Beware of Opinions Sounding Like Facts • The truth of the matter is that I never laughed so hard in my life. • Cats are agile animals; in fact, when they are falling, their movements are always graceful. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

14. Fact, Opinion, or Fact & Opinion? ____A snake’s skin is dry and smooth. ____The television comedy Seinfeld has won numerous awards; in fact, it is the greatest television comedy of all times. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

15. Fact, Opinion, or Fact & Opinion? __F__A snake’s skin is dry and smooth. _F & O_The television comedy Seinfeld has won numerous awards; in fact, it is the greatest television comedy of all times. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

16. Try your skill in recognizing fact and opinion from the exercises in Appendix A. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers