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

have not been proven.{Click mouse to {Click mouse to

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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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