Distinguishing Facts and Opinions

10 Questions

What is the primary difference between the sentence 'As of 2014, the rate of union membership had fallen 9 percent over the past 30 years.' and 'It’s a shame that as of 2014, the rate of union membership had fallen 9 percent over the past 30 years.'?

The first sentence is a fact, while the second is an opinion.

Which of the following words carries a negative connotation?

Uptight

What is the function of identifying tone in a piece of writing?

To determine the author's goal

What is the primary characteristic of a statement of opinion?

It is framed by a connotation or tone

Which of the following words carries a positive connotation?

Easygoing

What is the primary purpose of a signal phrase in a statement of opinion?

To differentiate between the author's opinion and someone else's opinion

What is the primary difference between a textbook and a blog post in terms of author purpose?

A textbook is meant to inform, while a blog post is meant to persuade

What is an example of bias, as described in the text?

A proud parent's attitude towards their child's abilities

What is the primary way to identify bias in a text?

By conducting a thorough reading of the text, including a deeper analysis

What is the primary purpose of considering the source of a statement when deciding if it is an opinion?

To determine if the statement is biased or unbiased

Study Notes

Understanding Opinions and Facts

An opinion is defined as a person's ideas or beliefs about a particular subject.

Facts vs. Opinions

As of 2014, the rate of union membership had fallen 9 percent over the past 30 years (fact).
It's a shame that as of 2014, the rate of union membership had fallen 9 percent over the past 30 years (fact + opinion).

Features of Statements of Opinion

Connotation

Connotation is a feeling or idea that a word evokes beyond its literal meaning.
Words can carry positive or negative connotations.
Examples of words with positive connotations: easygoing, youthful, confident.
Examples of words with negative connotations: uptight, immature, arrogant.

Tone

Tone is the general feeling or attitude expressed in a piece of writing.
Categories of tone: humorous, approving, disapproving, persuasive, objective, informative, and formal.
Example of approving tone: It was vitally important for the many who supported equality during the US civil rights movement to openly express their views in order to avoid disaster.
Example of informative tone: The many who supported equality during the US civil rights movement openly expressed their views.

Bias

Bias refers to a writer's partiality toward a particular perspective.
A writer may be biased toward a viewpoint (showing support or positive feelings) or biased against a viewpoint (demonstrating opposition or negative feelings).
Example of bias: the attitude of a proud parent toward his or her child, who may be considered highly gifted even when their abilities are not extraordinary.

Signal Phrases

Signal phrases may indicate the author's own opinion or the opinion of someone else.
Example of author's opinion: In my opinion, the current administration seems to be putting civil rights on the back burner.
Example of opinion reported by an author: The current administration is thought to be putting civil rights on the back burner.

Source and Author Purpose

The objective of a textbook, newspaper, or magazine news report is to inform, typically in an unbiased manner.
The objective of blog posts, editorials, and feature articles tends to be to persuade, meaning that the information found in them is much more likely to include opinions.