Fact vs opinion Notes

Fact And Opinion Shape What We Believe

1. In an age of mass information, we constantly meet texts (articles, posts, videos, speeches) that mix information with persuasion.
2. Learning to separate fact from opinion helps you judge a text's credibility (how trustworthy it is) and respond thoughtfully rather than automatically.
3. A key idea is that texts often sit on a spectrum:
   1. more objective, aiming to inform using verifiable evidence
   2. more subjective, expressing personal viewpoints and feelings
   3. sometimes biased, promoting one perspective while reducing alternatives

Facts Are Verifiable Claims, Not Just "True-Sounding" Sentences

1. A fact is not defined by how confident it sounds. It is defined by whether it can be verified.
2. Facts often include:
   1. specific numbers (statistics, measurements)
   2. dates, times, locations
   3. named events you can confirm happened
   4. direct, attributable observations (especially when supported by evidence)

Facts Can Still Be Used Persuasively

1. Even when statements are verifiable, writers can select which facts to include, what to leave out, and where to place them.
2. That selection can support a particular viewpoint.

Opinions Express Judgements, Interpretations, And Values

1. An opinion shows what a writer thinks, feels, or believes. Opinions can be strong, moving, and important, but they should be recognized as interpretation, not treated as proven fact.
2. Opinion statements often:
   1. use emotive language (words that trigger feelings)
   2. make value judgements (good/bad, shocking/acceptable)
   3. propose what "should" happen
   4. interpret causes or assign blame

Text Purpose Often Determines The Balance Of Fact And Opinion

Understanding a text's purpose helps you predict how it will use facts and opinions.

News Reports Usually Aim To Inform

1. A news report typically prioritizes verifiable information, balanced sourcing, and clear separation between reporting and commentary (though perfect objectivity is rare).

Opinion Pieces Aim To Influence

1. An opinion article (editorial, column, commentary) is expected to argue a viewpoint.
2. It may use facts, but it often combines them with interpretation, evaluation, and calls for action.

Opinion Disguised As Fact Is A Major Credibility Problem

1. Writers sometimes present opinions with the certainty and grammar of fact.
2. This is especially persuasive because it can make readers accept a viewpoint without noticing it is debatable.
3. In persuasive speech and writing, you may see:
   1. confident generalizations ("everyone knows…", "the answer is simple…")
   2. blame stated without evidence
   3. cause-and-effect claims asserted as obvious

Tone Helps You Detect Whether A Text Is Informing Or Persuading

1. Tone is the overall attitude or "voice" of a piece.
2. Tone can signal whether the writer is trying to inform neutrally or push the audience toward a judgement.

1. A text that is highly persuasive often has a tone that is:
   1. urgent, angry, mocking, celebratory, or morally certain
   2. direct toward the reader ("you and me") to create responsibility
2. A more informational tone tends to:
   1. avoid loaded adjectives
   2. separate evidence from interpretation
   3. acknowledge uncertainty and multiple viewpoints

Bias Can Be Conscious Or Unconscious, And It Often Appears In Persuasion

1. Because persuasion usually involves supporting one "side," persuasive texts often contain bias.
2. Bias does not automatically make a text worthless, but it does mean you should read with awareness.
3. Bias can show up through:
   1. selection of facts (what is included or omitted)
   2. framing (the angle: who is blamed, who is praised)
   3. language choices (labels, stereotypes, loaded verbs)
   4. structure (what comes first, what is emphasized)
4. The source material notes that bias can be hidden by making a text appear "objective," which can increase its persuasive power.

Rhetorical Devices Can Make Opinions Feel Like Facts

1. In literary and non-fiction texts, writers use rhetorical devices to shape belief.
2. Here are several common devices (including ones highlighted in the source):

1. These devices do not automatically mean a text is "lying." They mean the text is designed to influence, so you should separate:
   1. the evidence being offered
   2. the interpretation being encouraged
   3. the action being requested

A Practical Method For Separating Fact And Opinion In Any Text

Use this routine when analyzing articles, speeches, or social media posts.

Step 1: Label Each Statement

1. Ask of every key sentence:
   1. Can I verify this with reliable evidence? If yes, it is likely fact.
   2. Is it a judgement, interpretation, recommendation, or emotional reaction? If yes, it is likely opinion.

Step 2: Check For Opinion Signals

1. Look for:
   1. emotive language
      1. "should/must/need to" (calls to action)
      2. certainty words ("obviously," "clearly," "simple answer")
      3. claims about groups ("people always…", "we all…")

Step 3: Ask What The Writer Wants From You

1. Common persuasive aims:
   1. agree with a viewpoint
   2. blame or praise someone
   3. feel urgency, fear, guilt, pride
   4. take action (share, vote, buy, join)

Step 4: Evaluate Credibility

1. Consider:
   1. Is the source transparent about evidence?
   2. Are facts attributed (who counted, measured, reported)?
   3. Are other viewpoints acknowledged?
   4. Does the argument rely mainly on emotion?

Using PEEL to analyse fact vs opinion

P: Point

1. Identify whether the statement is a fact or an opinion.

E: Evidence

1. Quote the statement you are analysing.

E: Explain

1. Explain:
   1. whether the statement can be verified
   2. what language signals fact or opinion

L: Link

1. Link to:
   1. how the statement influences the reader
   2. whether it contributes to bias or persuasion

Now it's your turn...