EXPERIENCING THE TITANIC DISASTER | Jennifer Casey last updated April 8, 2014

Experiencing the Titanic Disaster

Fact vs. Opinion Table

Directions:
For this assignment read the following excerpts of historical non-fiction and then complete a table
indicating whether the excerpt was a statement of fact or a statement of opinion. Remember that facts
are statements that can be proven true and opinions are statements based on personal beliefs,
thoughts, values and culture. Once you complete the table, copy and paste the table into the Analysis
page you created on your Titanic project website. This is the first of two tables that you will include on
your websites Analysis page.

Fact vs. Opinion
Excerpt Fact or Opinion?
On the messages sent by the Marconi wireless operators:
Ships relayed messages back and forth to one another. The Titanic herself acted as
a relay for messages from vessels lacking surface transmitter range to reach the
north American coast direct, putting the Titanics operators in regular contact with
fellow operators on nearby ships. Alongside messages from passengers were
navigational signals, to be passed on by the Marconi operator to the captain.
(Hopkinson, p. 59)
Fact
On the attitude displayed by the ships captain:
In other words, Captain Smith seemed confident - in hindsight, overly confident
that if any iceberg large enough to cause any damage appeared, the lookouts and
the officers on the bridge would be able to see it in time. (Hopkinson, p. 63)
Opinion

EXPERIENCING THE TITANIC DISASTER | Jennifer Casey last updated April 8, 2014
On the final effect of the damage:
The latter stages of the sinking cannot be stated with any precision, owing to a
confusion of the times which was natural under the circumstances
Her stern was gradually rising out of the water, and the propellers were clear of
the water. The ship did not break in two [we now know the Titanic did, in fact,
break apart] and she did eventually attain the perpendicular, when the second
funnel from aft about reached the water. There were no lights burning then,
though they kept alight practically until the last. (Hopkinson, p. 251 quoting from
The British Wreck Commissioners Inquiry Report, July 30, 1912)
Opinion
On whether Mr. Ismay was justified in boarding a lifeboat:
Did you see Mr. Ismay? Yes. I saw Mr. Ismay helping to load the boats. Did you see
him get in to a boat? Yes; he got in along with Mr. Carter, because there were no
women in the vicinity of the boat. This boat was the last to leave, to the best of my
knowledge. He was ordered into the boat by the officer in charge. I think that Mr.
Ismay was justified in leaving in that boat at that time. (Affidavit by A.H. Weikman,
barber on the Titanic, dated April 24, 1912 as published in the Titanic Disaster
Hearing Before A Subcommittee of the Committee on Commerce, United States
Senate, 2012)
Fact
On reasons why more third class passengers perished than in any other class:
They were located farther away from the lifeboats. They were accustomed by
regulation and practice to stay in their own areas and wait for instructions. Also,
unlike first and second class passengers, men in third class were not allowed to
escort their wives to the boats, encourage them to get in, or see them safely off.
For passengers who did not speak English, trying to understand what was
happening was even harder. (Hopkinson, p. 121)
Fact
Works Cited
Weikman, A.H., 24 April 1912. Affidavit. Titanic Disaster Hearing before a Subcommittee of the
Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2014 from
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/senate-titanic-inquiry.html
Hopkinson, D., 2012. Titanic: Voices from the Disaster. Scholastic Press.