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FACTS AND OPINIONS

BLENDED LEARNING WEEK 7


DISTINGUISHING FACTS FROM OPINIONS

In this section, students will be able to :

distinguish facts from opinions


FACTS

Any information that can be Performance Group 1 Group 2


verified or proven true. Speed 82 95
Facts can be verified through Accuracy 76 88
research, experimentation,
Agility 84 90
observation or experiences.

ANNUAL RAINFALL
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3

5
4.5
4.4
4.3

3.5

2.8
3
2.5
2.4

1.8
2

CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 CATEGORY 4


OPINIONS

Any information that cannot be proved or


disproved.

Opinions are statements that represent


someones judgement, views or beliefs
FACTS VS. OPINIONS

FACTS OPINIONS
Any information that can be proven Any information that cannot be
true proven true
Any information that can be verified Any information that represents
through : ones:
- research - view
- observation - judgement
- statistics - belief
MORE ON DISTINGUISHING FACT FROM OPINION

To view the video:


1. Click on the black area.
2. Click on Playback on the Menu bar (far right).
3. Click on Play button on the right side of the Menu.
How to determine opinions?
Clues that help us determine an opinion are :

Expressions Words that Words that Opinion Judgement Words


Indicating the express express Signposts Adjectives : e.g. -
Future Recommendations Possibility incredible, beautiful,
e.g. - In my
e.g. - will, shall, e.g. - should, intelligent,
e.g. - may, might, opinion, I believe,
is going to suggest, important
could, can, From my point of
recommend Adverbs : e.g. -
probably view, seems, like, incredibly,
it appears to me beautifully, softly,
that slowly
SUPPORTING
DETAILS
BLENDED LEARNING WEEK 7
Supporting Details

In the following section,


students will be able to :

Identify the different types of


supporting details
SUPPORTING DETAILS

Refer to additional information the author provides so


that the reader can understand the main idea completely.

Help readers to comprehend the main idea completely.

Consist of explanation, descriptions, definitions,


statistics, examples, research findings, observations and
others.
TYPES OF SUPPORTING DETAILS

Types of SD are :
Supporting details (SD)
research findings
case studies
personal experience
Refer to the kind of personal observation
examples
evidence the author facts
uses to support his expert opinion
expert testimony
argument. opinions
theories
legislation
SUPPORTING
DETAILS
Can be Cannot be
verified verified

Expert
FACTS opinion OPINIONS

Research Findings,
Non-expert Opinion,
Statistics, Expert
Authors Personal
Testimonies
Opinion

Strong Support Strong Support Weak Support


EXAMPLES OF SUPPORTING DETAILS

Type : Definition Type : Research findings


Example: Example:
Post-traumatic disorder is a Based on a research done by Croft
severe anxiety disorder that (2007), women are better able to
affects millions of people develop memory for names and
around the world. faces, and have greater sensitivity
to the preferences of others.
Phrases introducing definition :
is defined as, means, is known
as, is called, refers to
EXAMPLES OF SUPPORTING DETAILS

Type : Statistics Type : Expert testimony


Example:
Example : Only about 5% of In his book, The Homework Myth,
plastic bags in the U.S are Kohn points out that no study has
recycled. ever found a correlation between
homework and academic
achievement in elementary schools.
EXERCISES

Read the passage below carefully and answer ALL the


questions that follow.

Digital Distractions : College Students in the 21st Century

I Students in the Millennial generation (born in 1982 now) enter college with an
increasing amount of technology savvy. These students are the first generation to
grow up in the Digital Age. They have always had a computer at home and used it
in ways that their parents could never have imagined.
(next page..)
II With increasing technological demands in the world, colleges continue to call for more technological
expertise from faculty and staff as millennial students are bringing a wide array of technologies to campus.
Millennials prefer web-based resources such as Facebook for forming groups and staying in contact with
friends. They turn to iTunes and downloadable media sources for entertainment, and use
RateMyProfessors.com and Wikipedia.org as academic resources. Many students maintain blogs through
sites such as LiveJournal and Blogger, and read other blogs for breaking news and updates in specific areas
of interest.

III Millennial students are constantly wired and connected. Their activities revolve around their cell phones,
iPods, TVs and gaming consoles. They learned how to create Power Point presentations in junior high and
are frequently surprised when their professors do not lecture using Power Point. Studies have indicated
that 72% of all students check their email daily, and 26% of college students use instant messaging on an
average day. A survey in 2005 found that 83% of adults in the 18-29 age range participate in online
activities. Not surprisingly, technology plays a prominent role in the academic and personal lives of
students. Further studies found that 46% of students report that email allows them to express ideas which
they otherwise would not have expressed to their professors in person; 19% say they communicate more
with professors via email than in person while 73% report that they use the Internet more than the library
to search for information.

(next page)
IV Is there anything to be gained from the use of these V Unfortunately, as new technologies emerge,
varying technologies among students? We believe many of our campuses see a decline in the
there is. Games, instant messaging, and other forms of educational outcomes of student learning.
rapid communication help students develop fast Quick access to information can lead to a lack
reflexes, a minimalist standard that helps eliminate of critical thinking about sources and quality
wordiness and the ability to gather information quickly. of information, as well as inability to mine for
They can quickly sort through information from a data. Many students are likely to click one or
variety of sources and access information far more two pages into a website, but no further.
quickly than previous generations. Previous studies Students regularly use websites and blogs to
noted that video games immerse people in worlds and post their online diaries, not only revealing
make them rely on problem-solving skills to reach dangerous and illegal behaviours but also
defined goals. In addition, people learn best when they opening themselves up to privacy and safety
are entertained, when they can use creativity to work concerns. The reality is that technology and its
towards complex goals, when lesson plans incorporate application on college campuses are not going
both thinking and emotion, and when the away; in fact, technology has long been an
consequences of actions can be observed. However, issue on campuses, for example the use of
according to Professor Robert Taylor of the Department calculators in mathematics classrooms. While
of e-Learning Studies, contemporary classrooms fail to it is not necessary to completely overhaul the
meet these educational needs. This is not to say that use of technology, it is worth looking at ways
college learning must always be entertaining, but many to help reward the positive values of
of the elements can be added to current classroom technology while teaching students how to
practices in ways that can increase the potential for avoid the negatives.
learning.
EXERCISES
For Questions 1-3, Identify whether the statements below are FACT or OPINION. State F
for Fact and O for Opinion.

Statement Fact/ Opinion


1) They turn to iTunes and downloadable media sources for
entertainment, and use RateMyProfessors.com and Wikipedia.org as
academic resources.

2) Previous studies noted that video games immerse people in worlds and
make them rely on problem-solving skills to reach defined goals.

3) Students regularly use websites and blogs to post their online diaries, not
only revealing dangerous and illegal behaviours but also opening
themselves up to privacy and safety concerns.
4) Indicate the Type of Support for the statements below :

Statement Type of support


a) Many students maintain blogs through sites such as LiveJournal and Blogger.
b) Studies have indicated that 72% of all students check their email daily, and
26% of college students use instant messaging on an average day.

c) Games, instant messaging, and other forms of rapid communication help


students develop fast reflexes, a minimalist standard that helps eliminate
wordiness and the ability to gather information quickly.

d) According to Professor Robert Taylor of the Department of e-learning


Studies, contemporary classrooms fail to meet these educational needs.
5) Decide whether each of the following statements represents a FACT or an OPINION and explain why.

a) Millennial students are constantly wired and connected.


_________________________________________________
b) A survey in 2005 found that 83% of adults in the 18-29 age
range participate in online activities.
_________________________________________________
c) Quick access to information can lead to a lack of critical thinking
about sources and quality of information.
__________________________________________________
d) Not surprisingly, technology plays a prominent role in the
academic and personal lives of students.
__________________________________________________
6) State the main idea of the paragraph below and provide TWO (2) types of supporting details that
support this main idea.

Is there anything to be gained from the use of these varying technologies among students? We
believe there is. Games, instant messaging, and other forms of rapid communication help students
develop fast reflexes, a minimalist standard that helps eliminate wordiness and the ability to gather
information quickly. They can quickly sort through information from a variety of sources and access
information far more quickly than previous generations. Previous studies noted that video games
immerse people in worlds and make them rely on problem-solving skills to reach defined goals. In
addition, people learn best when they are entertained, when they can use creativity to work towards
complex goals, when lesson plans incorporate both thinking and emotion, and when the
consequences of actions can be observed. However, according to Professor Robert Taylor of the
Department of e-Learning Studies, contemporary classrooms fail to meet these educational needs.
This is not to say that college learning must always be entertaining, but many of the elements can be
added to current classroom practices in ways that can increase the potential for learning.
a) Main idea

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

b) i. Type of Support

__________________________________________________________________

Example :

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ii. Type of Support

___________________________________________________________________

Example :

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
Read the following text and answer ALL the questions that follow.

Physiological differences in males and females influence the way they respond.
Based on a research by Dr Louann Brizendine, an American scientist who is a
clinical and neuropsychiatric professor, the hormones that flow during pregnancy
affect the physiological differences in a human including the brain. At birth, the
flow of gender-related hormones results in the brain being physiologically and
psychologically male or female with distinct predispositions specific to one or the
other gender. These hormonal flows also affect many other parts of the brain that
determine a persons priorities, attitudes and feelings, and his responses.

Women see differently from men. They see better in the dark and have lateral
vision, depth perception and ability to match shapes that surpass mens capability.
Women have better visual memory which allows them to remember landmarks
and positions of objects. Men, on the other hand, cope better with bright light
and are more able to focus on an object because they can see more narrowly.
Women are better at developing memory for names and faces. Furthermore, they
have greater sensitivity to the needs of others.
They also have stronger memory for verbal material and spelling. Women are
more dexterous at multitasking. In contrast, males succeed due to their
greater ability to focus and systematise. This means that they are more adept
at analysing patterns and systems. They know where they are as they have a
better-developed intuitional sense of direction. This makes them better at
reading maps, while women are better at reading character. Males can easily
manipulate three-dimensional objects, both physically and conceptually. They
are also more skilful at solving mathematical problems requiring abstract
reasoning. In addition, they have a greater sense of perspective as well as
spatial skills. In general, males are poor at things that females do well. For
instance, they are poor at empathising or may not have such a capacity.
Therefore, it can be concluded that very early pre-natal gender development
determines our interests, abilities and the kind of people we are.

Knowing the differences between males and females mentioned above helps
to hypothesise how differently men and women respond to advertising. An
exhaustive review of research findings published on gender reveals that
females process advertising elaborately over multiple exposures, while males
see it once and have got it. They are unlikely to process it even if they are
wrong. Furthermore, males respond better to ads about self, while females are more externally
focused. A group of researchers confirmed in their review that there is evidence that men
often jump to conclusions while women would first assimilate all the information. In reporting
a study of gender effects on direct mail, researchers found that women responded well when
they could empathise as the female brain is predominantly hard-wired for empathy.
Photographs are more effective with women. Men, however, respond to bold messages since
the male brain is predominantly hard-wired for understanding and building systems.

(Retrieved and adapted from : Gender Effects in Advertising,


International Journal of Market Research, Vol.53 Issue 2)

1. Please indicate the type of support presented by this statement...According to a research


done by an American scientist who is a clinical and neuropsychiatrist Professor, Dr Louann
Brizendine, the hormones flow during pregnancy affect the physiological differences in human
including the brain.

A. Expert opinion
B. Personal opinion
C. Expert testimony
D. Research finding
For Questions 2-5, Identify the statements below whether they are fact or
opinion. State F for FACT and O for OPINION.

Statements Fact /Opinion

2. These hormonal flows also affect many other parts of the brain that
determines each persons priorities, attitudes, feelings and their
responses.

3. Women see differently from men.

4. Males can easily manipulate three-dimensional objects, both


physically and conceptually.

5. An exhaustive review of research findings published on gender reveals


that females process advertising elaborately over multiple exposures,
while males see it once and have got it.
CLOSING

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