UNIT 11UNIT 11DISTINGUISHING FACTS FROM OPINIONSDISTINGUISHING FACTS FROM OPINIONS

Objectives :Objectives :

1. To distinguish facts from opinions1. To distinguish facts from opinions

2. To identify the degrees of certainty2. To identify the degrees of certainty

1. To distinguish facts from opinions1. To distinguish facts from opinions

I. FactI. Fact Fact is something that Fact is something that has really has really occurredoccurred; known to be ; known to be truetrue or existing, or existing, different from a suggestion or different from a suggestion or assumption. Facts can be assumption. Facts can be verified verified according to the reality and the according to the reality and the concrete basis of experience.concrete basis of experience.

Examples:Examples:

• Students who plan to graduate in August Students who plan to graduate in August must applymust apply on or before June 30. on or before June 30.

• The two types of fertilizers The two types of fertilizers have been usedhave been used by the farmers in this area.by the farmers in this area.

II. OpinionII. Opinion

    Opinion is defined as a Opinion is defined as a judgmentjudgment, , convictionconviction, or , or beliefbelief, based on positive , based on positive knowledge. Opinions knowledge. Opinions can not be provedcan not be proved and and are written in statements of opinion which are written in statements of opinion which make judgments make judgments evaluationsevaluations, or , or interpretationsinterpretations..

• The impacts of illegal timbering The impacts of illegal timbering makemake the people the people angryangry..

• Many users of personal computers Many users of personal computers makemake copies of software diskettes for copies of software diskettes for friendsfriends

One possibility is …This concept suggests …One interpretation is …

They think/believe/argue/say …

One possibility is …This concept suggests …One interpretation is …

They think/believe/argue/say …

Perhaps, … Apparently, … According to … Presumably, …

In my opinion, … In our view, …

Perhaps, … Apparently, … According to … Presumably, …

In my opinion, … In our view, …

Words and Expressions indicating opinions:Words and Expressions indicating opinions:

Examples of opinions:Examples of opinions:1.1.  It It seemsseems that everything goes wrong. that everything goes wrong.2. This problem, 2. This problem, in my opinionin my opinion, is nothing to do , is nothing to do

with this institution. with this institution.3. 3. EExperts xperts suggestsuggest that happiness can result in that happiness can result in good health.good health.4.4. People People believebelieve that money sometimes that money sometimes means nothing.means nothing.

Sample passageSample passage

One of the One of the most shockingmost shocking failuresfailures of of American history was the bankruptcy of the American history was the bankruptcy of the Penn Central in 1970, only 2 years after a Penn Central in 1970, only 2 years after a merger was completed between two of the merger was completed between two of the country’s largest Eastern railroads, the New country’s largest Eastern railroads, the New York Central and the Pennsylvania Railroad. York Central and the Pennsylvania Railroad. During the short period of 2 years its During the short period of 2 years its stock stock dropped from a high of $86.50 per share to dropped from a high of $86.50 per share to $5.50 and to $1.00 per share$5.50 and to $1.00 per share shortly after, and shortly after, and many many thousandsthousands of investors in bonds as well of investors in bonds as well as stock lost most of their investmentas stock lost most of their investment. And . And this this was in a company once regarded as one of the was in a company once regarded as one of the largest and most promising in the United largest and most promising in the United StatesStates. (Management by Harold Koontz et al) . (Management by Harold Koontz et al)

Main Idea: Main Idea: The bankruptcy of the Penn Central Transportation The bankruptcy of the Penn Central Transportation

CompanyCompany

Topic Sentence: The first sentence of the passageTopic Sentence: The first sentence of the passagecontains: contains: One opinion: ‘One opinion: ‘most shockingmost shocking’ ’ Two facts:Two facts:

1.1. The bankruptcy occurred in 1970The bankruptcy occurred in 19702.2. The merger was between two of the country’s The merger was between two of the country’s

largest railroads.largest railroads.

However, the whole sentence is considered an opinion.However, the whole sentence is considered an opinion.

Supporting detailsSupporting details The price of the stock dropped sharplyThe price of the stock dropped sharply

(A fact verified figures)(A fact verified figures) Many thousands of investors in bonds and Many thousands of investors in bonds and

stocks lost most of their investment.stocks lost most of their investment.(A fact, it can be verified by research)(A fact, it can be verified by research)

This company was once regarded as one of This company was once regarded as one of the largest and most promising in the the largest and most promising in the United States.United States.(An opinion ‘most promising’ by whom cannot (An opinion ‘most promising’ by whom cannot be proved)be proved)

Below are some more examples of the ways in which Below are some more examples of the ways in which people express their opinions explicitly. people express their opinions explicitly.

‘‘It’s shocking that ……………….’It’s shocking that ……………….’ ‘‘It’s wonderful that……………….’ It’s wonderful that……………….’ ‘‘I am horrified that ………………..’I am horrified that ………………..’ ‘‘I was delighted by ……………….’I was delighted by ……………….’

‘‘What an exaggerated claim!’What an exaggerated claim!’ ‘‘Such an interesting idea’Such an interesting idea’ ‘‘The film was superb.’The film was superb.’ ‘‘These ideas are disgusting.’These ideas are disgusting.’

AbsolutelyAbsolutelycertainlycertainlydefinitelydefinitely

undoubtedlyundoubtedly ProbablyProbably

LikelyLikelyperhapsperhapspossiblypossiblyMaybeMaybe

unlikelyunlikely

2. Degrees of certaintySome adverbs show degrees of certainty:

2. Degrees of certaintySome adverbs show degrees of certainty:

Some modals (will, can, may, etc) + V-1, Some modals (will, can, may, etc) + V-1, help to tell the reader degrees of certainty :help to tell the reader degrees of certainty :

WillWill: : most likely to happen e.g. The final test most likely to happen e.g. The final test will be heldwill be held next week. (It is most likely to be held next week; it is next week. (It is most likely to be held next week; it is scheduled to be held next week.) scheduled to be held next week.)

CanCan: very probable to happen e.g. The final test : very probable to happen e.g. The final test can be can be heldheld next week. (It is very probable to be held next week.) next week. (It is very probable to be held next week.)

MayMay: possible to happen e.g. The final test : possible to happen e.g. The final test may be heldmay be held next week. (It is possible to be held next week.) next week. (It is possible to be held next week.)

MightMight: possible to happen, but the possibility is very small. : possible to happen, but the possibility is very small. Example: The final test Example: The final test might be heldmight be held next week. (It is next week. (It is possible to be held next week, but the possibility is very possible to be held next week, but the possibility is very small.)small.)

MustMust: conclusion e.g. He : conclusion e.g. He must bemust be in the library. (I conclude in the library. (I conclude that he is in the library.)that he is in the library.)

Note: Note: When the word ‘must’ conveys When the word ‘must’ conveys a a regulationregulation or or an an obligationobligation, not a conclusion, , not a conclusion, it states a factit states a fact, e.g. “Soldiers , e.g. “Soldiers must wear uniforms”.must wear uniforms”.

Sometimes modal constructions help to tell the Sometimes modal constructions help to tell the reader that the conditions being described do not reader that the conditions being described do not presently exist (presently exist (not a factnot a fact), for example :), for example :

CouldCould: Indeed, he : Indeed, he could becould be the best president the best president that we have ever had (He is not our best that we have ever had (He is not our best president.)president.)

ShouldShould: We : We should have helpedshould have helped the poor . the poor . (We didn’t help the poor.)(We didn’t help the poor.)

WouldWould: I : I would buildwould build big hospitals for the poor big hospitals for the poor if I were rich. (I will not build big hospitals for if I were rich. (I will not build big hospitals for the poor because I am not rich.)the poor because I am not rich.)