Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

Distinguishing fact from opinion

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495K views 10 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When you read an article online, how do you usually decide if a statement is a fact or an opinion?
What kinds of topics do you think create the biggest “gray area” between fact and opinion?
Why do you think “distinguishing fact from opinion” is important for reading comprehension?

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Distinguishing fact from opinion

Facts vs. opinions (and the “gray area”) (00:00 – 02:09)

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1. Why is “It’s 30°C outside” described as a fact?

Because everyone agrees it feels hot.
Because you can verify it using a thermometer or smartphone.
Because it is an opinion that most people share.
Because it uses an emotional word.

2. What is the main difference the speaker gives between a fact and an opinion?

Facts are longer sentences, opinions are shorter sentences.
Facts are always true, opinions are always false.
Facts are about people, opinions are about numbers.
Facts are objective and verifiable, opinions are subjective and not verifiable.

3. What warning does the speaker give about information presented as a fact in a passage?

It may still be inaccurate or flatout wrong.
It is always irrelevant to the topic.
It must be supported by a graph.
It is always based on feelings.

Distinguishing fact from opinion

Using evidence: the grade chart example (02:09 – 04:26)

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1. According to the chart example, which statement is presented as a fact and can be checked directly in the graph?

Professor Ecks’s students enjoyed the course more.
Professor Bee worked harder than Professor Ecks.
Professor Bee’s students earned an average course grade of 85.
Professor Ecks is a better instructor.

2. Why is the conclusion “therefore, Prof. Ecks is a better instructor” an opinion?

Because the graph shows no difference between classes.
Because it contains a date.
Because it cannot be verified just from the grade averages.
Because it uses statistics incorrectly.

3. When the speaker adds that Prof. Ecks has more experience, how does that affect the conclusion?

It becomes a verified fact.
It becomes weaker because experience cannot be checked.
It is stronger because it is based on two pieces of evidence, but it is still an opinion.
It becomes irrelevant to the topic.

Distinguishing fact from opinion

Presented as fact vs. true; strong vs. weak opinions (04:26 – 07:40)

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1. What does the speaker say about the statement “the Earth is flat”?

It is presented as a fact, but you can verify it and find that it’s wrong.
It is neither a fact nor an opinion.
It is a fact because it is objective.
It is an opinion because no one can verify it.

2. According to the speaker, when are opinions weak?

When they are based only on a guess or personal feeling or judgment.
When they include statistics and data.
When they are written in formal language.
When they are supported by two pieces of evidence.

3. Why does the speaker call the conclusion about the “poor state of higher education” problematic?

Because a grammar test may not be a good measure of education quality, and that judgment can’t be verified.
Because two-thirds is a very small number.
Because the conclusion is presented as a graph.
Because the study cannot be read or checked.

Distinguishing fact from opinion

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1. Which best describes a “fact” in the video?

A statement based on feelings that most people share
A statement that is verifiable and objective
A statement that uses persuasive language
A statement that is always true

2. What is the relationship between facts and opinions according to the speaker?

Opinions can never include facts.
Opinions may be based on facts, but they are still subjective.
Facts are always opinions with numbers.
If something is a fact, it cannot be checked.

3. What should a critical reader do when a writer presents something as a fact?

Agree with it if it includes statistics.
Examine and verify the evidence for relevance and accuracy.
Ignore it and focus only on opinions.
Assume it is true because it sounds objective.

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Distinguishing fact from opinion

Think of a headline you recently saw online. What parts were facts, and what parts were opinions?
Is it possible for two people to agree on the facts but disagree on the conclusion? Give an example.
What kinds of evidence would you want before agreeing that one teacher (or one method) is “better” than another?
Do you think people should share opinions publicly if they can’t strongly support them with evidence? Why or why not?