FACT vs OPINION I. How do we distinguish between fact and opinion? A statement that can be backed up with evidence and verified in some way - Someone’s point of view, judgment or belief – II. Read through the beginnings of some sentences and decide whether they express facts or opinion. 1. This review has demonstrated… 2. According to the results of the latest poll… 3. In Professor Donald’s view… 4. The company claims that… 5. The research team argues that… 6. The latest findings confirm… 7. Most experts in this field suspect that… 8. Researchers have recently discovered Underline the key words that made you arrive at your decision III. Read through the fact and opinion quiz below 1. According to the latest survey, families are purchasing more household items on credit. 2. You can hear all the news you need to know from the BBC Radio 1 news team. 3. The professor argues that the effect of carbon emissions on the surrounding environment will only get worse. 4. The research team has discovered a new method for conducting this chemical analysis. 5. The latest poll shows a marked increase in employee dissatisfaction. 6. I think public opinion will change over time. 7. This book is an enjoyable story of life in a small village. 8. The use of computers at the college has increased and the stationery budget has doubled in the last few years. 9. Governments must invest more in the environment. 10. Nine out of ten who completed the survey answered the questions correctly. IV. People who read reviews[INS: :INS] expect to see some facts, but they mostly read them to find out someone else’s opinion of a book, a film or a TV programme. Look at the two reviews below. 1. What is each text reviewing? 2. Which parts are fact and which are opinion? Highlight each in a different colour. 3. Does a mix of fact and opinion in these reviews help you to make up your mind about a book, film or programme? Or would you prefer more facts or more opinions? Discuss with others in your group. Marley: A Dog Like No Other - John Grogan Textové pole: Review by Anna “Marley: A dog like no other” is written by John Grogan. John tells the story of his dog, Marley, and all the things he gets up to. Marley is a troublesome dog that is loved very much. In the book he is always doing funny things, such as drinking out of the bath and running around with the end of the toilet roll in his mouth! The book is very funny but also sad. I would rate this book 9/10. (Adapted from the BBC website.) Textové pole: Folk Hibernia This watchable documentary looked at the Irish folk revival. We heard the best of Irish music from the last 30 years. Sixty years ago this music was almost never heard outside Ireland and it was largely unloved at home. Yet Irish music has given the world a sense of Ireland and Ireland a sense of itself, as the country has grown to be a modern European state. (Adapted from the BBC website.) Episode image for Folk Hibernia V. Read the text below and find synonyms (might be phrases) to the words or definitions from 1 to 14. WORDS OFTEN USED WITH FACTS, EVIDENCE and DATA Researchers try to establish the facts. They hope that the facts will bear out or support their hypothesis. Most carefully check their facts before presenting them to others although there are, of course, dishonest people prepare to distort the facts in order to claim that their facts are interesting, relevant, undeniable or little-known. Notice how “fact” is also often used in sentences like the following: It is hard to account for the fact that the star population is confined to a nearly circular region. The problem stems from the fact that there is a basic conflict of interests. The lecturer drew attention to the fact that the results had been plagiarized. 1.confirm, 2.change, 3.connected to the topic being discussed, 4.explain why, 5.has arisen because, 6.emphasised that Researchers may look for, collect, examine and consider evidence. The evidence they collect may point to or suggest a conclusion. If the evidence is growing or widespread, it may serve to support a theory. In writing up their research they aim to provide or offer sufficient evidence to support their theories. They are happy if the evidence they find is convincing or powerful and are less happy if the evidence is flimsy or conflicting. They are pleased if new evidence comes to light and if they find abundant evidence. They may talk about finding hard evidence. 7.not strong, 8.contradictory, 9.becomes known, 10.plenty of, 11.evidence which is reliable and can be proven (used mainly in spoken English) The data is reliable. comprehensive. accurate. empirical. You obtain organize analyse interpret record Data. Data suggests reflects indicates shows demonstrates sth. 12.can be trusted, 13.full, complete, 14.based on observation rather than theory, 15.get VI. Find the odd one out 1. Thorsen’s aim was to establish/check/bear out/present the facts. 2. The evidence suggests/points to/supports/emerges a different conclusion. 3. Lopez collected/reflected/obtained/recorded some fascinating data. 4. The writer provides some growing/telling/striking/illuminating examples. 5. The evidence Mistry presents is convincing/flimsy/vivid/conflicting. VII. Complete the sentences with these words: stance, viewpoint, notion 1. She doesn’t agree with the ________________ that boys and girls should be taught separately. 2. The government has made their ______________ on the boycott issue clear. 3. The article provides a different _______________ on this difficult topic. 4. We must never accept the _______________ that intelligence is connected to race. 5. The article expresses his _______________ on ITER and its feasibility. 6. “Russia will maintain current ______________ over Donbas,” Garry Kasparov has said. Sources: http://www.sciencedirect.com McCarthy, M. and F. O’Dell, 2008 Academic Vocabulary in Use CUP http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/topic/fact-or-opinion