1. Writing skill: Distinguishing between facts and opinions
Song Bin-bin
School of Foreign Languages

2. Outline Lead-in Definition of Fs and Os Distinction between Fs and Os
Use of Fs to support Os
Summary

3. Lead-in A fact or an opinion? It’s snowing outside. It’s a nice day. F

4. Lead-in
Analysis:
For sentence 1, one could look outside and see for himself whether it is snowing or not. Therefore, it is a fact.
Sentence 2 is based, not on fact, but on one’s belief or feeling about what makes a day “nice”. One might think it is not a nice day outside because it is either warmer or colder than he/she thinks. Thus, it is an opinion.

5. Definition of Fs and Os
Fs are things known for certain to exist, be true, or have happened.
Os are things believed to exist, be true, or have happened.

6. Definition of Fs and Os Fs: knowing Os: believing not debatable
support

7. Distinction between Fs and Os
How to judge whether a statement is a F or an O?
A simple way is to ask the following questions:
Is the statement debatable?
Is it known for certain to be true?

8. Distinction between Fs and Os
Which are Fs and which are Os?
1. The Empire State Building is a beautiful building.
2. My father’s picture was in the newspaper yesterday. O
debatable F
truly exist
not debatable

9. Distinction between Fs and Os
3. A recent study in the US found that information technology accounted for 5% to 8% of college budgets, up from an estimated 2% to 3% in the mid-1980s. 4. With many schools offering wireless Internet access anywhere on campus, colleges as a group have become the most Internet-accessible spots in the world. F
truly exist
not debatable O
debatable

10. Use of Fs to support Os
In essay/paper writing, a writer should realize that:
“English writing is more direct with things are clearly explained. Details or facts are required to support the topic.” (Susan, 2001)
opinions are not evidences and that they must be supported by facts to sound reasonable and persuasive.

11. Use of Fs to support Os ( )
opinion
Please find out how facts are used to support the opinion.
As we all know, Beijing is a historic city. The city of Beijing has a long and rich history that dates back over 3,000 years. It used to be the capital city of six ancient dynasties, such as the Yuan Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty. There are a number of historic sites in Beijing, of which the most famous is the Forbidden city. It is like a notebook setting down the history of Beijing. (
facts )
opinion

12. Summary Fs: knowing & not debatable Os: believing & debatable
Judge Fs and Os by asking the question “whether a statement is knowing or believing, or debatable or not debatable”.
Use Fs to support Os.