1. What you need to know:  How can we use scientific literature to investigate a question?  What is the difference between fact and opinion?  Are all opinions equally valid? Nuclear Power – What is the Evidence? Question:  The government plans to build a nuclear power station 2 miles from where you live? What would you want to know? Make a list. 

2.  Fact  A statement about reality; about what is true or what exists Statements of fact should be supported by evidence  OpinionA statement about an individual’s beliefs, feelings or personal judgement Statements of fact can be independently checked What do the following terms mean?  ValidSound, defensible, well-grounded The more facts there are to support an opinion, the more valid it may be  LiteratureBooks, magazines, journals, websites, pamphlets, leaflets, etc..

3. Parents who don’t vaccinate their children are irresponsible. Vaccines protect against diseases which can cause some very serious damage. In twenty years of medical practice, I’ve vaccinated thousands of children: less than 0.5% of these had even a mild reaction to these. Dr J. Hibbert Who is stating an opinion? Are the two statements equally valid? I don’t like the idea of vaccines – I think they’re unnatural. It’s better to avoid them. Mr N. Flanders

4.   In pairs, read the two articles (1 each)  Briefly describe the main points of your article to your partner  Draw up a list of at least three points in favour of nuclear power... ... and at least three points against nuclear power USE BOTH ARTICLES Make sure you record which article the information comes from

5.  Read through your two lists...  Identify which points are FACTS and which are OPINIONS  Look at the OPINIONS Are they based on facts? Are you told what those facts are? How valid do you think this opinion is?  Look at the FACTS Are these statements of fact supported by evidence? Are you told where that evidence comes from? How reliable do you think these statements are?