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Referencing, Plagiarism & Managing Sources

Distinguishing between Fact and Opinion

1. Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion

Decide whether each of the following statements is fact or opinion. Think also about which ones might require supporting evidence.

a. People who live in the North of Britain are friendlier than those who live in the

South.

Fact or Opinion?

b. Water does not always boil at 100 degrees Celsius.

Fact or Opinion?

c. On average, people in Britain are living longer.

Fact or Opinion?

2. Facts, Opinions and Supporting Evidence

When developing an argument in an academic writing context, you should always provide evidence for your view. Look at these two examples of evidence used in support of a statement:

a. More women are worried about car crime than men.

Supporting evidence: The RAC report on Motoring 2003 'Car crime and personal safety' points out that '3 in 10 female motorists worry about being attacked or robbed while in their car compared to 1 in 10 male motorists.'

b. In Europe, more men than women drink alcohol to a harmful extent.

Supporting Evidence: According to a World Health Organisation report, '1 in 4 European men and 1 in 10 European women consume alcohol at levels hazardous and harmful to health.'

Now decide whether each of the following statements is a fact or an opinion. Give your reason in the box and in the case of an unsupported opinion, indicate what supporting evidence could be added.

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a. Exercising makes you feel good.

Fact

Supported Opinion

Unsupported Opinion

Reason:

Supporting Evidence:

b. Too much exercise is unhealthy. Government research has shown that particular

medical conditions are more likely to occur when you take too much exercise.

Fact

Supported Opinion

Unsupported Opinion

Reason: Supporting Evidence:

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c. In a recent survey, eighty-five per cent of those interviewed indicated that they

enjoy exercising because it relaxes them.

Fact

Supported Opinion

Unsupported Opinion

Reason:

Supporting Evidence:

d. Exercise can relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety and even help to relieve more serious disorders such as schizophrenia and manic-depressive illness (Davies, 2003).

Fact

Supported Opinion

Unsupported Opinion

Reason:

Supporting Evidence:

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e. Young men in Britain between the ages of 18 and 25 drink too much alcohol.

Fact

Supported Opinion

Unsupported Opinion

Reason:

Supporting Evidence:

f. Young couples with babies should be encouraged to attend parenting classes, which emphasise good parenting methods.

Fact

Supported Opinion

Unsupported Opinion

Reason:

Supporting Evidence:

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g. Young couples with babies who attend parenting classes will become better parents.

Fact

Supported Opinion

Unsupported Opinion

Reason:

Supporting Evidence:

Answers for Activity 1:

a. Opinion: This is a view based on personal experience or the ideas of others, and would certainly require supporting evidence.

b. Fact: Water boils at lower temperatures at higher altitudes. This can be shown to be true. As it represents the exception rather than the rule, in writing, it would probably be helpful to support it with an example.

c. Fact: Though it would be usual to cite statistical evidence to show that this is true.

Answers for Activity 2:

a. Unsupported opinion: This is an opinion because some people may agree with it, while others may disagree. There is no supporting evidence. This could be provided in the form of a survey of attitudes to exercising.

b. Supported opinion:This statement is an opinion. It is supported in the sense that research has shown this to be the case. As a reader, you would also want to know: what is meant by too much exercise? What kind of research was it? What are the particular medical conditions referred to here?

c. Fact: This is a fact: a recent research finding is reported.

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d. Supported opinion: This is an opinion based on research by Davies. Notice however that the statement does not say that exercise will have this effect.

e. Unsupported opinion: This is an opinion. In order for this to be accepted by the

reader, the writer would need to define what is meant by 'too much', and provide evidence that this limit is exceeded by the majority of young men in Britain. As it stands, the statement suggests that all young men in Britain between 18 and 25 drink too much alcohol.

f. Unsupported opinion: This is an opinion: it is a recommendation based on the

assumption that parenting classes emphasise good parenting methods. Evidence would be required to define 'good' parenting methods, and show that these can have a positive impact on children's development.

g. Unsupported opinion: This is also an opinion. Evidence would also be required to show that parenting methods can be taught.