Facts and Opinions | English Writing Skills

Summary

In this video, Wendy from Worldwide Speak explains the difference between facts and opinions in writing, especially for students learning English. She emphasizes how facts can be proven true, like the design of the Music Pavilion in Chicago, while opinions are subjective beliefs, like personal views on architecture. Through practical examples, Wendy teaches how to distinguish between the two, providing insights into academic writing and how supporting opinions with facts can strengthen arguments. The video helps learners understand how to properly use facts and opinions in essays and other forms of writing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Facts can be proven, while opinions are beliefs or feelings that cannot be proven.
• 😀 A fact is something that is true and can be verified (e.g., 'Frank Gehry designed the band shell in Millennium Park').
• 😀 An opinion is a personal belief or feeling that may differ from person to person (e.g., 'Chicago has the best pizza').
• 😀 Using facts to support opinions strengthens your writing and helps convince readers of your point of view.
• 😀 Adjectives often indicate opinions (e.g., 'beautiful,' 'great'), while facts are usually straightforward and unembellished.
• 😀 In academic writing, understanding the difference between facts and opinions is essential for clarity and accuracy.
• 😀 Examples in the script highlight how a simple sentence can express either a fact or an opinion depending on wording (e.g., 'There are many restaurants in Chicago' vs. 'There are so many great restaurants in Chicago').
• 😀 A fact does not involve personal feelings and can be verified with evidence (e.g., 'The Chicago River runs throughout the city').
• 😀 Opinions often involve subjective language or personal experience (e.g., 'Second City is the best place for entertainment').
• 😀 Practicing writing facts and opinions helps students become more confident in expressing themselves in another language and in academic settings.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Wendy's video?

The main topic of Wendy's video is the difference between facts and opinions, especially in the context of writing paragraphs and essays in English.

How does Wendy explain the difference between a fact and an opinion?

Wendy explains that a fact is something that is true and can be proven, like the design of a building or the location of a city. An opinion, on the other hand, is a belief or feeling about something that cannot be proven, such as whether a building is beautiful or if a city has the best pizza.

What is an example of a fact provided in the video?

An example of a fact is that 'Frank Gehry designed the band shell in Millennium Park,' which is a verifiable truth.

Why is the statement 'The band shell is absolutely beautiful' considered an opinion?

The statement 'The band shell is absolutely beautiful' is considered an opinion because beauty is subjective and cannot be proven. Different people might have different views on its appearance.

How does Wendy suggest students practice understanding facts and opinions?

Wendy suggests that students practice understanding facts and opinions by going through many examples, which helps when learning to write in a new language.

What does Wendy say about using facts to support opinions in academic writing?

Wendy emphasizes that in academic writing, it is important to support opinions with facts in order to strengthen the argument and make it more convincing to the reader.

What makes the sentence 'There are so many great restaurants in Chicago' an opinion?

The sentence 'There are so many great restaurants in Chicago' is an opinion because it includes the word 'great,' which reflects the speaker's personal feeling about the restaurants. It can't be universally proven.

Why is the sentence 'The Chicago River runs throughout the city' considered a fact?

The sentence 'The Chicago River runs throughout the city' is considered a fact because it is a straightforward statement that can be verified through a map or other factual resources.

What is the significance of adjectives in determining whether a statement is a fact or opinion?

Adjectives, such as 'great' or 'beautiful,' signal that a statement is an opinion, as they reflect the speaker's feelings or beliefs, making the statement subjective rather than objective.

How does Wendy suggest students approach learning facts and opinions in writing?

Wendy suggests that students should pay close attention to the types of words used in sentences, especially adjectives and specific places, as these can help identify whether a statement is a fact or an opinion.