Contoh Soal Differentiating Opinions from Facts
Contoh Soal Differentiating Opinions from Facts - In this lesson, you will learn about opinions and facts. In the end of it, you will also be able to differentiate opinions from facts.
- ON FACTS: Facts are stubborn things; …our wishes, inclinations, or the dictates of our passions cannot alter the state of facts. --John Adams
The power of mass media is overwhelming. Mass media deliver news that people read, watch, or listen to. They inform us about what is happening in the world. Unfortunately, sometimes this power creates propaganda and misleads people. The news often confuses facts and opinion.
A fact is not merely an opinion; it is a statement which can be verified whether it is true or false. That means a fact is verifiable. People can determine whether something is true or not by researching and investigating the related data. These research and investigation may include numbers, dates, statements, et cetera. Statements which include statistics tend to be facts. Moreover, a fact provides crucial support for the assertion of arguments.
A fact is not merely an opinion; it is a statement which can be verified whether it is true or false. That means a fact is verifiable. People can determine whether something is true or not by researching and investigating the related data. These research and investigation may include numbers, dates, statements, et cetera. Statements which include statistics tend to be facts. Moreover, a fact provides crucial support for the assertion of arguments.
Look at the example below:
Lionel Andres Messi got his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 as he was named the best footballer of the year by FIFA.
Despite many speculations and disagreement about this award and how much he deserved this, Ballon d’Or is an annual association football award given by FIFA to the male player considered to have performed the best in the previous calendar year, and it is decided by the statistics and how many votes the player gets. It is written in the official record of the association.
Look at another example below:
Indonesia is the world’s largest Moslem country, with over 87% of Moslem, and it is the home of 12.7% of the world’s Moslem population.
The fact above contains statistics which support the statement, which can be checked in several sources.
- ON OPINIONS:
Just the opposite of facts, there are opinions. One thing to be remembered is that opinions might be true or false. Since an opinion is an expression of a person’s feelings and emotions, it can be based on facts or simply a statement meant to intentionally mislead other people.
Hence, it is important to be aware whether some statements are opinions or not. An opinion is more of judgment based on facts, and it is possibly changeable. There are uses of descriptive and emotional language in opinions, and often contain clue words pointing to oneself such as I believe, I think, and in my opinion. Subsequently, author may use those kinds of language to appeal and sway your emotions and ways of thinking. You can identify opinions by noticing the words or phrases that express beliefs or feelings. In spite of everything, our beliefs will also affect the judgment of some opinions presented.
Look at the example below:
Harry Potter series is the best fantasy novel in the world.
The statement above can be an opinion of a Harry Potter admirer. As mentioned before, an opinion can be true or false, it might also be a judgment based on facts. Here, the person who gave this statement could say this on the basis of how successful the novels and the movies are. It might also be a mere opinion based the person’s strong feeling toward Harry Potter.
- ON DIFFERENTIATING THE TWO:
It is a bit tricky to differentiate facts and opinions. Sometimes, there are people who intentionally spread news that is only based on opinions, and it often misleads. It can be dangerous if the news’ content was negative because we often interpret something through our values, feelings, and knowledge and then put some perspectives on it.
Therefore, when you read some news or statements, it is important to crosscheck facts and opinions so that you can come to the right conclusion. You can also bear in mind that a fact is a piece of information that can be defined and proven to be true, while an opinion is a statement that expresses a belief, value, or feeling.
S1
Which one is an explanation of a fact? Choose the right answer.
S2
The answer that explains an opinion is ....
S3
A fact can begin with this phrase….
S4
An opinion can begin with this phrase….
S5
The similarity between facts and opinions is ....
S6
The difference between facts and opinions is ....
S7
Look at the statement below to answer question 7-8
Based on the 2014 election result, Joko Widodo was named as the seventh president of Indonesia in the 2014-2019 period.
Read the above statement carefully. This is a statement of ....
S8
Look at the statement below to answer question 7-8
Based on the 2014 election result, Joko Widodo was named as the seventh president of Indonesia in the 2014-2019 period.
The words/phrases that give an indication of a fact is ....
S9
Look at the statement below to answer question 9-10
From the 2014 presidential election, I think Prabowo Subianto should have been the one who won the election.
The above statement is ....
S10
Look at the statement below to answer question 9-10
From the 2014 presidential election, I think Prabowo Subianto should have been the one who won the election.
The words/phrases that give an indication of an opinion is ....