FACTS AND OPINIONS

author us trying to convince readers of something. Should be supported by facts, logic, and clearly explained opinions (most are also based on assumptions or unstated and unproven ideas about what is true)

• rare to be composed entirely of facts, can happen if the writer is attempting to convince readers to accept factual information that is little-known or widely questioned

argument

is a verifiably true

ex: Seattle gets an average of 37inches of rain per year

fact

based on someone’s belief; judgment

ex: The dark, rainy, cloudy weather makes Seattle an unpleasant place to live in winter

opinion

how/when would an author argument be effective/valid

readers must consider both the main argument and any supporting statements. If an argument is based on poor reasoning or insufficient evidence, it is not valid — even if you agree with the main idea

why are these arguments poor?

It just snowed fifteen inches! How can anyone say the world is getting warmer?

It’s seventy degrees in the middle of February! How can anyone deny global warming?

Both of these arguments are based on insufficient evidence. Each relies on one weather event in one location to support an argument that the entire world’s climate is or is not changing. There is not enough information here to support an argument on either side

why is this claim considered a False Claim of Fact?

I know vaccines cause autism because my niece began displaying autism symptoms after receiving her measles vaccine.

it takes a controversial idea as fact without adequate evidence to back it up. Makes a false claim of cause and effect about an incident that has no clear causal relationship

define: restates the argument in different words instead of providing evidence

circular reasoning

why in this an ex of circular reasoning?

Baseball is the best game in the world because it is more fun than any other game

Here, everything after the word because says approximately the same thing as everything before it. It looks like the author is providing a reason, but no evidence has actually been offered.

define: Presenting an issue as if it involves only two choices when in fact it is not so simple

either/or fallacy

why in this an ex of either/or fallacy?

Woman should focus on motherhood, not careers

This statement assumes that women cannot do both. It also assumes that no woman needs a career in order to provide for her children.

define: Making a broad claim based on too little evidence

overgeneralization

why in this an ex of overgeneralization?

All elderly people have negative stereotypes of teenagers

This statement lumps a whole category of people into a group and claims the whole group shares the same belief—always an unlikely prospect

a preconceived idea that makes a person more likely to show unfair favor for thoughts, people, or groups.

use excessive emotional word choice (insult those who disagree with them or engage the emotions in a way that feels manipulative)

ex: a person who has traveled widely may feel differently about world political events than someone who has always lived in one place

bias

what does biased writing include?

overgeneralization, words like all, always, never, etc indicate writer is overstating a point. Unbiased writing is more likely to qualify ideas using words like usually, often, rarely

harmful type of bias that applies to specific groups of people. Idea is behind racism, sexism, homophobia

stereotype

TEAS: how to spot Assumption

In questions about assumptions, think critically about what is missing or unstated in the argument. For example, ask, “Does the argument rely on an unproven idea?”

TEAS: how to identify bias

Pay attention to overly emotional language, extreme generalizations, or stereotypes. Words like all, never, or always often signal bias.

TEAS: how to check for tone

Neutral and factual writing is less likely to reflect bias. Look for qualifiers like usually, some, many, which indicate more balanced reasoning.

TEAS: how to look for logical gaps

Arguments with hidden assumptions often have gaps in reasoning. Questions may test your ability to identify and evaluate these gaps.

TEAS: how to evaluate the writers word choices

Are they aiming to persuade through emotion or reason? Biased arguments often rely on manipulation rather than facts.