Purpose and Point of View
Distinguishing Between Statements of Fact and Expressions of Opinion
A statement of fact is a claim that can be supported or denied by some objective authority.
For example, a statement of fact is:
The vernal equinox occurs on March 21st every year.
Notice, any reader who does not know whether the fact is true or false can check its validity from a great number of sources.
A statement of opinion is the author’s point of view, but it is not necessarily accepted or agreed upon by everyone.
For example, a statement of opinion is:
Most college students cannot get to early morning classes on time.
Notice, some readers will agree with this statement, but others will not.
Which of the following are statements of fact?
A clothes dryer is an essential home appliance.
The sum of 5 and 3 is 7.
Donate to the American Cancer Society.
September 11, 2001, is a day of infamy.
Diet is an important element in maintaining a healthy body.
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