-- 04 -- Facts

-- 04 -- Facts

TFY C3, Facts 

Chapter Summary

Chapter Three Facts

This chapter concerns some of the complexities of the word fact: how facts are determined, how they relate to observations, how facts get confused with inferences, how facts relate to truth and reality, how they relate to language. The chapter provides you with ample exercises for identifying facts, for learning how to assess their reliability, how to note them in reading, and how to state them accurately in writing. Reading selections by Larry Woodward and Princess Diana demonstrate how a report or argument based on facts can result in reading that can be both informative and highly disturbing.

Facts Glossary

Glossary Chapter 3 Absolute An absolute is something that is perfect, complete, always true, something never to be doubted or questioned. Accuracy A standard of being true, correct, and precise; free from error. Certain Certain is a characteristic of something fixed, assured, or inevitable. Currency Information that remains true or existent rather than obsolete our outdated. Fact A fact is something proven to be true, real, existing or to have existed. Fiction Fiction is an idea or story based on imagination rather than reality. Objective/Subjective Objective is to be impartial, free of bias or prejudice. Subjective is to be swayed by bias or prejudice rather than facts and evidence. Plausibility This standard weighs the reasonability of a event or explanation. Probability This standard estimates the likelihood that an event occurred or will occur. Reliability Sources or information proven to be dependable and predictable over time. Verifiability Facts can be confirmed as true or not true and/or in existence or past existence or not, or by other sources such as records, witnesses and evidence. Verify To verify is to test and confirm the truth, accuracy, or existence of something.

Elephant and the Blind Men
Fact or Opinion
Facts or Opinion Exercise

FACT OR FICTION?

If you are interested in eRumors, study this site. What standards do they use for sorting out fact from fiction?

http://www.truthorfiction.com/

FACTS

List the different types of facts that you can find at this site.

http://www.refdesk.com/

FACTS ABOUT FOOD

Click on one of the 50 most popular fast food outlets. Select one featured product. Study the graphs that offer such facts as the ratio of carbohydrates to fats to proteins in this product.

http://nutritiondata.com/

QUICK FACTS

Write down one new facts you learned from the US Census Bureau about people, business, or geography in your state, county or city.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html

Fact vs Opion, etc.

Facts vs Inference Module

Story A