Distinguishing fact and opinion, and identifying generalisation

 

Group Assignment

READING COMPREHENSION IV

Distinguishing fact and opinion,  and identifying generalisation

Oleh :

Yulia Meta Arpani                (12 104 026)

Gusnona Anggraini              ( 12 104 008)

Lusi Andrias Tuti                  ( 12 104 013)

Meli Mardiana                       ( 12 104 014)

Eliya Sabari                           ( 12 104 007)

Novria Fadli                           ( 12 104 018)

Dosen Pembimbing :

Dr. Sirajul Munir, M.Pd

Nina Suzanne, M.Pd

English Deparment (A)

Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Negeri (STAIN)

Batusangkar

2013 M / 1434 H

Distinguishing Fact, Opinion and Identifying Generalization

A.   Distinguishing fact and opinion

Good readers know how to distinguish, or seperate, facts from opinions. A fact is a known truth; an opinion is an idea or belief about something. Facts do not change, but one person’s opinion might be very different from another person’s opinion. You cannot agree or disagree with a fact, but you can agree or disagree with an opinion.

How do you recognize opinions ?

v   opinions are often introduced by phrases such as in my opinion, or I think, or I believe.

v   adjectives can express opinions. That movie was terrible or learning english is hard.

v  sometimes opinions are expressed with adjectives or adverbs in the comparative or superlative form. For example : this book is better than that book or this is the best dictionary.

B.   Identifying Generalization

n  A generalization is a broad statement about what a group of people or things have in common.

n  For example, using what you know and have observed, you could generalize by saying: “Most people in the United States greet each other with a handshake.”

There are “Good” and “Bad” Generalizations :

n  You could say:“Most people in the United States greet each other with a handshake.”  That’s because generally, speaking…that is the customary greeting in America and it is supported by fact.

n  You should NOT say: “All people in the United States greet each other with a handshake.”  Saying “ALL” means everybody and that is unlikely to be true.

n  You should NOT say: “Most people in the world greet each other with a handshake.”  People from all over the world greet each other in different ways so.  this statement wouldn’t be true.

“Clue words” to help find generalizations: All, always, never, most, many, sometimes, generally

Safe or Valid Generalizations:

Q  Valid means true.

Q  Supported by facts

Q  Uses logic and reasoning

Q  Proven with several examples                      

Recources :

1.      Jo Mcentire, Read Ahead reading and life skills development. 2004, United States of America            : Longman

2.      http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/ReadStrat12.html