PROJECT: FACTS AND OPINIONS REPORT
Here are your goals for this assignment:
Choose a topic for your report and find two sources of information
Take notes for your report and use them to write an outline which also includes your personal opinions
The author of an opinion paper (which may also be called an argumentation paper) takes one side of a controversial topic and supports that side using evidence. Because there are at least two sides to the topic, the author's opinion needs support in order to persuade or change the mind of the reader.
The author of the report on Australia chose to put most of the facts first. Then she gave her opinions. When you write your report, you may follow this example or you may weave your opinions throughout the report. Make very clear what is fact and what is opinion.
Example:
Beavers slap their flat broad tails on the water to warn other beavers of danger (fact).
I believe this system is a good warning system (opinion).
To write your own report with facts and opinion, follow these steps:
1. Choose a topic for a paper of at least 200 words.
The topic you choose may be anything that interests you. Consider an animal, a famous person, or a place you have visited. You may want to write about something scientific like stars, hurricanes, or volcanoes. You may also choose an idea or chapter from the Bible or a theme such as grace or peace. Remember, the best topics for opinion papers have at least two clear sides.
The following are some ideas for writing your report:
Cities should have dedicated bike lanes.
You should exercise for thirty minutes every day.
Camping is the perfect vacation.
Goldfish make the best pets.
Each of these topics has more than one side.
When you choose your topic, be sure that it will lend itself to offering and supporting your opinion. Do not choose a topic if you do not have your own opinions on it. An experience like a vacation is a good choice. You can give facts about the place you visited and opinions about what the place is like.
Do not make your topic too broad. Instead, choose a topic that is specific. For example, you would want to choose "German Shepherds" rather than "animals".
2. Find at least two sources of information about your topic. Look in reference books such as encyclopedias, almanacs, or dictionaries. Find books or magazine articles about your topic. Use your library or the Internet. The key is to search for interesting information that your readers may not already know.
3. Take notes. As you read from your sources, jot down interesting facts to include in your report. Make sure that you record information about your sources in your notes. Write down the name of the book or magazine, the name of the author, and the name of the article or chapter. Also record the publishing date and the page number(s) on which you found the information. You may want to write this information in index cards or on a separate page in your notebook. Later you will include the source information in your paper.
4. Include any personal opinions which clearly state what you think about the subject. This means that you should avoid statements of like or dislike, if possible. Instead you should concentrate on opinions which talk about the effect that the person or experience had on you.
Instead of: I didn't like the Australian Outback. It was too sunny and hot.
Use: The hot weather in the Australian Outback made me wonder how anyone could survive in it.
The first opinion does not leave much room for the reader to disagree with you. The second opinion still states that the weather is hot. However, now the reader can express her own opinions and thoughts about the subject.
5. Write a general outline based on your notes and opinions.
Remember to include your source(s) of information and a general outline.
