Chapter 1 Study Guide

2. Facts are important to an essay because they provide a solid foundation to base the essay off of yet opinions are what comes out and transforms what we know into thoughtful insight.

1) The difference between an opinion and a fact is that an opinion can be used as the main topic of an essay. It is based on partial knowledge of a subject where the writer thinks what seems true. In a fact, however, the statements are based on absolute certainty and can be proven if needed to. Facts cannot be used as an essay topic since no sides exist, meaning no people to persuade.

Many authors tend to state their opinion very briefly in their work. This makes it vulnerable for others to agree or disagree on the opinion with facts. Common fallacies also known as logical fallacies and argumentation styles are the most critical ways an author can be debated on leading to ongoing arguments. Logical fallacies are faults in reasoning that weaken our arguments and argumentation styles are types of arguments that modify the text to create a structured essay. Logical fallacies and argumentation styles can either create a more developed essay or can make it vulnerable. This can be avoided with much revision and editing but there will always be someone to judge someone else’s work for any purpose if found. Like many novels that

“An opinion is a judgment based on facts”- Fowler, H. Ramsey. The Little, Brown Handbook.

2. For defense attorneys a “successful” case often means a reduction in sentence via a plea bargain, not

* Respond- City ordinance enacted, required to fix problems, light parking lot, train clerks, limit cash, make store visible, 2 clerks on scene, video camera in full view, timed and secured safe. Tried to make robbing a convenient store as difficult as possible

Opinion: “Opinions are intensely personal, so it is understandable that people have strong feelings about theirs. (Ruggiero, 2010, p.34). Your opinion may not be the truth but for an individual it is a personal view and not any one else’s.

Would a strong opinion be an approachable statement that holds enough reason to be reported as a fact? Perspective of all different people from a situation holds accountable of their own belief and what is moral based on what they experience. In the book “Everything's an argument” by Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz; they state in page 153 that “British and Americans will always tell different versions of what happened in North America in 1776” This example describes the viewpoint of the reader, in this case we have two parties that recorded

There is no difference between the either two the simple way to view this opinionated question is by how we can move forward with the knowledge attained by reading books that better our “right” way to live.

This course has taught me that an argument will be most effective when both sides are presented to the reader. It is not enough to persuade the reader to agree with the opinion of the writer by only presenting evidence that proves his/her view point. Every person will have their own personal opinions on a topic. Most of the time there is no definite answer as to whether or not they are right or wrong.

The elements of a thesis are generally stated in a single sentence. A topic is not covered in a thesis, but opinions are expressed. A thesis indicates that there is support to follow, and often organizes supporting material. Effective thesis statements are precisely worded to draw in the audience. The location of a thesis is very important because if it appears at the opening of the essay, it starts the essay off with a strong statement providing clear direction and an outline of the supporting evidence. If a thesis statement appears in the middle it allows the writer to introduce the subject and guide the reader into accepting a thesis that is explained, as well as defended. The thesis being presented at the end allows the writer to close the thesis with a strong statement. The types of evidence that can be used in a thesis vary from personal observations to statistics. Evidence should support a

I feel that I am a very smart student, or I would not have made it this far; and I already knew the definition of an essay; which is a piece of writing with a point or argument. Yet at the beginning of the semester I had never really given much thought to how many different types of essays there were, and I knew very little about the components that would make these sort of writings a success. However, during the semester I learned that an essay can be written from any perspective, yet it is most commonly written in the view of the first person, or third person. Likewise I knew that an essay is composed of an introductory, three bodies, and a conclusion, but there is so much more to an essay. For example the first paragraph of an essay's primary purpose is to introduce the thesis and

Most people in our society say what’s on their mind and give opinions on just about any subject. For the most part, people don’t always know everything about an issue before they offer their opinion; sometimes they don’t know anything at all, but they still give their input anyway. Having our views is a form of communicating with others, like understanding where someone stands on certain issues or arguing for facts. . Opinions should always be backed up with evidence.

"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." -- Marcus Aurelius

Be aware that every essay is guided by the perception of the person who wrote it. It is virtually impossible to be completely impartial and objective towards everything we analyze. Our life history continuously shapes us into thinking and acting the way we do; the place where you were born, the childhood we experienced. It all has an effect on our decision making process. Even our sex: male or female. Everything makes a difference in perception.