Page 148 - Keys to College Success

KEY 5.1 Support an idea with evidence.

Not big enough to
Small size and low mass. clear its orbit of other
small objects.

PLUTO
should be reclassified
as a dwarf planet.

Resides in the Kuiper
Belt (a collection of orbiting
Irregular orbit.
objects), where other objects
larger than Pluto exist.

and negative). For example, an article might detail what causes young teens to use the
Internet after school, and the effects that this has on their family life. The cause-and-
effect chain in the article should make sense to you.
Analyze carefully to seek out key or “root” causes—the true and significant causes
of a problem or situation. For example, many factors may be involved in why young
teens spend time on the Internet, including availability of service, previous experience,
and education level of parents, but on careful examination one or two factors may be
more significant than others.

KEY 5.2 Examine how fact and opinion differ. Critical, Creative, and Practical Thinking

FACTS INCLUDE STATEMENTS THAT . . . OPINIONS INCLUDE STATEMENTS THAT . . .

. . . deal with actual people, places, objects, or events. . . . show evaluation. Any statement of value indicates an opinion. Words
Example: “In 2002, the European Union introduced the such as bad, good, pointless, and beneficial indicate value judgments.
physical coins and banknotes of a new currency—the euro— Example: “The use of the euro has been beneficial to all the states of the
that was designed to be used by its member nations.” European Union.”
. . . use concrete words or measurable statistics. . . . use abstract words. Complicated words like misery or success usually
Example: “The charity event raised $50,862.” indicate a personal opinion. Example: “The charity event was a smashing
success.”
. . . describe current events in exact terms. Example: . . . predict future events. Statements about future occurrences are often
“Mr. Barrett’s course has 378 students enrolled this opinions. Example: “Mr. Barrett’s course is going to set a new enrollment
semester.” record this year.”

. . . avoid emotional words and focus on the . . . use emotional words. Emotions are unverifiable. Words such as
verifiable. Example: “Citing dissatisfaction with the delightful or miserable express an opinion. Example: “That class is a
instruction, seven out of the twenty-five students in that class miserable experience.”
withdrew in September.”
. . . avoid absolutes. Example: “Some students need to . . . use absolutes. Absolute qualifiers, such as all, none, never, and always,
have a job while in school.” often express an opinion. Example: “All students need to have a job while in
school.”
Source: Adapted from Ben E. Johnson, Stirring Up Thinking. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1998, pp. 263–270.

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