Page 488 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Opinion 3, from a Faculty Member

Obviously, the current system is not working. Students complain
about faculty having special parking privileges, but they don’t

realize that we may have day and evening classes, meetings in the

afternoon, and all manner of class materials to bring from our

vehicles. It is only fair that we get the spaces closest to the

classroom buildings. However, since the current system is not
enforced, faculty members need a gated parking lot that can be

entered only with a key card.

The three previous examples make it clear that the facts can lead

different people to different conclusions. The only thing that all parties
agree on in the previous examples is that change is needed. Because

the same facts can be used to support more than one conclusion or

more than one opinion, a good opinion paper usually contains both

fact and opinion, skillfully woven together.

Look at the following paragraph. Fact and opinion are woven together

in it to make a convincing argument.

opinion opinion

Professor Smith is not a good teacher. His lectures are

fact
impossible to understand because he stands with his

head in his notes and mumbles at the lectern instead of

opinion