Page 490 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

made out the midterm. I would not advise anyone to take

a class with Professor Smith.

Exercise 10-4 Recognizing Fact and

Opinion

Underline and label the fact and opinion in the following paragraph:

Dr. Greentree is an excellent teacher. Her lectures are clear and
are supplemented by PowerPoint outlines that help the class take

notes. She knows how to keep the class’s attention by injecting

humorous stories into her lectures and varying the pitch of her

voice. She helps us understand by asking questions frequently and

encouraging us to ask questions. In addition, she cares about
students who may be falling behind. She maintains office hours and

encourages class members to come by if they have questions or

concerns. I would advise anyone to take a class with Dr. Greentree.

Will You Change Anyone’s Mind?

A good argument is aimed at changing people’s views. On some

topics, a convincing argument may change someone’s mind. On other
topics, though, you will find it next to impossible to sway an opinion

that may have been molded by a lifetime of experience. Particularly on

such hot-button issues as abortion, assisted suicide, and the death