The document discusses how to evaluate evidence used to support opinions in writing. Writers may state opinions without evidence, so readers should evaluate if facts are objective, relevant, complete and truly back the stated opinion. When opinions differ, the reader should determine whose evidence is more reliable and fully supports their position. Readers must consider their own opinions on the topic and writing when deciding whether to accept the opinion in the text.

2.  Sometimes when writers state their
opinions, they just assert their points of
view without providing any support.
Any writer who states opinions without
giving supporting evidence probably
should not convince you.

3.  More often, writers try to convince readers
to share their opinions by presenting various
facts or evidence.
So must you evaluate the evidence presented
in what you read to decide whether to accept
a writer’s opinion?

4. The following questions will help you to evaluate
any evidence offered in support of an opinion you
find expressed in your reading:
 Can the facts be trusted?
 Are the facts given in an objective?
 Do the facts really support the opinion being
expressed?

5.  Are the facts relevant to the point being made?
 Have the unfavorable or negative points been left
out?
 Do the facts prove the writer’s opinion, or do
they only suggest that the opinion is reasonable?

6. If two writers give opposite opinions, you
should judge which one give the better evidence.
Whose facts are more reliable, are more
complete, are expressed more objectively?
Whose facts support the opinion
more fully?

7.  Textbook writers are not shy about giving
their opinions is supporting details or
evidence to back up the opinions.

8. • Selection:
Today, American Indians are impoverished
people; life is difficult whether the live in cities or on
the reservation. For example, the death rate of
Navajo babies over 18 weeks old is 2 ½ times that of
the overall population. Moreover, in 1987 the
National Urban Indian Council estimated that 60 to
80 percent of native Americans living in cities are
unemployed.

9.  Whether you accept a writer’s opinion
depends on your own opinions --- both
your opinions about the subject and your
opinion about the piece of writing.

10.  Some of the thoughts that pop into our
head may be good. It is when you can
develop and support them convincingly.
 Sometimes, it turns out to be
unsupportable– perhaps a result of a
prejudgement or bias or a result of not
thinking carefully enough.

11. Journal- a kind of diary of your thoughts about reading
Whenever you read, write out your thoughts about it.
 Do not summarize or simply repeat what the reading
states. Instead say your reason why you agreed or
otherwise.

12. If the reading reminds you of something you
experienced, describe it and state how the
reading is related to it.
If you dislike the writer’s attitude or manner of
looking at the subject, explain exactly what is
wrong in the writer’s approach.

13. If the writer disagrees in your professor’s
point in a lecture or with points made by
the students in a class discussion, explore
the issue too.

14. How do you feel about the subject of the
reading? Are your thoughts and feelings
similar to the writer? How? Why?
Does the textbook selection expand upon,
challenge, or disagree with the points made
in the class discussion or by the professor?

15. Which part of the reading seemed to be
especially interesting or new or unusual?
What particular facts or details did you learn?
How do your experiences relate to what you
have read? How can you support or challenge
the points in the textbook through events and
observations in your own life?

16. What have you read somewhere else that
supports or question what you read in the
textbook?
How convincing the ideas and arguments
that the writer states?

17.  how might the people you know react on
the opinion presented in the textbook
selection?
As you were reading, what thoughts run
through your mind?