Business Communication: In Person, In Print, Online by Newman, Amy, 10th editionAnalyze a simple explanation of a complex topic. Watch one or two videos by the company Common Craft, which creates short videos to make complex topics easy to understand.
Go to www.commoncraft.com
or search YouTube for “Common Craft,†and choose a topic that interests you.
What about the video helps you understand the topic?
Consider the use of words and graphics to explain abstract topics.
Giving specific examples from the video, write a one-page analysis and submit.
Business Comms Wk 5
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Business Comms Wk 5
Facts and Opinions: Explained by Common Craft
The video, Facts and Opinions posted by Common Craft, explains the difference between facts and opinion, using an analogy of a blue whale. It clarifies that facts can be proven with available evidence, while opinions cannot be empirically proven because they are built from personal perceptions and beliefs (Common Craft, 2021). The video demonstrates how one can differentiate between facts and opinions, two major confusing words. Facts can be seen, touched, felt, heard, tasted, smelled, and so on, while opinions in most cases are just thoughts and perceptions that can only be felt.
The Common Craft video is short and in-depth with details, lasting only 3 minutes. It has both audio and visual explanations of the arguments being passed. The video also gives written explanations to enable viewers to follow the explanation keenly. Being shorts makes the video captivating and kills boredom. Additionally, the analogies used make the assertions in the video more understandable and relatable. One can easily use it to understand the difference between opinions and facts.
For instance, the video starts by showing two hands holding facts and opinions and a person in between them contemplating which is which. This shows the quandary within. The fact box is ticked and is held in the palm. On the other hand, the opinion box is not in hand but connected to the palm by some dots (Common Craft, 2021). This shows that facts are things people have in hand and can be verified, while opinions are things people have in the brain and cannot be verified. An example is when the video states that blue whales are the largest whales in the world, that claim can be proven by measuring and comparing the sizes of different types of whales. However, when the video states that blue whales are the most beautiful whales, it becomes an opinion. Others can dispute such a claim because beauty is relative. Others might say blue whales are the ugliest, thereby making such a statement an opinion.
Facts can be measured, while opinions cannot. Opinions are based on a personal belief, while facts are verifiable (Common Craft, 2021). For instance, if a researcher says that whale research needs more funding, it is an opinion because it is based on his personal beliefs. This statement can be a fact if given some quantitative evaluation or comparisons like funding for whale research reduced by 10% in 2018 or more publications on blue whales than dolphins. Facts give a paper or argument more credibility and practical basis. However, facts can as well be false. Therefore, more verification should be done to ensure that such claims are indeed factual.
From the video, students can easily differentiate between facts and opinions with the examples provided. Knowing the difference is crucial in writing and analyzing a paper or argument. One can simply check the statements to know whether they are based on personal beliefs or verifiable claims. Therefore, tutors and students can use such videos to obtain better and easier ways for understanding many things.
References
Common Craft. (2021). Facts and Opinions. https://www.commoncraft.com/video/facts-and-opinions