Transcript Three Gorges: Different Perspectives

Facts/Opinions and Bias
How did the adverse effects of DDT affect
people's opinions in the developed world?
• Experts opinion was that DDT was extremely harmful to
the environment
• 1970 – most countries banned DDT
• Opinions based on the facts resulted in people’s
behaviour change and DDT was no longer used.
Why is it different in many parts of the
developing world?
• However, developing countries still produce and use DDT
• Low cost and high degree of effectiveness against Malaria
Example:
• 1996 spraying of DDT was stopped in South Africa and the
cases of Malaria increased by 150 per cent.
• When spraying resumed cases of Malaria decreased
dramatically.
1.a. What is the difference between facts
and opinions?
Give an example of each, other than
what is mentioned in the text.
Opinions: the beliefs that people hold, and
the judgments they make about events.
Opinions are subjective because they
form as a result of one’s personal outlook
on life.
Facts: Knowledge that is certain and
incontestable, observations, or personal
experience. Facts are objective.
1.c. Provide two other examples of people
continuing to behave in a certain manner
despite knowing the negative implications of
their actions.
• Over fishing most of the world’s oceans
• Governments not providing adequate
funding for education
• Driving vehicles that consume large
quantities of fossil fuel
• Cutting more trees than are planted
• Smoking when you know it causes cancer
• Not funding urban transit systems
2. What is bias?
• Bias is the presentation of an issue from a
single point of view.
How does bias usually show up?
• Including facts that only support your point of
view
• Use of language (biased words) especially the
choice of verbs and adjectives
• Selecting statistics that only support your point
of view and neglecting others
• Selection of Images/maps to support your issue
Mercator Projection
• Equatorial regions are smaller
• Polar regions are larger
Robinson Projection
Shape of the countries in the polar regions
are badly distorted. Used by national
geographic 1988 – 1998.
Mercator Projection - bias
• Projection was used to emphasize the
size of the British empire during the 19th
century, by extension its power and
influence around the world.
• Countries in the equatorial region
objected because they felt it diminished
their importance
Three Gorges:
Different Perspectives
Question 1
• Both articles should be reliable
• One is official government
• Other respected environmental group
• Each argument is skewed
Question 2
• Both present arguments that appear valid
and persuasive
• Can both sides be right?
• Yes. Because both are using facts and
opinions to support their point of view
• People are often swayed not by facts, but
by the manner in which facts are
presented.
Question 3
• Examples of based language:
Pro: Chinese Government
– “World’s largest” – is used three times and
“world’s most famous” is used once
– …”charming” scenery will be left untouched
Con: (Probe International)
– “catastrophic” flooding during construction
– Corruption scandals “plagued” during the
project
– …as cheaper power sources become
available that “lure” away customers