Subjective Vs Objective Writing Subjective Evidence Evidence that

Subjective Vs. Objective Writing

Subjective Evidence - - Evidence that you cannot evaluate—you simply have to accept or reject what the person says. It emphasizes: - - Personal feelings, thoughts, judgments, opinions What does the word bias mean? What might Mrs. Brown me biased about?

Subjective Writing Subjective writing is found in personal essays, in autobiographies, and in the editorial section of newspapers where journalists express their opinions about news events.

Objective Writing - Evidence you can see and evaluate for yourself. It emphasizes: - Facts, figures, and imagery *No opinions or personal beliefs!

Objective Writing Journalists who report the news write in an objective style. They stick to the facts and figures of the events they report; their purpose is strictly to inform the readers. Objective writing is also found in textbooks.

Warning! Some texts may combine objective writing and subjective writing. For example, a biographer may include his or her opinion of the person about whom he or she is writing, as well as report the facts regarding that person’s life. It is important to recognize which segments are written objectively and which are written subjectively.

Warning! Likewise, a inexperienced or unprofessional journalist may inadvertently or on purpose mix actual facts related to a news event and his or her own opinions of that occurrence. Again, it is the reader’s responsibility to distinguish fact from opinion.

Examples n Subjective: n n n Andy says “My foot hurts a lot. ” Is he lying? How much is “a lot”? What is Andy’s idea of pain? Is he actually injured or is his foot just asleep? Objective: n n Andy walks in with a cane and a knife stuck in his foot. There is physical evidence that he’s in pain.

Examples n Subjective n n n Andy says “That was an awesome football game!” Compared to what? Who was playing? His son? The team he coaches? Himself? Two pro teams? Objective n If you see a video of the game, you might see great plays, high scores, a last-minute win, etc.