SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

HUMANITIES DIVISION

Facts and Ideas

Purpose: It is very important for a reader and a writer to make clear distinctions between facts and ideas. Too often people become confused between the two and as a result confuse themselves and others. The basis of clear communication is finding common ground and then to build on that. Thus we understand the reasoning that follows facts and are able to reconsider that reasoning more easily when more facts present themselves.

Approach: Look at one or more of the chapters or essays you have read in this class and make two lists. On one sheet list ten or more facts on another sheet list ten or more ideas. An example is found below.

Learning Objectives:

An example:

Facts

"Players have personalities, and they are who they are," Coughlin said Monday, shortly after the Giants arrived from New York. "You want a certain amount of that on your football team, but you don't want someone who puts themselves in a position to hurt your team. So there's a standard there with how flexible you are."

"Eli Manning led a late touchdown drive for a 17-14 win."

"During the title game of the 2005 season, for instance, Seattle tight end Jerramy Stevens ignited a back-and-forth with Pittsburgh's Joey Porter by suggesting Seattle was going to win. Porter shot back that Stevens was a "first-round bust" who was "soft" and would end up "on his back" a lot during the game."

Ideas

"By Super Bowl standards, it's [the first quotation above] extremely tame."

"The Patriots (15-3) and the New York Giants (12-7) don't have any bad things to say about each other."

"Belichick is known for cracking down when one of his players spouts off."

"As the culture of the game changed - more trash talk, touchdown celebrations and look-at-me moments - the Super Bowl became the big stage for the biggest mouths."

Taken from "This Super Bowl Rematch Anything but Trashy." The Seattle Times. Tuesday, January 31st.