COMM 200: Civil Discourse (General Guide)

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." - John Adams, 'Argument in Defense of the Soldiers in the Boston Massacre Trials,' December 1770

• A fact is a statement that can be proven true or false.
• A fact is objective.
• A fact is discovered.
• A fact states reality.
• A fact can be verified.

"Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance." - Plato

• An opinion is a statement of belief which may or may not be backed up by facts, but cannot be proven true or false.
• An opinion is subjective.
• An opinion is created.
• An opinion interprets reality.
• An opinion cannot be verified.