Opinions Writing Preview Activity

Apple reaches new low with batteries  

1. Who wrote the story?

Ian Miller 

2. What is their story about?

Apple devices batteries purposely failing. 

3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.

"The way I see it Apple's goal with these updates aren't to protect the battery, but rather to promote its newer iPhone models." 

4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?

No

5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean did they ever go back and say well maybe if this were to happen, then their opinion wouldn't be valid. Support your opinion.

Yes, they gave some things that Apple could have done instead of slowing down the phones, like providing new battery replacements, or letting the customer know upfront what the updates were doing. 

6. Are there any quotes in the story?

No direct quotes. 

7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?

1st POV

Russia banned from Winter Olympics 

1. Who wrote the story?

Sumin Kim 

2. What is their story about?

Russia being banned from the Olympics for using steroids 

3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.

"In my opinion, IOC finally made the right decision after letting Russia get away with cheating for so long." 

4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?

Yes, they stated what the Russian government might think about the doping scandal. 

5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean did they ever go back and say well maybe if this were to happen, then their opinion wouldn't be valid. Support your opinion.

No, because the whole basis of the article was that the only solution to Russia's doping athletes would be them to not dope their athletes. 

6. Are there any quotes in the story?

Yes, there is a quote from Fatma Samoura, stating "there has been no widespread doping incidents in Russian Football." 

7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?

 1st POV

Sensationalism is taking over mainstream journalism 

1. Who wrote the story?

Jake Brien

2. What is their story about?

How big news companies are no longer telling the whole truth, but what their viewers want to see/heat. 

3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.

"I have a problem with the media stations pandering to specific demographics, and people missing the point of journalism entirely,"  

4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?

Yes, they said that the other side might see this as a way to make money. 

5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean did they ever go back and say well maybe if this were to happen, then their opinion wouldn't be valid. Support your opinion.

Yes, they said that if the big news companies would stop only producing one side of the story, then he would be less upset. 

6. Are there any quotes in the story?

No

7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?

1st

Full Out Bummed (FOB) for new album
1. Who wrote the story?

Shelby Papst

2. What is their story about?

Their opinion on the new FOB album.

3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.

"None of (the songs) were bad by any means, but after their very soulful past albums this one almost felt dull by comparison."

4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?

No

5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean did they ever go back and say well maybe if this were to happen, then their opinion wouldn't be valid. Support your opinion.

No, they just said how they felt about the album, and why they felt that way about it compared to their past releases. 

6. Are there any quotes in the story?

No. 

7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?

1st

A. I think the main differences between a hard news story and an opinion piece are the emotions that can be felt through the writing/ the lack of emotion, the structural differences, and the fact that a hard news story has no opinion what so ever and is just the fact, while a opinion story is obviously about the authors opinion.
B. I dont think there are very many photos on the page because there is not much to cover in terms of news or evidence that this event actually happened, because it is the authors opinion on the subject.
C. I like reading opinion stories on pop culture and new trends, and I also enjoy reading about things that people think that are wrong or things that have angered the author that I can relate to.