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Evaluation is the systematic determination of merit, worth, and significance of something or someone. Evaluation often is used to characterize and appraise subjects of interest in a wide range of human enterprises. it can help us react quickly to situations where our survival is at stake. Evaluation is not fact. Factual report keep the distinction between facts and evaluations.

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An opinion is a person's ideas and thoughts towards something. It is an assessment, judgment or evaluation of something. An opinions is not fact, because opinions are either not falsifiable, or the the opinion has not been proven or verified. If later it becomes proven, it is no longer opinion, but fact. Critical thinking requires we recognize the difference between responsible and irresponsible opinion that we distinguish statements based on evidence from statements based solely on feelings.

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An assumption is something we take for granted , something we accept prematurely as being true, something we do not check out carefully. It can be conscious or unconscious, warranted or unwarranted. Hidden assumptions are unconscious assumption that greatly influence a line of reasoning . One from of hidden assumption is stereotypes. another type is value value assumptions, or basic unexamined beliefs that unconsciously influence our thinking.

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Facts and inferences are linked together through generalization. fact has little significance in themselves until generalization or laws can be derived from them. it is important to know how to generalizations can be supported. Observation helps determine facts, imagination, and reasoning to link the facts with explanation, and generalization ties all information together into a meaningful whole.