Reading a variety of newspapers has been a habit of mine since studying History at university. Reading widely offers me a wide range of views and perceptions so that, in the end, I can better make up my own mind and decide for myself. This is, perhaps, the most important takeaway from my university days. Different people have differing perceptions and will judge events accordingly. Take a look at the following (extreme) examples of this. Same story - different spin.
"The American president has a defence capability. The Iraqi dictator, Sadam Hussein, has weapons of mass destruction." How does this sound if you switch things around a bit? "George Bush has weapons of mass destruction. The Iraqi leader has a defence capability." Nobody is lying here but if you are writing to convince, persuade or change opinions, you need know how to put a positive or negative spin on your writing.
You can even spin a yarn on stories like the onion story below.
Unique, cheap, effective and environmentally friendly are just some of the words and expressions used by Senior Consultant Tina G. to describe the humble onion. "It's curative powers make it an important medicinal plant for my children," says Tina. There is no doubting the power of the onion. Historically, they were used as a preventative medicine during epidemics of cholera or plague. The health benefits stem from a variety of organic sulphur compounds contained in a volatile oil and this makes the onion so much more active in its raw state than when cooked. The smell of onions can be a problem for some people. If you notice the smell on the hands and on the breath, Tina says, simply rinse the hands with cold water, rub them with salt and then, rinse again. If you have a romantic date then simply eat a few sprigs of parsley and your partner will not notice a thing.
The second piece has a very different feel
A German woman, who forced her young children to strap onions to their feet in order to suck out the bacterial infections in their bodies, is being investigated by government officials in the East German town of Chemnitz. The woman is reported to have been taken in by a message making the rounds on social media claiming that placing sliced raw onions on the bottom of your feet and securing them with socks before going to bed will "take away illness" overnight. Doctors in Chemnitz say that there is no evidence to suggest that strapping onions to the soles of your feet will do you much harm, but neither is there evidence to suggest that it cures you, either. The German woman whose mothering abilities are being investigated by police, said that she believed sliced onions in a sick room absorbed all the germs and prevented contagion.
The first piece is full of bouncy and happy language while the second piece is exceedingly negative in its language and tone.
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