[Japanese] Let’s Master How to Handle Information!

Hello everyone! Starting today, let’s learn together about "how to handle information."
When you hear the word "information," it might sound a bit complicated, but it’s actually something very familiar. For example, today's weather, stories you heard from friends, or facts about animals you looked up in an encyclopedia—all of these are "information."
Once you know how to handle information, you will be able to communicate what you want to say much more clearly to others. You might find it a little tricky at first, but don't worry. Let's take it one step at a time, together!

1. Learn to distinguish between "Facts" and "Opinions"

The most important thing when handling information is to clearly distinguish between "facts" and "opinions."

・What is a fact?
It is something that actually happened, which doesn't change no matter who sees it. It’s easy to think of these as things you can photograph or represent with numbers.
(Example: It is raining today. / There are 30 students in the class.)

・What is an opinion (or thoughts/feelings)?
These are things you thought or felt inside your heart after seeing something. A key characteristic is that they differ from person to person.
(Example: I feel sad because it's raining. / I think everyone in the class gets along well.)

[Tip] How to distinguish between them when you're unsure

Try adding "I thought..." or "I felt that..." to the sentence. If it makes sense, it is an "opinion."
On the other hand, remember that "things that can be proven with photos or video" are "facts"!

[Common Mistake]
You might think the sentence "Yesterday's test was difficult" is a fact, but this is actually an "opinion." Even if it was difficult for one person, it might have been easy for another. If you want to make it a fact, it’s better to use numbers, like "The average score on yesterday's test was 60 points."

★Summary of this section:
Don't mix up "things that actually happened (facts)" with "what you felt in your heart (opinions)!"

2. Tips for organizing information

When you gather a lot of information, it can feel scattered and hard to understand. When that happens, try organizing it using these two methods:

① Categorizing
This is the method of grouping things that are similar.
(Example: Organize animal information by "what they eat," "where they live," and "body size.")

② Comparing
This is the method of placing two or more things side-by-side to find their similarities and differences.
(Example: Create a table showing the differences between a lion and a tiger.)

[Trivia] Taking notes is the first step!

To make sure you don't forget what you heard or researched, make sure to take "notes." It’s hard to write everything down, so the trick is to write down only the "keywords" (important words) in short form.

★Summary of this section:
"Categorizing" and "comparing" information will help keep your mind clear and organized!

3. Master the correct way to research

When you research something, you use various tools. Let's learn the characteristics of each:

・Japanese Dictionary: For looking up the meaning of words.
・Encyclopedia: For researching a specific subject in detail.
・Internet: For quickly checking the latest information.

[Be careful!] Make your sources clear
When you present what you've researched, always make sure to write down "where you got the information from." This is called a "source."
(Example: From page 10 of the "〇〇 Encyclopedia," etc.)

[Step-up!] Verify if the information is correct

Information on the internet, in particular, can sometimes be wrong. Get into the habit of checking "When was this written?" and "Who wrote this?" The safest way is to check more than just one source—look at two or three books or websites to see if they all say the same thing.

★Summary of this section:
When you do research, always make a note of "what you looked at" and double-check to see if the information is truly accurate!

Conclusion: Become an "Information Detective"!

Learning how to handle information is a lot like becoming an "information detective."
By asking yourself, "Is this actually true?" or "How can I organize this so others understand it?", your words will carry real power.

Start by practicing distinguishing between "facts" and "opinions." When you write in your diary, simply being conscious of it—like saying, "We had a sports festival today (fact). I was so excited (opinion)"—will help you get better and better! I'm rooting for you!