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What is a Subjectivity in Writing?
Grade Level:
Class 5
NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication
Definition
What is it?
Subjectivity in writing means expressing personal feelings, opinions, beliefs, and interpretations rather than just facts. It's about how a writer sees or feels about something, making their writing unique to them.
Simple Example
Quick Example
Imagine two friends watching a cricket match. One says, 'India won by 5 wickets.' This is a fact. The other says, 'What a thrilling match! Dhoni's last-ball six was absolutely brilliant!' This second statement shows personal feelings and opinion, making it subjective.
Worked Example
Step-by-Step
Let's say you're writing about your school's annual day.
1. **Objective Statement:** 'The annual day event started at 6 PM and ended at 9 PM. There were 15 performances.' (These are just facts).
---2. **Adding Subjectivity:** You want to share your experience and feelings.
---3. **Draft 1 (Objective):** 'The dance performance was 5 minutes long.'
---4. **Draft 2 (Subjective):** 'The classical dance performance was mesmerizing! The dancers moved with such grace and precision, making it the most beautiful act of the evening.' (Here, 'mesmerizing,' 'grace,' 'precision,' and 'most beautiful' are your personal opinions).
---5. **Result:** By adding words that describe your feelings and judgments, you make the writing subjective.
Why It Matters
Understanding subjectivity helps you express your unique voice and perspective, which is crucial in literature, journalism, and even social media. It's important for future writers, lawyers arguing cases, or anyone communicating ideas effectively.
Common Mistakes
MISTAKE: Thinking all writing must be subjective to be interesting. | CORRECTION: While subjectivity adds flavor, some writing (like news reports or scientific articles) needs to be objective and fact-based to be credible.
MISTAKE: Confusing subjectivity with making things up or lying. | CORRECTION: Subjectivity is about honest personal feelings or interpretations, not inventing facts. Your opinion should still be based on reality.
MISTAKE: Using subjective language without supporting it with examples or reasons. | CORRECTION: If you say something is 'amazing,' explain *why* it's amazing. For example, 'The biryani was amazing because the spices were perfectly balanced and the rice was fluffy.'
Practice Questions
Try It Yourself
QUESTION: Which of these sentences is more subjective: A) 'The temperature today is 30 degrees Celsius.' B) 'The weather today is unpleasantly hot.' | ANSWER: B) 'The weather today is unpleasantly hot.'
QUESTION: Rewrite the following objective sentence to make it subjective: 'The auto-rickshaw ride from my home to school is 5 kilometers.' | ANSWER: 'The auto-rickshaw ride from my home to school always feels so long and bumpy, especially in the morning rush!' (or similar, expressing feeling/opinion)
QUESTION: Identify the subjective words in this sentence: 'The street food vendor near our school makes the most delicious samosas; their crispy outer layer and spicy potato filling are simply irresistible!' | ANSWER: 'most delicious', 'simply irresistible'
MCQ
Quick Quiz
Which of the following statements is an example of subjective writing?
The train arrived at platform number 3.
The book has 250 pages.
The movie was a masterpiece of storytelling and visual effects.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
The Correct Answer Is:
C
Option C expresses a personal opinion ('masterpiece') about the movie, making it subjective. The other options state facts, which are objective.
Real World Connection
In the Real World
When you read movie reviews on platforms like IMDb or book reviews on Goodreads, you're mostly seeing subjective writing. Reviewers share their personal opinions and feelings about the content, helping others decide if they might enjoy it too. Even news editorials in newspapers like 'The Hindu' or 'Indian Express' often contain subjective opinions of the writer.
Key Vocabulary
Key Terms
OPINION: A personal view or judgment not necessarily based on fact. | FEELINGS: Emotions or emotional responses. | INTERPRETATION: The way someone understands or explains something. | BIAS: A prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. | PERSPECTIVE: A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.
What's Next
What to Learn Next
Next, you can learn about 'Objectivity in Writing.' Understanding objectivity will help you see the difference clearly and know when to use facts versus feelings in your writing. It's like learning two sides of the same coin!
