Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the word “fact” as “something that truly exists or happens: something that has actual existence” (merriam-webster.com). However, many people have different opinions on what a fact actually is and how accurate that it should be. One end of the spectrum believes that facts must always be proven with 100% accuracy, while the other end of the spectrum doesn’t mind if numbers or claims are reciprocated, as long as the general idea is correct. Throughout my reading of Lifespan of a Fact by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal, I have re-evaluated my belief of how exact claims should be in non-fiction writing. In my chosen article, I have decided that claims which include numerical statistics should be as exact as possible,…show more content… Panklow, to further discuss the effects of formaldehyde. Panklow states that e-cigarette users should stray away from using a high-voltage setting. In the experiment that Panklow conducted, he found that “…a high voltage can generate 14 milligrams of loosely affiliated or “hidden” formaldehyde” (“Before You Vape”). He then did a repeat experiment on tobacco smokers and found that they would only be exposed 3 milligrams in a 20-pack (“Before You Vape”). As one can clearly see, e-cigarette smokers are much more susceptible to the effects of formaldehyde than tobacco smokers simply because they are exposed to a significantly higher amount of formaldehyde. Panklow then goes on to research how, exactly, e-cigarettes release this high amount of formaldehyde. After providing a brief overview on how e-cigarettes burn the liquid in their cartridges, mainly the e-cigarettes burn at over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (“Before You Vape”), he states that “The difference in e-cigarettes is the material that is heated and turns into hot gas as it cools is not tobacco, but two main chemicals” and that when these two main chemicals get really hot, unwanted reactions will occur (“Before You Vape”). This unwanted reactions include the releasing of a large amount of
