Academic opinion OR argument, stance, position, thesis, claim
Personal opinion
Determined by: Conducting research, examining evidence, even-handedly considering issues Gut feelings, personal experiences, own worldview
Characterised by: Objectivity - guided by logic and rational thinking Subjectivity - guided by emotions, personal experiences and individual character
Is it defendable?
Yes - you can defend or support an academic argument by citing credible evidence and laying out a reasoned argument
Hmmm, it's hard to say that one person's 'gut feeling' or worldview is any more valid than another's, so personal opinions are very hard to defend and validate objectively