Southern Nevada Regional
Professional Development
Program
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RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Strategies for Reading
Fact and Opinion
Created & Developed by Jill M. Leone
Reading Specialist
Copyright © 2007
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
We will discuss –
• the difference between facts and opinions.
• strategies to distinguish facts from opinions.
• how to check factual statements.
• clue words for opinion statements.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Fact and Opinion
Many readers never question what they
read. They tend to accept everything they
read as fact. “If it’s in print, it must be
true,” they say.
What’s wrong with this thinking?
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
www.weeklyworldnews.com/features/politics
Differentiating between Fact and Opinion
1. Not everything in print is true.
1. Many people misread what is factual
because they do not :
 distinguish between fact and opinion.
 make inferences.
 pick up on the author’s bias or tone.
 or use their own prior knowledge.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
• A fact is a statement that is true.
• Facts can be proven.
• Anyone who is checking will find or see
the same thing.
• There can be no other reasonable point
of view.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
How can you check or prove
that a statement is a fact?
•
Look it up in a book.
•
Check records or statistics.
• Ask eye witnesses.
•
Weigh it or measure it.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Fact!
Checking Facts
Very often –
Reading passages
that contain statistics
or numbers are
based on facts
because they can be
checked.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Checking Facts
Here are two examples:
Nevada’s current population
is over two million people.
Jaime paid $25,000 for his new truck.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Checking Facts
• Can you verify records or statistics to look
•
up the population of a city or a state?
Can you check Jaime’s sales receipt to
find the amount he paid for the truck?
If you answered yes to both
questions, you’re correct.
Therefore, both statements
are based on fact.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Facts can always be proven to
be true or false.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
What is an Opinion?
• An opinion expresses
feelings and depends on
someone’s judgments or
values.
• An opinion is a statement
made by someone who
believes it is true.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
What is an Opinion?
• An opinion is actually a point of view.
• Opinions tell how the writer thinks or
feels about something. Opinions
express –
• a belief
• an idea
• a feeling
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
What is an Opinion?
Common Clue Words for Opinions
•
•
•
•
•
•
should
if
probably
might
perhaps
too
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
• feel
• soon
• believe
• think
• maybe
• idea
What is an Opinion?
More Clue Words
1. Words that predict the future
2. Value words - depend on someone’s
judgment and cannot be proven:
best
great
pretty
worst
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
easy
difficult
good
bad
beautiful
ugly
simple
wonderful
Fact vs. Opinion
As a reader, you can train yourself how
to tell the difference between fact and
opinion by asking two simple questions:
 Can I check it out or prove it? Now?
 Can there be any other point of view?
If you answered yes to the first question
and no to the second, this is a fact.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Let’s look at some examples.
Statements that contain words like good,
bad, or great, which show personal values,
are opinions:
“We played a great game against
Las Vegas High School.”
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Let’s look at some examples.
• Statements reporting other people’s
opinions are facts:
“The dean said our students are very
polite and respectful.”
The opinion itself is not
a fact, but the statement
reporting what someone
says or believes is a fact.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Opinion
Statements by the writer
that something is
necessary, or wanted,
or liked are opinions:
“Everyone can enjoy
our new menu in the
cafeteria.”
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Opinion
Predictions are
opinions:
“Students would
welcome a change in
the attendance policy.”
“Everyone would be
happy to see that old
hotel go.”
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Fact vs. Opinion
There is a difference between predicting
the future and talking about something
that is already scheduled or planned.
Graduation will be held in June.
This statement is a fact because
we can verify right now
that graduation is scheduled
for the month of June.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
When you read facts, make it a habit to
look at the source of the information.
When you read opinions, be sure they’re
supported with –
• facts
• experience
• accounts of experts
• other reliable sources
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Practice Question
(1) Starfish are among the most widespread of marine animals. (2) In spite of
their name, starfish are not really fish at
all, since they are invertebrates and do
not have backbones. (3) Starfish come in
many colors and usually have five arms,
or rays. (4) When starfish are dried out,
they make beautiful ornaments and
necklaces.
Which sentence is an opinion?
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Practice Question
(1) Starfish are among the most widespread of marine animals. (2) In spite of
their name, starfish are not really fish at
all, since they are invertebrates and do
not have backbones. (3) Starfish come in
many colors and usually have five arms,
or rays. (4) When starfish are dried out,
they make beautiful ornaments and
necklaces.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
How did you do?
Practice Question
Mario and I went camping last weekend. We saw
several wild animals, including a raccoon and a fox.
The weather was terrible. It rained every night.
We had a hole in our tent, too.
Which sentence contains an opinion?
A. Mario and I went camping last weekend.
B. We saw several wild animals.
C. The weather was terrible.
D. We had a hole in our tent.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Practice Question
Mario and I went camping last weekend. We saw
several wild animals, including a raccoon and a fox.
The weather was terrible. It rained every night.
We had a hole in our tent, too.
Which sentence contains an opinion?
A. Mario and I went camping last weekend.
B. We saw several wild animals.
C. The weather was terrible.
A. We had a hole in our tent.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
How did you do?
Practice Question
Although I’ve tried to train my dog not to jump on people, she
persists in this habit. I’ve gone to dog training lessons. The
trainer even works with her. When my boss came to my house,
my dog knocked him down. She’s a wonderful dog, but she
makes my life difficult.
Which sentence contains an opinion?
A. The dog jumps on people.
B. I’ve gone to dog-training lessons.
C. The dog knocked my boss over.
D. The dog is wonderful.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Practice Question
Although I’ve tried to train my dog not to jump on people, she
persists in this habit. I’ve gone to dog training lessons. The
trainer even works with her. When my boss came to my house,
my dog knocked him down. She’s a wonderful dog, but she
makes my life difficult.
Which sentence contains an opinion?
A. The dog jumps on people.
B. I’ve gone to dog-training lessons.
C. The dog knocked my boss over.
D. The dog is wonderful. How did you do?
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Practice Question
Jason wants to become a pilot in the Air Force, but the Air Force
has turned him down.
Some of the possible reasons are given below. Decide which
of these is a fact and which is an opinion.
A. He’s shorter than Air Force regulations permit.
B. Jason will make a poor pilot.
C. He gets sick whenever he boards a plane.
D. No one would want to fly with him.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Practice Question
Jason wants to become a pilot in the Air Force, but the Air Force
has turned him down.
Some of the possible reasons are given below. Decide which
of these is a fact and which is an opinion.
A. He’s shorter than Air Force regulations permit.
B. Jason will make a poor pilot.
C. He gets sick whenever he boards a plane.
D. No one would want to fly with him.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
How did you do?
Practice Question
The Eskimo diet used to be very boring. Eskimos ate only
animal products. Nutritionists knew this diet was too restricted.
Humans need protein, fat, carbohydrates, and vitamins and
minerals. Eskimos did not get all this from their regular diet of
whale flesh, yet they survived and thrived.
Assuming that it’s a fact that Eskimos survived and
thrived, which other statement is also a fact?
A. The Eskimo diet used to be very boring.
B. Eskimos at only animal products.
C. This diet was too restricted.
D. Eskimos needed things that weren’t in whale flesh.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Practice Question
The Eskimo diet used to be very boring. Eskimos ate only
animal products. Nutritionists said this diet was too restricted.
Humans need protein, fat, carbohydrates, and vitamins and
minerals. Eskimos did not get all this from their regular diet of
whale flesh, yet they survived and thrived.
Assuming that it’s a fact that Eskimos survived and
thrived, which other statement is also a fact?
A. The Eskimo diet used to be very boring.
B. Eskimos at only animal products.
C. This diet was too restricted.
D. Eskimos needed things that weren’t in whale flesh.
RPDP Secondary
How did you do?
Literacy
Practice Question
Land turtles range in size from tiny turtles that can fit into a
coat pocket to giant turtles that may weigh as much as 500
pounds. These giant turtles, or tortoises, often have shells
more than four feet long. They have become almost extinct
because they are hunted for their meat and oil. Turtle soup
is considered a delicacy by every intelligent connoisseur.
Which is an opinion?
A. Turtles can weigh as much as 500 pounds.
B. Giant tortoises are almost extinct.
C. Giant tortoises are hunted for meat and oil.
D. Turtle soup is a delicacy.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Practice Question
Land turtles range in size from tiny turtles that can fit into a
coat pocket to giant turtles that may weigh as much as 500
pounds. These giant turtles, or tortoises, often have shells
more than four feet long. They have become almost extinct
because they are hunted for their meat and oil. Turtle soup
is considered a delicacy by every intelligent connoisseur.
Which is an opinion?
A. Turtles can weigh as much as 500 pounds.
B. Giant tortoises are almost extinct.
C. Giant tortoises are hunted for meat and oil.
D. Turtle soup is a delicacy. How did you do?
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
So remember to do a little detective
work when figuring out the difference
between fact and opinion.
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Today we discussed -
• Fact vs. Opinion
• Checking for Facts
• Opinion Clue Words
• Examples
RPDP Secondary
Literacy
Copyright Notice
Permission is granted to copy (unmodified) all or part
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message (Copyright © 2007 by Jill Leone) is
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commercial documents or products, or used for
promotional purposes.
Copyright © 2007 by Jill M. Leone
RPDP Secondary
Literacy