Paper 1 Section A
Reading Non-Fiction & Media
AO2ii – Fact & Opinion
What are facts?
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Facts are things that can be proven to
be true
They can be presented as statements
They can be presented as numbers or
statistics, sometimes in a chart or
diagram
What are opinions?
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Opinions are somebody’s thoughts,
feelings or ideas about an issue
Look for language that shows what
somebody feels about the issue
Remember that opinions can sometimes
be presented as if they are facts
Starter
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Identify whether the following examples
are either facts or opinions
Example 1
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A study produced in 2006, showed that
1 in 10 teenagers do not talk to their
parents about what worries them
Fact – based on a survey and gives
numerical information
Example 2
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It is shocking to think that the
Government wants to ban the use of
mobile phones in schools
Opinion – uses emotive words like
‘shocking’ to show the writer’s feelings
Example 3
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Some schools in Oldham have banned
mobile phones
Fact – this can be proved to be true
through research
Example 4
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World War 2 ended in 1945
Fact – this is an event that really
happened
Example 5
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Lots of children today are guilty of antisocial behaviour
Opinion – there is no clear evidence for
this and it could be argued that ‘lots of
children’ are well-behaved
Assessment Objective
AO2ii – Distinguish between fact and
opinion and evaluate how information is
presented
 Correctly identify examples of facts and
opinions
 Explain how these are used by a writer
Examples of questions
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How does Fay Weldon use facts and
opinions to support her argument?
How effectively are facts and opinions
used to fulfil each writer’s purpose?
How does Jenny McKay use facts to
support her opinions?
Ways facts and opinions are
used
Facts
Opinions
 To give evidence to
 To make the reader
support the writer’s
respond
ideas
 To make the reader
 To shock
care
ALWAYS remember
 To surprise
 To show the writer
to EXPLAIN how
they do this cares
 To illustrate a point
 To show the writer’s
 To make the reader
ideas
think about an issue
 To balance facts
Expert Opinions
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Sometimes, writer’s will quote the opinions of
others – they may be experts or somebody
that is involved with the story
These opinions will often support what the
writer is saying
Sometimes, they will contrast with the
writer’s views and are used to show a balance
or that the expert is wrong
Framework for reading
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Read the questions
Read the text
Work out the PAFT and message
Highlight examples – check the
question
Plan your response
PURPOSE: what job is the writer trying to do?
Argue
Persuade
Advise
Inform
Explain
Describe
Analyse
Review
Comment
Imagine
Explore
Entertain
AUDIENCE: the reader
Children
Teenagers
Parents
Pensioners
Workers
Experts
Fans
Men
Women
Adults
PAFT
Age
Interests Lifestyle
Gender Education Class
Job
Hobbies Politics
Purpose
Audience
Form
Tone
FORM: type of writing
Leaflet
Web page
Letter
Speech
Report
Article
Story
Email
Essay
Advert
TONE: what is the mood of the writing? How are we addressed?
Enthusiastic
Passionate
Hopeful
Optimistic
Humorous
Angry
Frustrated
Pessimistic
Sad
Annoyed
Questioning
Doubtful
Suspicious
Sarcastic
Ironic
Objective
Subjective
Neutral
Cynical
Knowledgeable
Model question
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How does the writer use facts and
opinions to support their views?
(6 marks)
6 marks = 12 minutes
Identify the writer’s views
Identify two good examples of fact and
opinion to support these views
Planning your answer
Fact 1
Fact 2
Opinion
1
Opinion
2
Point
Evidence
Explain
(Writer’s views)
(Brief quotation)
(The effect on reader)
Assessment Criteria – AO2ii
Band 1 (F/G)
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Little detail / unfocused
Band 2 (D/E)
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General, descriptive answer / spots obvious
points
Band 3 (B/C)
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Explains use of examples / range of examples
selected
Band 4 (A/A*)
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Detailed evaluation / structured answer