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Strategies for Reading Created & Developed by Jill M. Leone Fact and Opinion Created & Developed by Jill M. Leone Reading Specialist Copyright © 2007 RPDP Secondary Literacy

the difference between facts and opinions. Today's Objectives 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

Fact and Opinion RPDP Secondary Literacy

What’s wrong with this thinking? 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

Weekly World News YODA VISITS THE WHITE HOUSE Some people believe every word they read. Weekly World News                                                                                                                                                             YODA VISITS THE WHITE HOUSE RPDP Secondary Literacy www.weeklyworldnews.com/features/politics

Not everything in print is true. Fact and Opinion Differentiating between Fact and Opinion Not everything in print is true. 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. What is a Fact? 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? What is a Fact? 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. Fact! Here’s something that is often confusing: Statements reporting other people’s opinions are facts: “The dean said our students are very polite and respectful.” “The President announced that the economy is in bad shape. The opinion itself is not a fact, but the statement reporting what someone says or believes is a fact. RPDP Secondary Literacy

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. $25,000 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. Remember RPDP Secondary Literacy

An opinion is a statement made by someone who believes it is true. 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? a belief an idea a feeling 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 An opinion expresses feeling and depends on someone’s judgment or values. An opinion is a statement which someone believes to be true, a point of view. However, the major difference between a fact and an opinion is that an opinion cannot be verified or proven. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Common Clue Words for Opinions What is an Opinion? should if probably might perhaps too Common Clue Words for Opinions feel soon believe think maybe idea Here are some examples of opinions: “We played a great game against Rancho High School.” Statements by the writer that something is necessary, or wanted, or liked are opinions: “Everyone can enjoy our new menu in the cafeteria.” Predictions are opinions: “Students would welcome a change in the attendance policy.” That team will probably win in next year’s Super Bowl. RPDP Secondary Literacy

What is an Opinion? Words that predict the future More Clue Words Words that predict the future Value words - depend on someone’s judgment and cannot be proven: best great pretty worst easy difficult good bad beautiful ugly simple wonderful As a reader, you should also look for value words. These are words that depend on someone’s judgment and cannot be proven objectively, like when you look up something in a book: best great pretty beautiful simple easy good worst difficult bad ugly wonderful RPDP Secondary Literacy

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. You can train yourself to tell the difference by asking two simple questions: 1). Can I check it out or prove it? (Now?) 2). Can there be any other point of view? If you can answer yes to the first question and no to the second, then you know you are dealing with 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

our new menu in the cafeteria.” 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.” You can not prove these NOW. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Graduation will be held in June. 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 - 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

Which sentence is an opinion? Practice Question (1) Starfish are among the most wide-spread 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 How did you do? (1) Starfish are among the most wide-spread 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. The word beautiful is a value word. This is your clue. How did you do? RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Which sentence contains an opinion? Mario and I went camping last weekend. We saw several wild animals. The weather was terrible. We had a hole in our tent. 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. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Which sentence contains an opinion? Mario and I went camping last weekend. We saw several wild animals. C. The weather was terrible. We had a hole in our tent. 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. How did you do? RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Which sentence contains an opinion? The dog jumps on people. I’ve gone to dog-training lessons. The dog knocked my boss over. The dog is wonderful. 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. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Which sentence contains an opinion? The dog jumps on people. I’ve gone to dog-training lessons. The dog knocked my boss over. D. The dog is wonderful. 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. How did you do? RPDP Secondary Literacy

Assume every fact is correct. Practice Question He’s shorter than Air Force regulations permit. Jason will make a poor pilot. He gets sick whenever he boards a plane. No one would want to fly with him. 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. Assume every fact is correct. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question He’s shorter than Air Force regulations permit. Jason will make a poor pilot. He gets sick whenever he boards a plane. No one would want to fly with him. 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. Fact Opinion Fact Opinion How did you do? RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Assuming that it’s a fact that Eskimos survived and thrived, which other statement is also a fact? The Eskimo diet used to be very boring. Eskimos at only animal products. This diet was too restricted. Eskimos needed things that weren’t in whale flesh. 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. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question 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. 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. How did you do? 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? Turtles can weigh as much as 500 pounds. Giant tortoises are almost extinct. 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? Turtles can weigh as much as 500 pounds. Giant tortoises are almost extinct. Giant tortoises are hunted for meat and oil. D. Turtle soup is a delicacy. How did you do? RPDP Secondary Literacy

A good reader is also a good detective. It's important to know- A good reader is also a good detective. RPDP Secondary Literacy

So remember to do a little detective work when figuring out the difference between fact and opinion. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Key Stategies and Terms Today we discussed - Fact vs. Opinion Checking for Facts Opinion Clue Words Examples RPDP Secondary Literacy

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