1. Fact and Opinion “Every man has a right to be wrong in his opinions.
But no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.”
Baruch, Bernard M
(American Financier)

2. Let’s Get The Facts Straight!
There is a difference between
FACT and OPINION
Facts are statements that can be proven.
Opinions can not be proven. They are based on someone's thoughts, their feelings, their values and their understanding.
Though you may be able to use facts to add credibility to an opinion, it is still an opinion!
Though an opinion may be widely accepted, that does not make it a fact.

3. Let’s Get The Facts Straight!
A fact is something that can be proven by a reliable authority such as: A
history book
Proven
scientific law
Statistics
Governmental
law
Measurements
Mathematics
An observation

4. Examples of Facts John F. Kennedy was President 1961-1963 History Book
The adult human body has 206 bones
Science
56% of US gun Deaths are suicides
Statistic
It is illegal to buy cigarettes if you are less that 18 years
Governmental Law

5. Examples of Facts
Observations are facts when they can be proven by the senses.
Some flowers are larger than others.
You can collect flowers of various sizes
The shirt is green.
You can show the shirt so that the color can be seen

6. Getting the Facts on Facts
Some facts change over time, for example:
It was once considered to be a
fact that the world was flat.
We believed that those traveling too far
in either direction could literally fall off!
Because new things are being discovered everyday, reliable authorities are sometimes forced to alter what we all once considered to be facts.

7. The words in bold are clues that the statement is an opinion
Examples of Opinions
Tony Blair was an excellent Prime Minister
Apparently, the human body has more bones than it actually needs.
It is likely that the birth rate will decrease over the next ten years.
It is unfair that you are not allowed to purchase drinks until you are 18 years old.
The words in bold are clues that the statement is an opinion

8. Types of opinions There are Several Types of Opinions:
Hypothesis Statements
Theory Statements
Assumptive Statements
Value Statements
Exaggerated Statements

9. Types of Opinions: Statements of Hypothesis
A Hypothesis is an assumption made in an attempt to explain an observation. Though an Observation is a Fact, a Hypothesis is an Opinion.
For Example, if I were to elaborate on a previous observation and say:
Some flowers are larger than others because they are in more fertile soil.
This hypothesis would have to be further investigated and scientifically proven to be considered a fact.

10. Hypothesis Opinions
A hypothesis is a statement to prove or disprove, so a hypothesis opinion is a statement that needs investigation to see if it is true or not.
For example:
Some flowers are larger than other because they receive more sunlight

11. Theory Opinions
A theory is an opinion that is a widely believed explanation for a group of observations.
For example:
The theory of relativity

12. Assumption Opinions:
An assumption opinion is one that is improvable, often because it involves events which may or may not happen in the future.
For example:
The war in Afghanistan will end in disaster for Britain and the USA.
The A Team will be the best movie of 2010.

13. Value Opinions Value opinions are based on someone beliefs.
For example:
Tonbridge is the most beautiful town in Kent
Testing on animals is cruel

14. Exaggeration Opinions
These are opinions that exaggerate or embellish the truth (often used by writers for effect).
For example:
Gordon Brown always makes poor decisions
Katrina was the worst Hurricane ever

15. Words to help you spot an opinion:
There are certain words that warn you that you are being given an opinion rather that a fact. Watch out for:
Maybe
Perhaps
Best or worst
Experts agree
Some people think
Apparently
Probably

16. Which are facts and which are opinions?
The best way to choose a boy/girl friend is on brains, not beauty.
The car probably stopped running because it ran out of petrol.
Hugh Christie School is located in Tonbridge
If you work hard, you’ll get good grades.
Hustle is on BBC One at 9pm on Mondays
One shot of vodka contains one unit of alcohol.