1. Strategies for Reading
Fact and Opinion
6th Grade ELA

2. 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.
6th Grade ELA

3. Fact and Opinion
6th Grade ELA

4. 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?
6th Grade ELA

5. Weekly World News YODA VISITS THE WHITE HOUSE
Some people believe every word they read.
Weekly World News
                                                                                  
                                                                        
YODA VISITS THE WHITE HOUSE
6th Grade ELA

6. 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.
6th Grade ELA

7. 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.
6th Grade ELA

8. 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.
6th Grade ELA

9. Checking Facts Very often –
Reading passages that contain statistics or numbers are based on facts because they can be checked.
6th Grade ELA

10. 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
6th Grade ELA

11. 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.
6th Grade ELA

12. Facts can always be proven to be true or false.
Remember
6th Grade ELA

13. 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.
6th Grade ELA

14. 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.
6th Grade ELA

15. 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.
6th Grade ELA

16. 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
6th Grade ELA

17. 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.
6th Grade ELA

18. 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.”
6th Grade ELA

19. 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.
6th Grade ELA

20. 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.”
6th Grade ELA

21. 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.
6th Grade ELA

22. 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.
6th Grade ELA

23. 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
6th Grade ELA

24. A good reader is also a good detective.
It's important to know-
A good reader is also a good detective.
6th Grade ELA

25. So remember to do a little detective work when figuring out the difference between fact and opinion.
6th Grade ELA

26. Key Stategies and Terms
Today we discussed -
Fact vs. Opinion
Checking for Facts
Opinion Clue Words
Examples
6th Grade ELA