RPDP Secondary Literacy Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program RPDP.net.

RPDP Secondary Literacy

Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development

Program

RPDP.net


Strategies for Reading

Fact and OpinionCreated & Developed by Jill M. Leone

Reading Specialist

Copyright © 2007


We will discuss –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.


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?

Fact and OpinionFact and Opinion


www.weeklyworldnews.com/features/politics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Elvissighting.jpg


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.


• 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.

http://rockdetective.org/index.html


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!

http://www.austingilmore.net/Misc./Misc.htm


Very often –

Reading passages that contain statistics

or numbers are based on facts

because they can be checked.

Checking Checking FactsFacts


Here are two examples:

Nevada’s current population is over two million people.

Jaime paid $25,000 for his new truck.

$25,000

Checking FactsChecking 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?

Checking FactsChecking Facts

If you answered yes to both questions, you’re correct. Therefore, both statements

are based on fact.


Facts can always be proven to be true or false.


What is an Opinion?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.


• 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



• should• if• probably• might• perhaps• too


Common Clue Words for Opinions

• feel• soon• believe• think• maybe• idea


1. Words that predict the future2. Value words - depend on someone’s

judgment and cannot be proven:


easydifficultgoodbad

beautifuluglysimplewonderful

More Clue Words

bestgreatprettyworst


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.

Fact vs. OpinionFact vs. Opinion


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.”


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.


Opinion

Statements by the writer that something is

necessary, or wanted, or liked are opinions:

“Everyone can enjoy our new menu in the

cafeteria.”


Opinion

Predictions are opinions:

“Students would welcome a change in

the attendance policy.”

“Everyone would be happy to see that old

hotel go.”


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.

Fact vs. OpinionFact vs. Opinion


When you read facts, make it a habit to look at the source of the information.

When you read opinions, be sure they’resupported with –

• facts

• experience

• accounts of experts

• other reliable sources


Practice QuestionPractice 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?



(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.

How did you do?



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.

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.




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.

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?




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.

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.




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.

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?



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.

Jason wants to become a pilot in the Air Force, but the Air Forcehas turned him down.

Some of the possible reasons are given below. Decide whichof 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.

Jason wants to become a pilot in the Air Force, but the Air Forcehas turned him down.

Some of the possible reasons are given below. Decide whichof these is a fact and which is an opinion.

How did you do?



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 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.

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?



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 shellsmore than four feet long. They have become almost extinctbecause 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.



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 shellsmore than four feet long. They have become almost extinctbecause 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?


So remember to do a little detective work when figuring out the difference

between fact and opinion.


Today we discussed -

• Fact vs. Opinion

• Checking for Facts

• Opinion Clue Words

• Examples

http://www.4ei.com/


Copyright Notice

Permission is granted to copy (unmodified) all or part of this PowerPoint for educational, personal, non-commercial use off-line as long as the copyright message (Copyright © 2007 by Jill Leone) is maintained on the title page. This material may not be sold, duplicated on other websites, incorporated in commercial documents or products, or used for promotional purposes.

Copyright © 2007 by Jill M. Leone

RPDP Secondary Literacy Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program RPDP.net.

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