Fact and OpinionFact and Opinion

““We can have factsWe can have facts

Without thinking, but weWithout thinking, but we

cannot have thinking cannot have thinking

without facts.”without facts.”

John Dewey (1859 – John Dewey (1859 – 1952)1952)

LA.A.2.2.6LA.A.2.2.6

The student recognizes theThe student recognizes the

difference between fact anddifference between fact and

opinion. opinion.

Ferge the frog is factual. Ferge the frog is factual.

Otto the octopus is Otto the octopus is very very opinionated.opinionated.

FactFact

Ferge the factual frog Ferge the factual frog states, ”a fact is a states, ”a fact is a statement that is true. statement that is true. It can be proven by It can be proven by definition, observation, definition, observation, or by checking with a or by checking with a reliable source.”reliable source.”

OpinionOpinionAn opinion is less An opinion is less concrete. It is a view concrete. It is a view formed in the mind of formed in the mind of a person about a a person about a particular issue. particular issue.

Otto’s opinion is what Otto’s opinion is what someone believes or someone believes or thinks, but it may not thinks, but it may not be the truth.be the truth.

Does the paragraph Does the paragraph contain adjectives that contain adjectives that express values, like good express values, like good or bad? If so, it is an or bad? If so, it is an opinion.opinion.

Does the paragraph Does the paragraph contain adjectives that contain adjectives that express values, like good express values, like good or bad? If so, it is an or bad? If so, it is an opinion.opinion.

Key QuestionsKey Questions Do opinions tell Do opinions tell thoughts or feelings?thoughts or feelings?

Would the statements Would the statements be true all of the time?be true all of the time?

ActivityActivity

Doctors help people Doctors help people who are sick.who are sick.

Before electricity, many Before electricity, many people burned candles people burned candles to give them light.to give them light.

Fact or Opinion?

How Is Fact and Opinion How Is Fact and Opinion Tested on FCATTested on FCAT

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

Short Response Short Response

Extended ResponseExtended Response

FCAT Short Response SampleFCAT Short Response Sample

Why is a family Why is a family importantimportant

to one of the main to one of the main characters in the article characters in the article later in life?later in life?

Support your answer bySupport your answer by

using facts from an article using facts from an article to support the importance to support the importance of what the author is of what the author is trying to convince others trying to convince others to think as he does.to think as he does.

FCAT Extended Response FCAT Extended Response SampleSample

Read, Think, Explain.Read, Think, Explain. In an article, how does theIn an article, how does the speaker’s opinion change speaker’s opinion change from the beginning to the from the beginning to the

end of the passage?end of the passage?

Support your answer by Support your answer by using facts to support how using facts to support how the author’s opinion the author’s opinion changed.changed.

Distinguishing FactsDistinguishing Facts

Spotting FactsSpotting Facts Ask yourself: Can this Ask yourself: Can this

statement be checked or statement be checked or proven? If so, itproven? If so, it is a fact is a fact..

Distinguishing an Distinguishing an OpinionOpinion

Spotting an Opinion:Spotting an Opinion: Does the statement express Does the statement express

personal feelings or judgment? Ifpersonal feelings or judgment? If so, it is an opinion.so, it is an opinion.

Does the statement contain verbsDoes the statement contain verbs like feel, fear, or hope? If so, it islike feel, fear, or hope? If so, it is an opinion.an opinion.

Does the paragraph contain Does the paragraph contain adjectives that express adjectives that express values, like good or bad? If values, like good or bad? If so, it is an opinion.so, it is an opinion.

Test Taking StrategiesTest Taking Strategies Label each answer choice Label each answer choice

eithereither

factfact or or opinionopinion.. Typically there will be 2 facts Typically there will be 2 facts

andand

2 opinions. If the question 2 opinions. If the question asks, “which is a fact…”. asks, “which is a fact…”. Mark out the opinions.Mark out the opinions.

If the question asks, “which If the question asks, “which is anis an

opinion….”.opinion….”. Mark out the Mark out the factfact

statements.statements. Decide which of the twoDecide which of the two

remaining answers is remaining answers is in the in the

passage.passage.

Key Words That Signal A Key Words That Signal A FACTFACT

demonstratedemonstratedd

accordingaccording

confirmconfirm

discovereddiscovered

provesproves

evidenceevidence

truthtruth

actualactual

verifiedverified

Words The Signal An OpinionWords The Signal An Opinion

dangerous dangerous deliciousdeliciousdifficultdifficultexcitingexcitingexpertexpertviewview

gloriousgloriousgreatgreathardhardhelpfulhelpfulimportantimportantclaimsclaimsarguesargues

WARNINGWARNING

Facts and opinions can beFacts and opinions can be

manipulated. Opinions can bemanipulated. Opinions can be

presented as facts, simply by presented as facts, simply by using using

the language of facts to present the language of facts to present

them.them.

TeacherTeacher SupportSupport Examples of the language Examples of the language

we use to express facts:we use to express facts:This review hasThis review has

demonstrateddemonstrated……According According to the results of to the results of

the the latest poll…latest poll…The latest findingsThe latest findings

confirmconfirm……Researchers have recentlyResearchers have recently

discovereddiscovered……

Teacher SupportTeacher Support Here are some examples of Here are some examples of

the language the language we use to express we use to express opinion:opinion:

The company The company claims thatclaims that….….

The research team The research team argues argues thatthat….….

In Professor Donald’s In Professor Donald’s viewview….….Most experts in this field Most experts in this field

suspect thatsuspect that….….