Fact & Opinion

Objectives:
05/10/2011
8th Grade
How does being able to distinguish between
fact and opinion help you in life?
 How does being able to distinguish between
fact and opinion help you in life?

 So you aren't misled, persuaded or deceived

by statements claiming to be facts that are
really opinions... such as in advertising.
 A fact is a
statement that
can be proven.
 An opinion is a
statement that tells
what someone
thinks or believes.
An opinion cannot
be proven.
 Words such as
best, worst, good
and bad are often
used when giving
opinions.
 Now let’s read a
story together and
practice what
we’ve learned.
 Read each
sentence and tell
whether it is a fact
or an opinion.
 The underlined
phrases are hints
to help you.
 My family and I
moved out West in
the spring of
1849.
 We settled in a
tent town called
Gopher Gulch.
That was the worst
little town in the
world.
There were no
sidewalks, just
muddy paths.
Gopher Gulch was
a lonesome place,
too.
There were only
three families
there when we
moved in.
 After a while,
Gopher Gulch
started to grow.
We even put up a
sign that said
“Gopher Gulch.”
 Fine new
businesses seemed
to be popping up
overnight!
 Ten new
businesses opened
up in the spring of
1850.
 It was a good
thing to have a
bakery and a
general store.
 Many people
stayed in the new
hotel.
 People living in
tents enjoyed
taking baths in the
new bath house.
My mom will be
glad when we can
build a church.
The best things to
come to Gopher
Gulch though,
were sidewalks.
Fact and Opinion

Fact: information that is known to be

true; it can be checked

Opinion: what a person thinks or

believes about something; it may or
may not be true. It is one person's viewpoint or
feeling about something.
 Key Words to Help You
Identify Opinions

› Words that label or interpret <

pretty/beautiful
feel always
ugly
believe most
great
think least
good
should best
bad
never worst
evil
none should/shouldn't
attractive
safe dangerous
fun
boring
 Key Words to Help You
Identify Opinions

Words that clue you to statements of opinion

probably I believe often

perhaps I think sometimes
usually I feel that on occasion
 Which are you most likely to find
in these two parts of a newspaper?
 Articles
› statements of fact... but when opinions are shared,
the author uses words like "allegedly,"
"reportedly," and "stated that."

 Editorials
› statements of opinion...
 Interview with a Jet Skier
Determine which lines are opinions, even though
they are stated as factual information.
Interviewer: How did the idea of jet skiing develop?
Jet Skier: A motorcylce racer named Clayton Jackson was
concerned about injuries that resulted from motorcyclists
crashing into hard pavement. He came up with the idea of a
motorcyle-like vehicle that works in water, where they falls
would be softer. He was a genius.
Interviewer: What are the dangers?
Jet Skier: Oh, jet skiing is perfectly safe. The water is soft, so
you can't get hurt.
Interviewer: How much does a jet ski cost?
Jet Skier: Jet skis are very affordable. Anyone can own one.
Interviewer: Why is jet skiing so popular?
Jet Skier: Boaters and non-boaters of all ages can have the
experience of jetting around out on the water. Everybody
who tries it loves it.
Determine which statements are
facts and which are opinions.

Fact Opinion
 Use these guidelines to help keep fact & opinion
apart:

 Does the author have the skills and experience to make an opinion you
should respect?

 Does the author tell what the sources of these opinions are? Are they
reliable?

 Can the facts be trusted?

 Are the facts presented in an objective manner?

 Have negative opinions been left out?

 Are the facts relevant?