Unit 2.

3
Differentiating between Facts & Opinions

Academic & Professional Writing

● Fact/Opinion

Distinguishing between fact and opinion is a vital critical

thinking and reasoning skill.

Fact: Can be verified for accuracy and authenticity.

Opinion: It cannot be verified for accuracy.

● It is not that simple to differentiate fact & opinion.

• Critical reading is the skill to be able to distinguish when

an
author is presenting opinion as facts.

• A good reader is capable to question whether the author is

stating a well established fact or a personal opinion.
● Look at the given statements:

• Many nutritionists believe that low-carbohydrate, high protein diet

is healthiest diet.

• The number of people having high credit card debit is astonishing.

• Smoke detectors can help save lives.

• More people stopped smoking last year, than two years back.
References:

1. 501 Reading Comprehension Questions (4th ed.). (2010). New York:

Learning Express.

2. https
://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/twc/sites/utsc.utoronto.ca.twc/files/resource-files/Criti
calReading.pdf

3. http://aeo.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/Files/CriticalThinking/fact%20or%20opinion.pdf