Identify Facts vs Opinions
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What you will learn
- 1Distinguish between a statement of fact and a statement of opinion
- 2Identify signal words that indicate an opinion in a text
- 3Sort a set of statements correctly into fact and opinion categories
Mini Lesson
When we read, we often encounter two kinds of statements: facts and opinions. A fact is something that can be proved or checked. An opinion is what someone thinks or believes — it cannot be proved true or false.
What Is a Fact?
- A fact can be tested or verified with evidence.
- Facts use precise, measurable language.
- Example: "The Sun is about 93 million miles from Earth."
- Example: "World War II ended in 1945."
What Is an Opinion?
- An opinion expresses a personal feeling, belief, or judgment.
- Opinions often use judging words like "best", "worst", "should", "beautiful", "boring".
- Example: "Science is the most interesting subject in our lessons."
- Example: "Everyone should learn to play a musical instrument."
Signal Words for Opinions
- I think / I believe / In my opinion
- The best / The worst / The most
- Should / must / ought to
- Beautiful / boring / exciting / terrible
Words to know
Fact
Something that is true and can be proven
e.g. It is a fact that water boils at 212°F (100°C) at sea level.
Opinion
What someone thinks or feels — it cannot be proven
e.g. It is my opinion that pizza is the best food.
Prove
To show that something is true
e.g. I can prove the fact with a thermometer.
Belief
Something you think is true but cannot be proven
e.g. My belief is that summer is the best season.
Evidence
Proof that supports a fact
e.g. The evidence is in the science book.
Ask yourself: Can I check this in a book, on a website, or in an experiment? If yes — it is probably a fact. If it depends on what someone feels — it is an opinion.
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