Fact and Opinion

What are facts?

A statement is a fact if you can answer yes to
these two questions:

“Is it true?”

“Can it be proved?”
 What is an opinion?
An opinion statement can be well thought out
but can’t be proved true or false – it is always
open to debate.

Ask yourself:
“Does this statement tell a thought or
feeling?”
“Would the statement be true all the time?”

Look for signal words.

 Opinion Signal Words
think usually best
perhaps most worst
believe usually most
suggest good bad
probably beautiful

Also look for adjectives that express judgment: brave, funny, strong, kind, etc.
 Did you notice the signal word?

Opinion Caution
Agreeing with a statement doesn’t make it
true. For example:

Dairy Queen ice cream tastes better than

ice cream you buy from the grocery store.

Why is this statement an opinion?

This is a personal judgment: someone else may not agree.

 Identify the Fact or Opinion
FACT OPINION

Maryland is located in the United States.

X Reading is the most interesting subject in

school.
The character of Cinderella should marry
X
the prince.
Bats use echolocation when they fly to X
X “see” where they are going.
Authors Use Facts to Support Opinions

• Ads promise that you’ll be happier if you

buy certain clothes or toys.
• Articles
idea.
try to talk you into believing an

• Speeches and try to persuade you to

change your mind to do something.
• These are examples of persuasive writing.
In persuasive writing the writer’s goal is to explain why a
reader should think, act, or feel the same way he or she does.
 Identify the Fact/Opinions in an Article
Everglades National Park is an amazing place. Located near
the southern tip of Florida, it is a wilderness wetlands of swamps,
marshes, and lakes. The park is the home of animals, including
many rare ones such as the Florida panther. The most exiting
ways to see the park are on foot or by canoe. At times, park
rangers lead group hikes right into the water itself. Hikers carry
poles to help them keep their balance in the water. Although
alligators live in the park, they tend to avoid humans and don’t
bother hikers. Hiking at night is especially fun to do. That is when
many animals come out to feed. Canoe rides are rewarding too.
Canoes allow visitors to see the park and some of its inhabitants
up close in their natural habitat. Alligators, turtles, bald eagles,
manatees, and snakes are just a few of the creatures at home in
Everglades National Park.
What is the author’s opinion of the park?

The author believes that the Everglades

National Park is amazing.
How did the author use facts to support their opinion?

• Describes the natural habitat – swamps,

marshes, lakes.
• Lists some of the animals that live in the
park – alligators, manatees, snakes,
panthers, turtles, bald eagles.
• Lists some of the activities that visitors can
experience at the park – hikes, canoe
rides.
 Use an Organizer to Prove the Author’s Opinion
Author’s Opinion The Everglade National Park is amazing.

Fact #1 that It is a place filled with wetlands made of swamps,

proves opinion marshes, and lakes.

Fact #2 that The park contains animals such as alligators, manatees,

proves opinion snakes, panthers, turtles, and bald eagles.

Fact #3 that Tourists can participate in hikes and canoe rides.

proves opinion

Connection The author enjoys going to the park to see and

experience a new place and animals. He uses words like
rare, fun, and exciting between his facts about the park to
show he thinks the place is incredible.
 Identify the Author’s Opinion
The most admired person in American history is Thomas
Jefferson. At the age of nine, Jefferson studied Latin, Greek, and
French. I think it is astonishing to learn three languages at the age
of nine! He entered college at the age of sixteen. After graduating
from college, Jefferson studied to become a lawyer. He also
became an architect, and he designed his own home, Monticello. It
is the most amazing home you will ever see. Jefferson invented
many things for his house that other houses of that time did not
have. For example, Monticello had a dumbwaiter, a small elevator
to move food from one floor to another. He also invented the swivel
chair. In my opinion, he is the smartest man who ever lived.
 In Partners Draw an Organizer and Explain the Author’s Opinion

Author’s Opinion

Fact #1 that
proves opinion

Fact #2 that
proves opinion

Fact #3 that
proves opinion

Connection
 Check Your Answer
Author’s Opinion Thomas Jefferson is the most admirable person in
American history and is the smartest man born.
Fact #1 that Jefferson learned Latin, Greek, and French by age nine
proves opinion and started college at age sixteen.

Fact #2 that He was a lawyer, architect, and inventor.

proves opinion

Fact #3 that He designed his house, Monticello, and invented the

proves opinion dumbwaiter and swivel chair.

Connection The author is impressed with Jefferson’s intelligence and

his accomplishments. He uses words like astonishing and
amazing to show that he feels Jefferson should be
respected for what he has achieved.
 Practice Skills
We will read 3 articles today. Complete the
following activities:

• Draw an organizer and identify the author’s

opinion about the topic of each article.
• Complete the first two articles in partners.
• Complete the last article on your own.