Reading Proficiency Lesson 5

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Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program

RPDP.net RPDP Secondary Literacy

Strategies for Reading Fact and Opinion Created & Developed by Jill M. Leone Reading Specialist Copyright © 2007

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We will discuss –

• the difference between facts and opinions. • strategies to distinguish facts from opinions.

• how to check factual statements. • clue words for opinion statements. RPDP Secondary Literacy

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Fact and Opinion Many readers never question what they read. They tend to accept everything they read as fact. “If it’s in print, it must be true,” they say. What’s wrong with this thinking?

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www.weeklyworldnews.com/features/politics

Differentiating between Fact and Opinion

1. Not everything in print is true. 1. Many people misread what is factual because they do not :  distinguish between fact and opinion.  make inferences.  pick up on the author’s bias or tone.  or use their own prior knowledge. RPDP Secondary Literacy

• A fact is a statement that is true. • Facts can be proven.

• Anyone who is checking will find or see the same thing. • There can be no other reasonable point of view. RPDP Secondary Literacy

How can you check or prove that a statement is a fact?

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Look it up in a book.

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Check records or statistics.

• Ask eye witnesses. •

Weigh it or measure it.

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Fact!

Checking Facts Very often – Reading passages that contain statistics or numbers are based on facts because they can be checked. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Checking Facts Here are two examples: Nevada’s current population is over two million people. Jaime paid $25,000 for his new truck.

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Checking Facts • Can you verify records or statistics to look •

up the population of a city or a state? Can you check Jaime’s sales receipt to find the amount he paid for the truck?

If you answered yes to both questions, you’re correct. Therefore, both statements are based on fact. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Facts can always be proven to be true or false.

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What is an Opinion?

• An opinion expresses feelings and depends on someone’s judgments or values. • An opinion is a statement made by someone who believes it is true. RPDP Secondary Literacy

What is an Opinion? • An opinion is actually a point of view. • Opinions tell how the writer thinks or feels about something. Opinions express –

• a belief • an idea • a feeling RPDP Secondary Literacy

What is an Opinion? Common Clue Words for Opinions • • • • • •

should if probably might perhaps too

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• feel • soon • believe • think • maybe • idea

What is an Opinion? More Clue Words

1. Words that predict the future 2. Value words - depend on someone’s judgment and cannot be proven: best great pretty worst RPDP Secondary Literacy

easy difficult good bad

beautiful ugly simple wonderful

Fact vs. Opinion As a reader, you can train yourself how to tell the difference between fact and opinion by asking two simple questions:  Can I check it out or prove it? Now?  Can there be any other point of view?

If you answered yes to the first question and no to the second, this is a fact. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Let’s look at some examples. Statements that contain words like good, bad, or great, which show personal values, are opinions:

“We played a great game against Las Vegas High School.”

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Let’s look at some examples. • Statements reporting other people’s opinions are facts: “The dean said our students are very polite and respectful.” The opinion itself is not a fact, but the statement reporting what someone says or believes is a fact. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Opinion Statements by the writer that something is necessary, or wanted, or liked are opinions: “Everyone can enjoy our new menu in the cafeteria.” RPDP Secondary Literacy

Opinion Predictions are opinions: “Students would welcome a change in the attendance policy.” “Everyone would be happy to see that old hotel go.” RPDP Secondary Literacy

Fact vs. Opinion There is a difference between predicting the future and talking about something that is already scheduled or planned.

Graduation will be held in June. This statement is a fact because we can verify right now that graduation is scheduled for the month of June. RPDP Secondary Literacy

When you read facts, make it a habit to look at the source of the information. When you read opinions, be sure they’re supported with – • facts

• experience • accounts of experts • other reliable sources

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Practice Question (1) Starfish are among the most widespread of marine animals. (2) In spite of their name, starfish are not really fish at all, since they are invertebrates and do not have backbones. (3) Starfish come in many colors and usually have five arms, or rays. (4) When starfish are dried out, they make beautiful ornaments and necklaces. Which sentence is an opinion?

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Practice Question (1) Starfish are among the most widespread of marine animals. (2) In spite of their name, starfish are not really fish at all, since they are invertebrates and do not have backbones. (3) Starfish come in many colors and usually have five arms, or rays. (4) When starfish are dried out, they make beautiful ornaments and necklaces. RPDP Secondary Literacy

How did you do?

Practice Question Mario and I went camping last weekend. We saw several wild animals, including a raccoon and a fox. The weather was terrible. It rained every night. We had a hole in our tent, too.

Which sentence contains an opinion? A. Mario and I went camping last weekend. B. We saw several wild animals. C. The weather was terrible. D. We had a hole in our tent. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Mario and I went camping last weekend. We saw several wild animals, including a raccoon and a fox. The weather was terrible. It rained every night. We had a hole in our tent, too.

Which sentence contains an opinion? A. Mario and I went camping last weekend. B. We saw several wild animals. C. The weather was terrible. A. We had a hole in our tent. RPDP Secondary Literacy

How did you do?

Practice Question Although I’ve tried to train my dog not to jump on people, she persists in this habit. I’ve gone to dog training lessons. The trainer even works with her. When my boss came to my house, my dog knocked him down. She’s a wonderful dog, but she makes my life difficult. Which sentence contains an opinion? A. The dog jumps on people. B. I’ve gone to dog-training lessons. C. The dog knocked my boss over. D. The dog is wonderful. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Although I’ve tried to train my dog not to jump on people, she persists in this habit. I’ve gone to dog training lessons. The trainer even works with her. When my boss came to my house, my dog knocked him down. She’s a wonderful dog, but she makes my life difficult. Which sentence contains an opinion? A. The dog jumps on people. B. I’ve gone to dog-training lessons. C. The dog knocked my boss over. D. The dog is wonderful. How did you do? RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Jason wants to become a pilot in the Air Force, but the Air Force has turned him down. Some of the possible reasons are given below. Decide which of these is a fact and which is an opinion. A. He’s shorter than Air Force regulations permit. B. Jason will make a poor pilot. C. He gets sick whenever he boards a plane. D. No one would want to fly with him. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Jason wants to become a pilot in the Air Force, but the Air Force has turned him down. Some of the possible reasons are given below. Decide which of these is a fact and which is an opinion. A. He’s shorter than Air Force regulations permit. B. Jason will make a poor pilot. C. He gets sick whenever he boards a plane. D. No one would want to fly with him. RPDP Secondary Literacy

How did you do?

Practice Question The Eskimo diet used to be very boring. Eskimos ate only animal products. Nutritionists knew this diet was too restricted. Humans need protein, fat, carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals. Eskimos did not get all this from their regular diet of whale flesh, yet they survived and thrived. Assuming that it’s a fact that Eskimos survived and thrived, which other statement is also a fact? A. The Eskimo diet used to be very boring. B. Eskimos at only animal products. C. This diet was too restricted. D. Eskimos needed things that weren’t in whale flesh. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question The Eskimo diet used to be very boring. Eskimos ate only animal products. Nutritionists said this diet was too restricted. Humans need protein, fat, carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals. Eskimos did not get all this from their regular diet of whale flesh, yet they survived and thrived. Assuming that it’s a fact that Eskimos survived and thrived, which other statement is also a fact? A. The Eskimo diet used to be very boring. B. Eskimos at only animal products. C. This diet was too restricted. D. Eskimos needed things that weren’t in whale flesh. RPDP Secondary How did you do? Literacy

Practice Question Land turtles range in size from tiny turtles that can fit into a coat pocket to giant turtles that may weigh as much as 500 pounds. These giant turtles, or tortoises, often have shells more than four feet long. They have become almost extinct because they are hunted for their meat and oil. Turtle soup is considered a delicacy by every intelligent connoisseur. Which is an opinion? A. Turtles can weigh as much as 500 pounds. B. Giant tortoises are almost extinct. C. Giant tortoises are hunted for meat and oil. D. Turtle soup is a delicacy. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Land turtles range in size from tiny turtles that can fit into a coat pocket to giant turtles that may weigh as much as 500 pounds. These giant turtles, or tortoises, often have shells more than four feet long. They have become almost extinct because they are hunted for their meat and oil. Turtle soup is considered a delicacy by every intelligent connoisseur. Which is an opinion? A. Turtles can weigh as much as 500 pounds. B. Giant tortoises are almost extinct. C. Giant tortoises are hunted for meat and oil. D. Turtle soup is a delicacy. How did you do? RPDP Secondary Literacy

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So remember to do a little detective work when figuring out the difference between fact and opinion.

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Today we discussed -

• Fact vs. Opinion • Checking for Facts • Opinion Clue Words • Examples RPDP Secondary Literacy

Copyright Notice Permission is granted to copy (unmodified) all or part of this PowerPoint for educational, personal, noncommercial use off-line as long as the copyright message (Copyright © 2007 by Jill Leone) is maintained on the title page. This material may not be sold, duplicated on other websites, incorporated in commercial documents or products, or used for promotional purposes. Copyright © 2007 by Jill M. Leone RPDP Secondary Literacy