Navigation
Learn to distinguish between objective facts and subjective opinions within informational texts.
If a friend tells you that a movie is 'the best ever made,' is that a truth or just a feeling? Learning to spot the difference is like having a superpower for your brain.
A fact is a statement that can be verified or proven. It doesn't matter what you believe or how you feel; a fact remains the same for everyone. Facts are often backed by statistics, historical records, or scientific observation. For example, stating that 'The Earth orbits the Sun' is a fact because it can be measured and observed. Even if a fact is false—like saying 'The moon is made of green cheese'—it is still a factual claim because it is a statement about reality that can be tested and disproven. When looking for facts, ask yourself: Can I look this up in an encyclopedia or prove it with an experiment?
Statement: 'The school library has books.'
1. Ask: Can this be measured? Yes. 2. Ask: Can we count the books to verify? Yes. 3. Conclusion: This is a fact.
Quick Check
What is the primary characteristic that makes a statement a fact?
Answer
It can be verified or proven true or false through evidence or observation.
An opinion is a statement that expresses a feeling, an attitude, a value judgment, or a belief. Unlike facts, opinions cannot be proven true or false because they vary from person to person. To spot an opinion, look for signal words or 'judgment words' like best, worst, beautiful, should, believe, or always. For instance, 'Pizza is the most delicious food' is an opinion. While many people might agree, there is no scientific test to prove 'deliciousness' because it is a matter of personal taste. Opinions are used to share perspectives and can be very persuasive.
Statement: 'The dollar video game is way too expensive for most kids.'
1. Identify the fact: The game costs $\$100$.
2. Identify the judgment: 'Way too expensive.'
3. Analysis: What is 'expensive' to one person might be 'cheap' to another.
4. Conclusion: This is an opinion.
Quick Check
Which of these words is a 'signal word' for an opinion: 'Measured', 'Beautiful', or 'Dated'?
Answer
Beautiful
In non-fiction, authors rarely use only facts or only opinions. Instead, they blend them to create an informed opinion or to show bias. An author might present several facts and then draw an opinionated conclusion to influence you. For example: 'The team lost by points; therefore, the coach is terrible.' The score is a fact, but the word 'terrible' is an opinion. As a critical reader, your job is to separate the 'what happened' (fact) from the 'what the author thinks about it' (opinion). This helps you avoid being unfairly swayed by the author's personal bias.
Statement: 'Because the temperature reached , the city's decision to keep the pools closed was incredibly irresponsible.'
1. Fact: The temperature was . 2. Fact: The pools were closed. 3. Opinion: The decision was 'incredibly irresponsible.' 4. Goal: The author uses the extreme heat (fact) to make their judgment (opinion) seem more valid.
Which of the following is a factual statement?
Identify the opinion in this list:
A statement can be a fact even if it is proven to be false.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain to someone the difference between a 'fact' and an 'informed opinion.'
Practice Activity
Find a product review online. Use two different colored highlighters to mark the facts (like price or size) and the opinions (like 'great' or 'disappointing').