Fact vs Opinion. Lesson 1.4

1.

1.4 Fact vs Opinion
Vasiliy Gorbachev
Adriatic College

2.

some questions about facts and opinions
Think - Pair - Share:
1. What is the difference between fact and opinion?
2. Why does this difference matter?
3. What is the most typical relationship between fact and opinion in a text?
4. Are you a critical reader / listener / viewer?

3.

Watch the video and check your answers:

4.

Explain the differences between the paragraphs
James is a terrific boss. He always
asks us how we’re doing. He lets us
leave early or come in late when we
have to take care of our children. He
always gives holiday bonuses. And
he offers tuition reimbursement
for any course, even if it has nothing
to do with our positions.
James is a terrible boss. I really
don’t like him. He just can’t get
along with people. And he has
stupid ideas about politics.

5.

Tip 1
“Can this statement
be debated? Is this known for
certain to be true?”
If you answer yes to the first
question, you
have an opinion; if you answer yes
to the second, you
have a fact.
Tip 2
Sometimes “facts” are incorrect or
skewed because they were
obtained from invalid or biased
sources.
When you are reading a nonfiction
text, it’s important to note the
author’s credentials and his
or her sources. Use that
information to validate the
legitimacy of the “facts” being
presented.

6.

Practice 1
Try these questions on the following statements. Read them carefully, and then write F in the blank if
the statement is a fact and O if it is an opinion.
______ 1. The Academy Awards honor the film
industry.
______ 2. The Academy Awards are always fun to
watch.
______ 3. More independent films should win
Academy Awards.
______ 4. The Academy Awards are an annual
event.
______ 5. Best Director is the most interesting
Academy Award category.

7.

Practice 2
Now try the same exercise with a complete paragraph. Underline the facts and use a highlighter or colored
pen to highlight the opinions. Be careful— you may find fact and opinion together in the same sentence.
There are many different ways to invest your money to provide for a financially
secure future. Many people invest in stocks and bonds, but I think good old- fashioned
savings accounts and CDs (certificates of deposit) are the best way to invest your
hard-earned money. Stocks and bonds are often risky, and it doesn’t make sense
to risk losing the money you’ve worked so hard for. True, regular savings accounts
and CDs can’t make you a millionaire overnight or provide the high returns
some stock investments do. But by the same token, savings accounts and CDs are
fully insured and provide steady, secure interest on your money. That makes a
whole lot of cents.

8.

Practice 3
To strengthen your ability to distinguish between fact
and opinion, try this.
Take a fact, such as:
FACT: Wednesday is the fourth day of the week.
Now, turn it into an opinion. Make it something
debatable, like this:
OPINION: Wednesday feels like the longest day of the week.
Here’s another example.
FACT: You must be 18 years old to vote in the United
States.
OPINION: The voting age should be lowered to 16 years
of age.

9.

6. FACT: Healthcare costs have risen over the last several years.
OPINION: ____________________________________________________
7. FACT: The 22nd Amendment of the United States Constitution
establishes a two-term limit for the presidency.
OPINION: ____________________________________________________
8. FACT: More than 58,000 Americans lost their lives in the Vietnam War.
OPINION: ____________________________________________________
9. FACT: The Motion Picture Association of America’s R (Restricted) rating
requires anyone under 17 to be accompanied by a parent or adult
guardian.
OPINION: ____________________________________________________
10. FACT: Use of performance-enhancing drugs is strictly prohibited in both
amateur and professional sports.
OPINION: ____________________________________________________