Learning Objective: Today we will distinguish facts and opinions.

•Facts=statements that are provable. •Opinions=what someone thinks•Distinguish=tell apart

Vocabulary

• Provable=it can be tested to see if it’s true or false.

• Opinions=what the author thinks, feels or believes. This means that different people will have different ways of looking at the same thing.

What are we going to distinguish today?

Distinguish facts and opinions!

It is important to distinguish between facts and opinions because it helps you understand when the author is making opinions or not. This will

help you become a better reader!

What are other reasons it is important to distinguish between

facts and opinions?

To understand what we are reading!

It will be tested!

We know how to read

pictures!

The dog is brown and

the cat is grey.That is a

fact! It can be proven!

The lady is the best vet in the world!

This is an opinion. Maybe you know

a better vet?

Fact• A fact is an objective statement

that can be proved.• Objective=not being influenced

by personal feelings. Unbiased

Neil Armstrong was the first human to walk on the moon. He traveled to the moon in 1969

aboard Apollo 11.

These statements are facts. You can check in encyclopedias, history books, and

almanacs to prove that Neil Armstrong was the first human to walk on the moon. You can also find sources that prove Armstrong flew to the moon in 1969 as commander of

Apollo 11.

Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen is five feet two inches tall.

This is a fact because you can prove that she is the height by using a

measuring tape.

More Facts!

Fifty percent of the class thinks Sasha Cohen’s size makers her look

cute.

This is a fact because you can count the number of students that agreed that she looks cute and can prove that it is

only fifty percent of the class.

More Facts!

Opinion• An opinion is a subjective statement that

cannot be proved. It is a person’s judgment or belief about something.

• Subjective=idea belonging to someone and is related to their mood, attitudes and opinions

Neil Armstrong is the braves astronaut who ever lived. Travelling to the moon is the scariest thing a

person could do.

These statements are opinions. They cannot be proved. Some people might think that Neil

Armstrong is the bravest astronaut who ever lived. Others might not. Some people might think that

travelling to the moon is the scariest thing a person could do. Others might not. These statements

express the writer’s personal feelings about Neil Armstrong’s journey to the moon.

Sasha Cohen’s size makes her look very cute.

This is an opinion because it expresses someone’s feelings. You cannot prove

that someone is cute. Even is a book says she is cute, that is only the author’s

opinion.

More Opinions!

Although Sasha Cohen won a silver medal, she is the best skater in the

world.

This is both fact and opinion. You can prove that Sasha Cohen won a silver medal, but you can not prove that

she is the best skater in the world.

Sometimes facts and opinions are mixed together

Signal Words for Opinion

• I believe• We think• In my opinion• Best• Greatest• Cutest • Bravest

Let’s Practice!In the 1950’s, when I was young, I lived in

Houston, Texas. As I grew up, the city grew up. To me, the most exciting changes were those

you could see on the skyline. One big building after another went up. When visitors came, we always took them downtown to show them the

latest skyscrapers.Steps to distinguishing facts and opinions in text.1. Read the sentence,

section or paragraph.

2. Look for signal words that might clue you to a an opinion.

3. If it’s a fact, can you provide evidence from the text?

4. Pick the correct answer.

All the following sentences are facts excepta. In the 1950’s when I was young,

I lived in Houston, Texas.b. As I grew up, the city grew up.c. To me, the most exciting

changes were those you could see on the skyline.

d. One big building after another went up.

e. When visitors came, we always took them downtown to show them the latest skyscrapers.

Let’s Practice!In the 1950’s, when I was young, I lived in

Houston, Texas. As I grew up, the city grew up. To me, the most exciting changes were those

you could see on the skyline. One big building after another went up. When visitors came, we always took them downtown to show them the

latest skyscrapers.Steps to distinguishing facts and opinions in text.1. Read the sentence,

section or paragraph.

2. Look for signal words that might clue you to a an opinion.

3. If it’s a fact, can you provide evidence from the text?

4. Pick the correct answer.

All the following sentences are facts excepta. In the 1950’s when I was young,

I lived in Houston, Texas.b. As I grew up, the city grew up.c. To me, the most exciting

changes were those you could see on the skyline.

d. One big building after another went up.

e. When visitors came, we always took them downtown to show them the latest skyscrapers.

Let’s Practice!I discovered that the best way

to learn about architecture is to look at the world around

me.Steps to distinguishing facts and opinions in text.1. Read the sentence,

section or paragraph.

2. Look for signal words that might clue you to a an opinion.

3. If it’s a fact, can you provide evidence from the text?

4. Pick the correct answer.

What would be another way of expressing the above statement in an opinion?a. Architecture started in ancient

Rome with the ancient builders.b. If you look around the world,

you see varied types of architecture.

c. Around the world, I discovered that you can see architecture.

d. Looking around my surroundings, I felt would be the only way of learning about architecture.

Let’s Practice!After Hutchinson left her home, she and her followers

built the new settlement of Portsmouth in what is now Rhode Island. She later moved to Long Island, in present day New York. She died in September, 1643 during an American Indian attack. Today a statue of Anne Hutchinson stands in front of the

state house in Boston, Massachusets.Steps to distinguishing facts and opinions in text.1. Read the sentence,

section or paragraph.

2. Look for signal words that might clue you to a an opinion.

3. If it’s a fact, can you provide evidence from the text?

4. Pick the correct answer.

Which of the following sentences in NOT a opinion?a. After Hutchinson left her

beautiful home, she and her followers built the new settlement.

b. She later moved to Long Island, in present day New York to live a wonderful life.

c. She died in September, 1643 during an American Indian attack.

d. None of the above.

Why is it important to distinguish facts and

opinions in text?

To help you understand whether you are reading about facts or what people think.

What are some signals that help us as readers to distinguish opinions in text?