Today we will distinguish facts and opinions.

Distinguish= tell apart

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.

To understand when something is an opinion

or a fact.

The dog is brown and

the cat is grey.

That is a fact! It can be proven!

The lady is the best veterinarian in

the world!

This is an opinion. Maybe you know

a better veterinarian?

FactA fact is a statement that can be proved true.

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 many resources 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.

Facts!

Fifty percent of the class thinks Sasha Cohen’s size makes 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.

Cute means pretty!!

OpinionAn opinion is a statement that cannot be proved. It’s what a

person thinks!Neil Armstrong is the bravest 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.

Scary!!!!

Sasha Cohen’s size makes her look very cute.

This is an opinion because it expresses someone’s feelings.

More Opinions!

Cute!!!!

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

Silver Medal

Signal Words for Opinion

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

nals!!!

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, Massachusetts.

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.

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.

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 signal words that help us as readers to distinguish opinions in text?