Fact & Opinion

When they are writing, authors often tell about

facts and opinions.

Good readers know how to figure out if a statement is a fact or just the

author’s opinion.

A statement that can be proven true or false is a

fact..

A statement that can’t be proven true or false is an

opinion.

Good readers ask questions & look for clues as they read. Asking questions can help you to decide if a statement is a fact or an opinion.

Statements of fact can be proven by…

looking in a book asking

someone

seeing for

yourself

Statements of opinion can’t be proven. They tell about someone’s ideas or feeling. Clue

words help you to recognize opinions.

Clue words are words

like…

best

beautiful

greatest

I think…should

most fun

fact

Football and baseball are two popular sports. Most high schools have these two sports.

Football teams need at least 11 people to play. Baseball only needs 9.

Baseball is a lot more interesting than football. It is more fun to watch and to play. It is the best sport.

We can prove this is true.

fact Words like

interesting, fun, & best are clues that tell me this is an opinion.

fact

I have a new dog. He is a yellow Lab. His name is Rufus.

He is only six months old. But he knows how to do lots of things. Rufus is the greatest dog in the world! I think that he is the best dog ever!

We can prove this is true.

fact Words like

greatest, I think, & best are clues that tell me this is an opinion.

Let’s Practice….

Read the following passages. Think about the things that are being talked about.

Ask yourself:

Which statements are fact?Which statements are fact?

andand

Which statements are opinions?Which statements are opinions?

Dogs and cats are popular pets in America. About 69% of American households own a dog or cat. In fact, there are about 114 million dogs and cats in America!

Lots of people argue about dogs and cats. Some people like dogs because they can play games like catch and fetch. Other people like cats because they are so quiet and clean.

But I think dogs are the best! They are much prettier and sweeter than cats. Cats are ugly and mean. Also, dogs are a lot more fun too. Dogs make the best pets!

Which of the following is a statement of fact?

1. Dogs are the best pets.

2. There are about 114 million dogs and cats in America.

3. Dogs are more fun than cats.

4. Cats are mean.

Which is a statement of opinion?

1. Cats and dogs are popular pets.

2. Dogs can play games like fetch.

3. 69% of American households own a dog or cat.

4. Cats are ugly.

I have a small family. It is just me, my mom, and my dad. But it is the best family in the whole world! Every Saturday morning, we go out to a little diner near our house. It’s called Gracie’s Diner. My dad and mom usually get scrambled eggs and coffee. I order pancakes. Gracie makes the best blueberry pancakes on earth!

After breakfast, we go home to do chores. Dad and I clean the house while Mom does the laundry. I think that Mom has the worst job. But she says that she doesn’t mind.

Which is a statement of fact?

1. My family is the best.

2. Mom has the worst chore to do.

3. Gracie makes the best pancakes.

4. We go to Gracie’s Diner.

Which statement is an opinion?

1. I eat blueberry pancakes.

2. We do chores after breakfast.

3. We eat at Gracie’s Diner on Saturdays.

4. My family is the best.

School is a place to learn all sorts of things. At my school, I learn a lot. First, we do reading. After that, we have grammar. Last of all is math.

Math is my favorite class. In math, we learn to add and subtract. We also learn to count money and tell time. Math is a lot more fun than reading and grammar. Reading is pretty fun. But grammar is kind of dull. But in math, it seems like we learn something new every single day. That is what makes math the best subject in school.

Which is a statement of fact?

1. Math is the best subject.

2. Math is a lot of fun.

3. Grammar is dull.

4. In math, we learn to tell time.

Which statement is an opinion?

1. We do reading first.

2. Grammar comes after reading.

3. In math we learn to count money.

4. Math is the best subject.