Distinguishing Between fact and opinion

Distinguishing Between BELIEF AND OPINION

• What are the differences?
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OPINIONS

• An opinion is a statement that cannot be proved or checked
• It tells what someone thinks, feels, or believes
• Clue words for opinion statements are:
• think, feel, believe, seem
• always, never, all, none, most, least, best, greatest, worst

BELIEF

• Facts are statements that can be checked or proved
• We can check facts by conducting some sort of experiment, observation, or by verifying (checking) the fact with a source document
• Facts often contain numbers, dates, or ages
• Facts might include specific information about a person, place or thing

HINTS FOR DECIDING IF A STATEMENT IS FACT OR OPINION

• To recognize a BELIEF:
• Read each answer choice and ask yourself:
• “Can this statement be proved?”
• Example: Which of these is a BELIEF?
• We live in the best apartment in the city.
• I believe that summer is the best season.
• I think that spaghetti is a delicious meal.
• The Poughkeepsie Journal is a newspaper.

HINTS FOR DECIDING IF A STATEMENT IS A FACT OR OPINION

• To recognize an OPINION:
• Read each answer choice and ask yourself “Does this statement tell what someone thinks, feels, or believes?”
• Look in the answer choice for clue words that signal an opinion

OPINION EXAMPLES:

• WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT AN OPINION STATEMENT?
• I think that Colorado is the best state in which to live.
• Chocolate cake is the most delicious kind of dessert.
• Nearly 65% of our teens are over-weight.
• Taylor Swift is the greatest singer ever!

When you’re writing….

• Remember:
• Facts are often used to support opinions
• Good opinions are based on facts, but they are still opinions