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Objective: I can distinguish fact from opinion in expository text using supporting evidence from the text. Let’s make this relevant to us… Why should we know how to identify fact and opinion outside of school? Think about these essential questions. You will need to answer them at the end of the lesson. What is a fact statement? How do you know it’s a fact? What is an opinion statement? How is it different from a fact? What is supporting evidence? How do you determine whether it’s fact or opinion?

A fact is a true statement. Facts can be verified, documented or proven true. Some facts never change. Some facts can change. Tennessee is a state. This food is hot.

An opinion is a statement that tells what someone thinks. These vary from person to person. Opinions can also can change. We look at the supporting evidence to know if it’s fact or opinion.

Can you tell if the following statements are facts or opinions? Let’s practice.

Thumbs UP or Thumbs DOWN? This is how you will show me if the sentence is an opinion or fact. STOP AND THINK CAREFULLY! OPINION FACT

Every year except leap year has 365 days.

Oops! That statement is a fact.

Correct! That statement is a fact.

French fries taste better with ketchup.

OOPS! That statement is an opinion. It tells what someone thinks.

Correct! That statement is an opinion. It tells what someone thinks.

Maple, oak, and pine are types of trees.

OOPS! That statement is a fact. OH…NUTS!

Correct! That statement is a fact. You’re doing GREAT!

The temperature outside is 20 degrees.

Correct! That statement is a fact. Watch Out! You’re getting hot!

OOPS! That statement is a fact. Watch Out! You’re getting cold!

Computers are the best invention ever!

OOPS! That statement is an opinion …but I’d have to agree with it!

Correct! That statement is an opinion …and I’d have to agree with it!

I think I look terrible in orange.

OOPS! That statement is an opinion. It tells what someone thinks. I think you look marvelous in orange.

Correct! That statement is an opinion. It tells what someone thinks. I think you look marvelous in orange.

Turn to your partner and tell them what a fact is and what an opinion is in your own words. Be ready to share! GOOD JOB IDENTIFYING FACT AND OPINION! WHAT IS A FACT? WHAT IS AN OPINION?

PARTNER PRACTICE - Let’s challenge ourselves! Are the underline parts of these sentences facts or opinions? Be ready to share! 1.B. J. Vukovich, author of Claws, the best-written novel of the disaster genre, will speak at tonight’s “How I Became An Author” meeting. 1.The national coal strike, now into its seventh week, has caused untold hardships on the miners, their families, and the rest of the winter-weary nation. 3. Once the cavity reaches the dentin (the hard, dense, bone-like material that composes the principal mass of the tooth), it must be cleaned and filled. Some researchers, however, are beginning to question whether periodic cleaning and checking of the enamel (the calcareous substance that forms a thin layer capping the teeth) plays a significant role in preventing tooth decay. 4. Seatbelts can help prevent fatalities. FACT! OPINION!

There is nothing wrong with mixing opinions and facts together in an argument, of course... it's done all the time. What is important is that the reader be able to distinguish the fact from the opinion, in order to make a sound judgment about the information they are receiving! This objective is important! The book Charlotte's Web is a fiction book. How do we know? We know that spiders, pigs, and rats can't talk. Spiders cannot spin words into their webs. Fiction comes from someone's imagination, and fiction books are the easiest and most fun to read! Sometimes the picture on a book will be a clue that the book is fiction. If we see a picture that shows little green men living on Mars, we know that is fiction. Fiction is a marvelous genre. FACT OR OPINION

CLOSURE Answer these essential questions on your index card. Be quick! What is a fact? How do you identify it? What is an opinion? How do you identify it? Use the word “weekend” in an opinion sentence of your own. (complete sentence!) Use the word “homework” in a fact sentence of your own. (complete sentence!)