Fact and Fact and OpinionOpinion

Fact and OpinionFact and OpinionTo be a good reader, you To be a good reader, you should be able to tell the should be able to tell the difference between a difference between a factfact and an and an opinionopinion. .

Fact and OpinionFact and OpinionFiguring out facts from Figuring out facts from opinions is something you opinions is something you do already. do already.

You may do it without You may do it without even knowing it. even knowing it.

FactFact A fact is a statement that A fact is a statement that

you can check or prove with you can check or prove with evidence (proof). evidence (proof).

This evidence may be in This evidence may be in what someone says, what someone says, something you see, or something you see, or something written in a book something written in a book or text. or text.

FactFact In other words, a fact is In other words, a fact is

something that can be something that can be proven. proven.

Facts are usually found in Facts are usually found in newspapers, textbooks, newspapers, textbooks, and news shows on and news shows on television.television.

Examples of Facts:Examples of Facts: Ronald Reagan was the 40th Ronald Reagan was the 40th

president of the United president of the United States. States.

The sun is 93 million miles The sun is 93 million miles away from Earth. away from Earth.

The restaurant's hours are The restaurant's hours are nine to five.nine to five.

Examples of Facts:Examples of Facts: **Heather thinks that the **Heather thinks that the

best team in the NBA is the best team in the NBA is the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas Mavericks.

OpinionOpinion An opinion is a An opinion is a

statement that cannot be statement that cannot be proven true or false. proven true or false.

Opinions are what people Opinions are what people believe, feel, or decide believe, feel, or decide about something. about something.

OpinionOpinion An opinion cannot be An opinion cannot be

proven right or wrong. proven right or wrong. Opinions are usually Opinions are usually

found in editorials, letters found in editorials, letters to the editor, and in to the editor, and in debates.debates.

Examples of Examples of OpinionsOpinions

Ronald Reagan was one of Ronald Reagan was one of the best presidents the the best presidents the United States has ever had. United States has ever had.

That movie was cool! That movie was cool! Computers are confusing. Computers are confusing. Blue is the prettiest color. Blue is the prettiest color.

Examples of Examples of OpinionsOpinions

The book was great. The book was great. People should not use cell People should not use cell

phones when driving. phones when driving. **Dallas has the best **Dallas has the best

team in the NBA.team in the NBA.

**Some people get confused about **Some people get confused about these types of statements. these types of statements.

You could ask Heather if she likes You could ask Heather if she likes the Mavericks, and she could tell the Mavericks, and she could tell you it's a fact that she likes you it's a fact that she likes them. them.

You could prove that she likes the You could prove that she likes the Mavericks just by asking her. Mavericks just by asking her.

In other words, it is a fact In other words, it is a fact that Heather has an opinion that Heather has an opinion about the Mavericks. about the Mavericks.

If she said, "Dallas has the If she said, "Dallas has the best team in the NBA," it best team in the NBA," it would be an opinion.would be an opinion.