CHAPTER 9:
FACT AND OPINION
PowerPoint
Presentation
By Jerremy,
Khurram, Pedro
Facts and Opinions
A fact is a piece of information about
circumstances that exist or events that have
occurred
An opinion is A personal belief or judgment
that is not founded on proof or certainty.
Objective proof is the information which can be
proven true, based on facts that substantiate
the change being made. The evidence must not
be circumstantial but must be obtained through
observation, measurement, test or other means.
Separating Fact from Opinion
Know the traits of facts and opinions.
Fact: Every year except leap year has 365 days.
Opinion: French fries taste better with ketchup.
Facts and Opinions
Fact Opinion
Objective Subjective
States reality Interprets reality
Can be verified Can NOT be verified
Presented with Presented with value
unbiased words words
“except leap year has 365 “French fries taste better
days.” with ketchup..”
Ask Questions to Identify Facts
Can the statement be proved or demonstrated
to be true?
Can the statement be observed in practice or
operation?
Can the statement be verified by witnesses,
manuscripts, or documents?
Fact or Opinion?
Maple, oak, and pine are types of trees.
The temperature outside is 20 degrees.
Fact or Opinion?
F Maple, oak, and pine are types of trees.
O The temperature outside is 20 degrees.
Note Biased Words to Identify
Opinions
Look for biased words. They express opinions,
value judgments and interpretations and are
often loaded with emotion.
Note: A sentence can include both facts and
opinions.
Biased Words
awful favorite
amazing frightful
better fun
best horrible
bad miserable
beautiful never
believe probably
disgusting think
exciting smart
Example:
“In point of fact Sasha Cohen won a silver
medal, she is the best skater in the world..”
Explanation: You can not prove that she is the
best skater in the world.
Example:
Even though actor Bruce Wills has a receding
hairline, he is still very handsome.
Explanation: “Bruce Willis has a receding
hairline” that’s a fact. He is still handsome is an
opinion about his appearance.
Note Qualifiers to Identify Opinions
Beware of false facts, or statements presented
as facts that are actually untrue.
A qualifier may express an absolute,
unwavering opinion using words like always or
never.
Example
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.
“Only” is a qualifier and makes this statement
an opinion.
Think Carefully about Supposed “Facts”
Beware of opinions stated to sounds like facts.
Note: Phrases like “in truth,” “the truth of the
matter,” or “in fact” are examples.
Example:
The earliest humans lived at the same time as
dinosaurs.”
Explanation: Fossil records and scientific
research have proved this to be a false fact.
Evaluate the Context of the Passage
1. Alexander the Great was one of the greatest military
leaders in world history.
2. He was born in Pella, Macedonia.
3. The exact date of his birth was probably July 20 or 26,
356 B.C.
4. Shortly before his 33rd birthday, Alexander the Great
died.
5. The cause of his death remains unknown.
Is each statement a fact, opinion, or fact/opinion both?
Evaluate the Context of the
Passage
1. F/O His name and title are factual, but the value word greatest
is an opinion.
2. F This statement can be verified in historical records.
3. O The word probably makes this a statement of opinion.
4. F This statement can be checked and verified as true.
5. F This is a factual statement that something isn’t known.
Is each statement a fact, opinion, or fact/opinion both?
Evaluate the Context of the Author
An informed opinion is developed by
gathering and analyzing evidence.
An expert opinion is developed through much
training and extensive knowledge in a given
field.
Examples:
Informed opinion:
Shopping around for a car
Researching an essay for a college class
Expert opinion:
Doctor’s diagnosis of an illness
Economics professor’s lecture on the economy
Evaluate the Context of the Source
Examples of good factual sources:
Medical dictionary
English handbook
World Atlas
Chapter Review
A fact is a specific detail that is true based on
objective proof.
An opinion is an interpretation, value
judgment, or belief that cannot be proved or
disproved.
Objective proof can be physical evidence, an
eyewitness account, or the result of an accepted
scientific method.
An informed opinion is developed by
gathering and analyzing evidence.
Chapter Review
An expert opinion is developed through much
training and extensive knowledge in a given
field.
A fact states reality.
An opinion interprets reality.
A fact uses unbiased words.
An opinion uses biased words.
