Fact and Opinion

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Fact and Opinion
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What are facts?

• A statement is a fact if you can answer yes to
  these two questions
• Is it true?
• Can it be proved?

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What is an opinion?

• An opinion statement can be well thought out but
  cant be proved true or false it is always open
  to debate.
• Ask yourself
• Does this statement tell a thought or feeling?
• Would the statement be true all the time?

Look for signal words.
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Opinion Signal Words

• think usually best
• perhaps most worst
• believe usually most
• suggest good bad
• probably beautiful

Also look for adjectives that express judgment
brave, funny, strong, kind, etc.
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Opinion Caution
Did you notice the signal word?

• Agreeing with a statement doesnt make it true.
  For example
• Dairy Queen ice cream tastes better than ice
  cream you buy from the grocery store.
• Why is this statement an opinion?

This is a personal judgment someone else may
not agree.
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Identify the Fact or Opinion
FACT OPINION
Maryland is located in the United States.
Reading is the most interesting subject in school.
The character of Cinderella should marry the prince.
Bats use echolocation when they fly to see where they are going.
X
X
X
X
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Authors Use Facts to Support Opinions

• Ads promise that youll be happier if you buy
  certain clothes or toys.
• Articles try to talk you into believing an idea.
• Speeches and try to persuade you to change your
  mind to do something.
• These are examples of persuasive writing.

In persuasive writing the writers goal is to
explain why a reader should think, act, or feel
the same way he or she does.
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Identify the Fact/Opinions in an Article
Everglades National Park is an amazing
place. Located near the southern tip of Florida,
it is a wilderness wetlands of swamps, marshes,
and lakes. The park is the home of animals,
including many rare ones such as the Florida
panther. The most exiting ways to see the park
are on foot or by canoe. At times, park rangers
lead group hikes right into the water itself.
Hikers carry poles to help them keep their
balance in the water. Although alligators live
in the park, they tend to avoid humans and dont
bother hikers. Hiking at night is especially fun
to do. That is when many animals come out to
feed. Canoe rides are rewarding too. Canoes
allow visitors to see the park and some of its
inhabitants up close in their natural habitat.
Alligators, turtles, bald eagles, manatees, and
snakes are just a few of the creatures at home in
Everglades National Park.
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What is the authors opinion of the park?

• The author believes that the Everglades National
  Park is amazing.

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How did the author use facts to support their
opinion?

• Describes the natural habitat swamps, marshes,
  lakes.
• Lists some of the animals that live in the park
  alligators, manatees, snakes, panthers, turtles,
  bald eagles.
• Lists some of the activities that visitors can
  experience at the park hikes, canoe rides.

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Use an Organizer to Prove the Authors Opinion
Authors Opinion The Everglade National Park is amazing.
Fact 1 that proves opinion It is a place filled with wetlands made of swamps, marshes, and lakes.
Fact 2 that proves opinion The park contains animals such as alligators, manatees, snakes, panthers, turtles, and bald eagles.
Fact 3 that proves opinion Tourists can participate in hikes and canoe rides.
Connection The author enjoys going to the park to see and experience a new place and animals. He uses words like rare, fun, and exciting between his facts about the park to show he thinks the place is incredible.
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Identify the Authors Opinion

• The most admired person in American
  history is Thomas Jefferson. At the age of nine,
  Jefferson studied Latin, Greek, and French. I
  think it is astonishing to learn three languages
  at the age of nine! He entered college at the
  age of sixteen. After graduating from college,
  Jefferson studied to become a lawyer. He also
  became an architect, and he designed his own
  home, Monticello. It is the most amazing home
  you will ever see. Jefferson invented many
  things for his house that other houses of that
  time did not have. For example, Monticello had a
  dumbwaiter, a small elevator to move food from
  one floor to another. He also invented the
  swivel chair. In my opinion, he is the smartest
  man who ever lived.

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In Partners Draw an Organizer and Explain the
Authors Opinion
Authors Opinion
Fact 1 that proves opinion
Fact 2 that proves opinion
Fact 3 that proves opinion
Connection
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Check Your Answer
Authors Opinion Thomas Jefferson is the most admirable person in American history and is the smartest man born.
Fact 1 that proves opinion Jefferson learned Latin, Greek, and French by age nine and started college at age sixteen.
Fact 2 that proves opinion He was a lawyer, architect, and inventor.
Fact 3 that proves opinion He designed his house, Monticello, and invented the dumbwaiter and swivel chair.
Connection The author is impressed with Jeffersons intelligence and his accomplishments. He uses words like astonishing and amazing to show that he feels Jefferson should be respected for what he has achieved.
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Practice Skills

• We will read 3 articles today. Complete the
  following activities
• Draw an organizer and identify the authors
  opinion about the topic of each article.
• Complete the first two articles in partners.
• Complete the last article on your own.