📖 ReadingGrade 3Lesson 18
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Identify Facts vs Opinions

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Distinguish between a statement of fact and a statement of opinion
  • 2Identify signal words that indicate an opinion in a text
  • 3Sort a set of statements correctly into fact and opinion categories
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Mini Lesson

When we read, we often encounter two kinds of statements: facts and opinions. A fact is something that can be proved or checked. An opinion is what someone thinks or believes — it cannot be proved true or false.

What Is a Fact?

  • A fact can be tested or verified with evidence.
  • Facts use precise, measurable language.
  • Example: "The Sun is about 150 million km from Earth."
  • Example: "World War II ended in 1945."

What Is an Opinion?

  • An opinion expresses a personal feeling, belief, or judgment.
  • Opinions often use evaluative words like "best", "worst", "should", "beautiful", "boring".
  • Example: "Science is the most interesting subject in our lessons."
  • Example: "Everyone should learn to play a musical instrument."

Signal Words for Opinions

  • I think / I believe / In my opinion
  • The best / The worst / The most
  • Should / must / ought to
  • Beautiful / boring / exciting / terrible
Facts vs Opinions comparison diagramTwo columns contrasting facts (provable, measurable) and opinions (personal, evaluative).Fact vs OpinionFactCan be provedMeasurableCheck in a bookTrue for allOpinionPersonal beliefEvaluative wordsDepends on viewNot always true
Opinion signal wordsCommon signal words that indicate a statement is an opinion: I think, the best, should, beautiful, boring, in my opinion.Opinion Signal WordsI think / I believeIn my opinionThe best / the worstShould / must / ought toBeautiful / boring
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Ask yourself: Can I check this in a book, on a website, or in an experiment? If yes — it is probably a fact. If it depends on what someone feels — it is an opinion.

Vocabulary
Fact
Something that is true and can be provene.g. It is a fact that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Opinion
What someone thinks or feels — it cannot be provene.g. It is my opinion that pizza is the best food.
Prove
To show that something is truee.g. I can prove the fact with a thermometer.
Belief
Something you think is true but cannot be provene.g. My belief is that summer is the best season.
Evidence
Proof that supports a facte.g. The evidence is in the science book.
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