Fact or opinion

TN

fact - proven by an objective evidence

You should know that a statement of fact may be found to be untrue. When that happens, the statement is no longer a fact, it is an error.

Opinions usually express the feelings, preferences or biases that a person has about a subject.

You should know that a statement of opinion is sometimes disguised as a fact. For example:

It is understood that the children of working mothers feel rejected.

The use of the phrase "It is understood..." implies that what follows has been proven. This is not the case and the statement is an opinion.

Expressions:

In my opinion/view I firmly believe

I'm convinced that I (don't) agree with

It seems/appears As far as I am concerned

It strikes me that

Tell whether each sentence is a fact or opinion.

1. opinion Sunday is the best day of the week.

2. fact George Washington was born in February.

3. fact Your birthday comes only one day a year.

4. fact Thanksgiving is celebrated in autumn.

5. fact Some families eat turkey on Thanksgiving.

6. opinion Everyone should make Valentine's Day cards.

7. fact April is a month with 30 days.

8. fact There are 12 months in the year.

9. opinion This has been a terrible week.

10. opinion Spring is the most beautiful season of all.

11. fact Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are weekdays.

12. opinion The first day of the school year is scary.

1. Dogs are my favorite kind of animal. F

2. Bats are nocturnal mammals. F

3. I think my dog is the best dog of all. O

4. I think elephants are the heaviest animal. O (although a fact)

5. Elephants eat grass, small branches and bark. F

6. Blue is my favorite color. F

7. Blue is the color of the sky. F

8. Roses are the nicest smelling flower. O

9. Roses have thorny stems. F

10. The sun is actually a star. F

11. Without the sun, earth could not support life. F

12. Earth orbits the sun every 365 days. F

13. I think tomorrow will be a sunny day. O

14. My favorite season is the fall. FDirections: Read each statement and then circle whether it is a fact or opinion. Explain your answer.

1. The fastest land dwelling creature is the Cheetah. Fact or Opinion

2. Michael Jordan has a career average of 30.4 points per game. Fact or Opinion

3. Rahm Emanuel was elected to be the mayor of Chicago in 2011. Fact or Opinion

4. The ugliest sea creature is the manatee. Fact or Opinion

5. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. Fact or Opinion

6. Drug dealers belong in prison. Fact or Opinion

7. Prison is one of the worst places on the planet. Fact or Opinion

8. It is wrong for people under the age of 21 to drink alcohol. Fact or Opinion

9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was written by J. K. Rowling. Fact or Opinion

10. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won eleven Oscars (Academy Awards). Fact or Opinion

11. Oranges contain both calcium and vitamin C. Fact or Opinion

12. The television show The Simpsons is just not as funny as it used to be. Fact or Opinion

13. Diamonds are the hardest substance on Earth. Fact or Opinion

14. McDonalds sells more hamburgers than any other restaurant chain in the world. Fact or Opinion

15. Students have a lot harder time in school than the teachers. Fact or Opinion

16. It is illegal to yell out “Fire” in a crowded movie theater. Fact or Opinion

17. People should not be allowed to talk on cell phones in a movie theater. Fact or Opinion

18. The more money someone has the more successful they are. Fact or Opinion

19. Vegetarians are healthier than people who eat meat. Fact or Opinion

20. Cell phones emit radiation that may or may not cause brain cancer. Fact or Opinion

21. A human being will die sooner from lack of sleep than from lack of food. Fact or Opinion

22. Playing video games is more fun than doing homework. Fact or Opinion

SW

Tell whether each sentence is a fact or opinion.

1. Sunday is the best day of the week.

2. George Washington was born in February.

3. Your birthday comes only one day a year.

4. Thanksgiving is celebrated in autumn.

5. Some families eat turkey on Thanksgiving.

6. Everyone should make Valentine's Day cards.

7. April is a month with 30 days.

8. There are 12 months in the year.

9. This has been a terrible week.

10. Spring is the most beautiful season of all.

11. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are weekdays.

12. The first day of the school year is scary.

1. Dogs are my favorite kind of animal.

2. Bats are nocturnal mammals.

3. I think my dog is the best dog of all.

4. I think elephants are the heaviest animal.

5. Elephants eat grass, small branches and bark.

6. Blue is my favorite color.

7. Blue is the color of the sky.

8. Roses are the nicest smelling flower.

9. Roses have thorny stems.

10. The sun is actually a star.

11. Without the sun, earth could not support life.

12. Earth orbits the sun every 365 days.

13. I think tomorrow will be a sunny day.

14. My favorite season is the fall.

Directions: Read each statement and then circle whether it is a fact or opinion. Explain your answer.

1. The fastest land dwelling creature is the Cheetah. Fact or Opinion

2. Michael Jordan has a career average of 30.4 points per game. Fact or Opinion

3. Rahm Emanuel was elected to be the mayor of Chicago in 2011. Fact or Opinion

4. The ugliest sea creature is the manatee. Fact or Opinion

5. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. Fact or Opinion

6. Drug dealers belong in prison. Fact or Opinion

7. Prison is one of the worst places on the planet. Fact or Opinion

8. It is wrong for people under the age of 21 to drink alcohol. Fact or Opinion

9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was written by J. K. Rowling. Fact or Opinion

10. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won eleven Oscars (Academy Awards). Fact or Opinion

11. Oranges contain both calcium and vitamin C. Fact or Opinion

12. The television show The Simpsons is just not as funny as it used to be. Fact or Opinion

13. Diamonds are the hardest substance on Earth. Fact or Opinion

14. McDonalds sells more hamburgers than any other restaurant chain in the world. Fact or Opinion

15. Students have a lot harder time in school than the teachers. Fact or Opinion

16. It is illegal to yell out “Fire” in a crowded movie theater. Fact or Opinion

17. People should not be allowed to talk on cell phones in a movie theater. Fact or Opinion

18. The more money someone has the more successful they are. Fact or Opinion

19. Vegetarians are healthier than people who eat meat. Fact or Opinion

20. Cell phones emit radiation that may or may not cause brain cancer. Fact or Opinion

21. A human being will die sooner from lack of sleep than from lack of food. Fact or Opinion

22. Playing video games is more fun than doing homework. Fact or Opinion

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