Understanding Facts & Opinions
The ability to distinguish between facts and opinions is a crucial reading comprehension skill assessed in the ParaPro exam. This skill is also essential when supporting students in developing critical thinking abilities.
Definitions
Facts
Statements that can be proven true or false through evidence, research, or verification.
Key characteristic: Objective and verifiable
Opinions
Statements that express beliefs, judgments, or personal viewpoints.
Key characteristic: Subjective and not universally verifiable
Identifying Facts
Facts typically have these characteristics:
- Can be proven with evidence
- Remain constant regardless of who states them
- Often include specific data, dates, statistics, or measurements
- May reference research studies or documented events
- Do not include value judgments
Examples of Facts
- Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius at standard atmospheric pressure.
- The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.
- The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” was written by Harper Lee.
- Earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system.
- The human heart has four chambers.
Identifying Opinions
Opinions typically have these characteristics:
- Express personal feelings, beliefs, or viewpoints
- Often include subjective language and value judgments
- May vary from person to person
- Cannot be definitively proven true or false
- Often contain words that signal judgment or preference
Examples of Opinions
- Pizza is the best food for parties.
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” is the most important American novel.
- Mathematics is more valuable to learn than art.
- Summer is the most enjoyable season.
- The government should increase funding for education.
Signal Words and Phrases
Opinion Signal Words
- I believe/think/feel
- In my opinion
- Should/ought to
- Best/worst
- Most/least
- Beautiful/ugly
- Good/bad
- Better/worse
- Valuable/worthless
- Important/unimportant
- Seem/appears
- Probably/possibly
- May/might
- Always/never (when used as generalizations)
Fact Signal Words
- Research shows
- According to [credible source]
- Studies indicate
- Statistics reveal
- It is known that
- Evidence suggests
- Measurements of
- Records show
- Data reveals
- Scientists have discovered
- Historical documents confirm
Gray Areas and Challenges
Sometimes distinguishing between facts and opinions can be challenging:
- Factual opinions: Opinions supported by facts but still containing judgment
- Statements presented as facts: Opinions disguised as factual statements
- Generalizations: Broad statements that may have elements of both fact and opinion
- Professional judgments: Expert opinions based on specialized knowledge
- Predictions: Statements about future events based on current evidence
Examples of Gray Areas
| Statement | Analysis |
|---|---|
| “Reading improves vocabulary.” | Generally supported by research, but stated without specific evidence. Without qualifying statements or evidence, this has elements of both fact and opinion. |
| “Global temperatures are rising at an alarming rate.” | “Rising” is factual (can be measured), but “alarming” is a judgment (opinion). |
| “This is the most effective teaching method for phonics.” | May be supported by some research but includes a value judgment (“most effective”) that makes it primarily an opinion. |
Facts and Opinions in Different Text Types
| Text Type | Typical Balance | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| News Articles | Should be primarily factual, though may contain opinions in quotes or editorializing | News reports, feature stories |
| Editorials/Opinion Pieces | Primarily opinion-based, often supported by facts | Newspaper editorials, op-eds, letters to the editor |
| Scientific Texts | Primarily factual with methodologically supported conclusions | Research papers, textbooks |
| Advertisements | Mix of facts and opinions, often with persuasive intent | Product advertisements, public service announcements |
| Literature | Mix of factual elements and subjective descriptions/judgments | Novels, short stories, poetry |
Teaching Students to Identify Facts and Opinions
As a paraprofessional, you may support teachers in helping students develop this critical skill. Effective strategies include:
- Explicit instruction on the differences between facts and opinions
- Modeling the thought process of distinguishing between them
- T-charts for sorting statements into fact and opinion columns
- Highlighting activities where students use different colors to mark facts and opinions in texts
- Signal word hunts to identify opinion indicators in texts
- Rewriting activities where opinions are rewritten as facts and vice versa
- Media literacy exercises analyzing news sources, advertisements, and social media
- Evidence discussions about what would be needed to verify statements
Facts & Opinions in the ParaPro Assessment
On the ParaPro Assessment, you may need to:
- Identify statements as facts or opinions in given passages
- Recognize how facts are used to support opinions in argumentative texts
- Understand how to teach students to distinguish between them
- Identify signal words that indicate opinions vs. factual statements
- Evaluate whether statements contain sufficient evidence to be considered factual
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Identifying Facts and Opinions
Read each statement and determine whether it is a fact or an opinion.
1. The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona.
Answer: Fact
Explanation: This is a verifiable geographical fact that can be proven through maps and geographical data.
2. The Grand Canyon is the most beautiful natural wonder in the United States.
Answer: Opinion
Explanation: This contains a subjective judgment (“most beautiful”) that varies from person to person.
3. Regular exercise improves cardiovascular health.
Answer: Fact
Explanation: This is supported by scientific research and medical evidence.
4. Mathematics is the most important subject for students to learn.
Answer: Opinion
Explanation: The phrase “most important” signals a value judgment that cannot be universally proven.
5. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the United States exceeded 330 million in 2020.
Answer: Fact
Explanation: This comes from a credible source and contains verifiable statistical data.
Exercise 2: Analyzing a Passage
School uniforms have become increasingly common in public schools across the United States. According to a 2019 survey, approximately 20% of public schools now require students to wear uniforms. Advocates claim that uniforms reduce social pressure and eliminate clothing distractions in the classroom. They create a more professional learning environment and prepare students for future workplace expectations. However, opponents argue that uniforms restrict students’ freedom of expression and creativity. The additional cost of purchasing specific uniform items can also place a financial burden on some families, despite the long-term savings uniforms might provide.
Identify the facts and opinions in this passage:
Facts in the passage:
- “School uniforms have become increasingly common in public schools across the United States.”
- “According to a 2019 survey, approximately 20% of public schools now require students to wear uniforms.”
Opinions in the passage:
- “Advocates claim that uniforms reduce social pressure and eliminate clothing distractions in the classroom.”
- “They create a more professional learning environment and prepare students for future workplace expectations.”
- “However, opponents argue that uniforms restrict students’ freedom of expression and creativity.”
- “The additional cost of purchasing specific uniform items can also place a financial burden on some families, despite the long-term savings uniforms might provide.”
Explanation: The first two statements present verifiable information, while the remaining statements present viewpoints or judgments that cannot be universally proven (even though they’re attributed to advocates or opponents).
Test Your Knowledge: Facts & Opinions
1. Which of the following statements is a fact?
2. Which word most strongly signals that a statement contains an opinion?
3. A student says, “I think this book is boring.” This statement is best classified as:
4. Which statement from a science textbook is primarily an opinion?
5. As a paraprofessional, what is the best way to help a student who consistently confuses facts and opinions?
Key Points to Remember
- Facts are objective statements that can be proven true or false with evidence.
- Opinions are subjective statements that express beliefs, judgments, or viewpoints.
- Signal words like “should,” “best,” or “I believe” often indicate opinions.
- Some statements contain elements of both fact and opinion.
- Different text types contain different balances of facts and opinions.
- Teaching students to distinguish between facts and opinions is important for developing critical thinking skills.
- On the ParaPro Assessment, you may need to identify facts and opinions in various contexts.