Fact and Opinion

1. Fact and Opinion Fourth Grade Unit 2 Week 4 By Kristi Waltke

2. Facts • A statement of fact can be proved true or false by looking in a reference book, asking an expert, or using your own knowledge and experience. Monkeys are mammals. Mercury is the planet closest to the sun.

3. Opinions • A statement of opinion cannot be provedtrue or false. It is a belief or judgment. It often contains a word of judgment, suchas best, should, or beautiful. It may beginwith the words In my opinion or I believe. She is the coolest girl in school! Bananas are the best fruit on a summer day.

4. It seemed for a moment as if the horses were keeping time to the music. It cannot be proven true or false. It uses “seemed” which is a judgment word. Is this statement from the story a fact or an opinion? Fact Opinion

5. Waking lumberjacks is a more difficult job than keeping up with a payroll. It cannot be proven true or false. It involves a belief or judgment. It may be true in Marvin’s case, but that is not what it takes to make it a fact. Is this statement a fact or an opinion? Opinion Fact

6. Marvin of the Great North Woods is a biography. This can be proven. A person could use knowledge of what a biography is to prove that this story is a biography. Is this statement a fact or an opinion? Fact Opinion

7. Here in the great north woods all was still and white. This can be proven. A person could be in the great north woods and check to see if it were still and white. Is this statement a fact or an opinion? Fact Opinion

8. The great north woods was the best place for Marvin. It cannot be proven true or false. It involves a belief or judgment. Notice that “best” is one of words that signals an opinion. Is this statement a fact or an opinion? Fact Opinion

9. As you read, try to distinguish facts from opinions. • Remember how to figure out if a statement is a fact or an opinion.