Fact vs. opinion

1. Fact vs. opinion Objectives: •Students will review the attributes of facts and opinions. •Students will recognize facts and opinions. •Students will develop facts and opinions to support a thesis statement prompt.

2. Fact vs. Opinion • A fact is something that is true about a subject and can be tested or proven. • Look for clues such as: " 56% of...., or "The patient experienced..." • An opinion is what someone thinks about that subject. • Look for clues such as: "I believe...", "It's obvious...", or "They should..."

3. Try these games • http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/factsopinions/ - I know it is young for you in middle school but we always start off easy , with what you know, and build on that. • http://www.quia.com/jq/24723.html • http://users.dhp.com/~laflemm/RfT/Tut2.htm

4. Get loose leaf , put it in HP format • Read the following paragraphs. The sentences in the paragraphs have been • numbered. Write 1 to 10 on your loose leaf in the margin. When you are finished reading, right FACT or OPINION on your loose leaf. • 1)The American Civil War was one of the most difficult times in American History. • 2)It lasted five years during the first half of the 1860’s. 3)Thousands of Americans on • both sides were killed or wounded during the war. 4)The Battle of Gettysburg in July, • 1863 was the most important battle in the war. 5)After several days of fighting with many • dead and wounded on both sides, the North won the battle. 6)Even though the war • lasted two more years, the Battle of Gettysburg thankfully destroyed the South’s ability • to win the ultimate victory. • 7)A year after the battle Abraham Lincoln visited Gettysburg. 8)He attended a • ceremony dedicating the battlefield to the memory of the soldiers who lost their lives. • 9)His famous Gettysburg address was the most famous speech Lincoln ever made. 10)In it he remembered those who died on both sides of the war, both North and South.

5. Next day we will start persuasive essays • Be thinking of how you will use facts to support your opinion in your persuasive essay. • If you are finished all activities you can research your topic for the essay. Tell Mrs. Guilfoyle your essay topic before you start research on the internet. • Possible topics ? • http://custom-writing.org/blog/writing-tips/31.html