This document discusses distinguishing facts from opinions. It defines facts as statements that can be proven true through objective evidence, while opinions are beliefs or judgments that cannot be proven. Biased language and qualifiers are signs of an opinion. Facts state realities, can be verified, and use unbiased terms, whereas opinions interpret realities and include value judgments. The document provides examples to demonstrate how to identify facts and opinions and evaluate contexts. It emphasizes that facts are objective statements of truth and opinions are subjective interpretations.

1. English for Academic and Professional
Purposes
Quarter 2-Module 2:
Stand on Issues
Supported by Factual
Evidences
Presented by:
JANINA MAE V. MALIBIRAN
Teacher II

2. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Facts and Opinions
 A fact is a specific detail that can be
proven as true based on objective
evidence.
 An opinion is a feeling, judgment, belief,
or conclusion that cannot be proven true
by objective evidence.
 Objective proof can be one or more of the
following: physical evidence, an
eyewitness account, or the result of an
accepted scientific method.

3. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Separating Fact from Opinion
 Know the traits of facts and
opinions.
Fact: Spinach is a source of iron.
Opinion: Spinach tastes awful.

4. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Facts and Opinions
 Fact
 Objective
 States reality
 Can be verified
 Presented with
unbiased words
“Spinach is a form of
iron.”
 Opinion
 Subjective
 Interprets reality
 Can NOT be
verified
 Presented with
value words
“Spinach tastes
awful.”

5. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Facts are statements that can be
proven.
Facts may be true or false.
But facts can be proven.
Examples
1. Statistically, women live longer than
men.
2. Most buses weigh more than most
cars.
3. There are ten inches in a foot (false).

6. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Ask Questions to Identify Facts
 Can the statement be proved or
demonstrated to be true?
 Can the statement be observed in
practice or operation?
 Can the statement be verified by
witnesses, manuscripts, or
documents?

7. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Fact or Opinion?
 __A spinning class is a group
exercise program of about 45
minutes riding on a stationary bike.
 __A spinning class is a form of
torture.

8. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Fact or Opinion?
 F A spinning class is a group
exercise program of about 45
minutes riding on a stationary bike.
(Can be verified by going to a class.)
 O A spinning class is a form of
torture. (Some people may enjoy the
class.)

9. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Opinions are statements that cannot be
proven.
Opinions can be argued.
Opinions may be supported with facts.
Opinions cannot be proven.
Examples
1. Golf is boring.
2. Pizza is delicious.
3. Math is the hardest subject.

10. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Note Biased Words to Identify
Opinions
 Look for biased words. They
express opinions, value judgments
and interpretations and are often
loaded with emotion.
Note: A sentence can include both
facts and opinions.

11. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Biased Words
 awful
 amazing
 better
 best
 bad
 beautiful
 believe
 disgusting
 exciting
 favorite
 frightful
 fun
 horrible
 miserable
 never
 probably
 think
 smart

12. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Example:
 “In point of fact, computers make
life miserable.”
 Explanation: “Miserable” makes this
a general opinion.

13. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Example:
 “The great grasslands of the West
should not have been plowed under
for crops.”
 Explanation: The grasslands were
plowed under, but whether or not
they “should not have been” is a
matter of opinion.

14. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Note Qualifiers to Identify
Opinions
 Beware of false facts, or statements
presented as facts that are actually
untrue.
 A qualifier may express an absolute,
unwavering opinion using words like
always or never.

15. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Example
 “Exercise is the only sure way to
lose weight.”
 “Only” is a qualifier and makes this
statement an opinion.

16. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Think Carefully about
Supposed “Facts”
 Beware of opinions stated to sounds
like facts.
Note: Phrases like “in truth,” “the
truth of the matter,” or “in fact” are
examples.

17. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Example:
 “In truth, the earliest humans lived
at the same time as dinosaurs.”
 Explanation: Fossil records and
scientific research have proved this
to be a false fact.

18. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Evaluate the Context
of the Passage
1. Alexander the Great was one of the
greatest military leaders in world history.
2. He was born in Pella, Macedonia.
3. The exact date of his birth was probably
July 20 or 26, 356 B.C.
4. Shortly before his 33rd birthday,
Alexander the Great died.
5. The cause of his death remains unknown.
Is each statement a fact, opinion, or
fact/opinion both?

19. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Evaluate the Context
of the Passage
1. F/O His name and title are factual, but the value
word greatest is an opinion.
2. F This statement can be verified in historical
records.
3. O The word probably makes this a statement of
opinion.
4. F This statement can be checked and verified as
true.
5. F This is a factual statement that something isn’t
known.
Is each statement a fact, opinion, or
fact/opinion both?

20. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Evaluate the Context of the
Author
 An informed opinion is developed by
gathering and analyzing evidence.
 An expert opinion is developed
through much training and extensive
knowledge in a given field.

21. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Examples:
 Informed opinion:
 Shopping around for a car
 Researching an essay for a college class
 Expert opinion:
 Doctor’s diagnosis of an illness
 Economics professor’s lecture on the
economy

22. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Evaluate the Context of the
Source
 Examples of good factual sources:
 Medical dictionary
 English handbook
 World Atlas

23. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Chapter Review
 A fact is a specific detail that is true
based on objective proof.
 An opinion is an interpretation, value
judgment, or belief that cannot be proved
or disproved.
 Objective proof can be physical evidence,
an eyewitness account, or the result of an
accepted scientific method.
 An informed opinion is developed by
gathering and analyzing evidence.

24. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Chapter Review
 An expert opinion is developed through
much training and extensive knowledge in
a given field.
 A fact states reality.
 An opinion interprets reality.
 A fact uses unbiased words.
 An opinion uses biased words.

25. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Short Quiz
1. Dragon Ball Z is not appropriate to watch during school.
2. There are fewer panda bears in the world than grizzly bears.
3. Drinking orange juice right after brushing your teeth tastes bad.
4. Justin Bieber deserved to win the Grammy for best new artist.
5. Chicken that has not been properly prepared and cooked may cause
salmonella.
6. Cheating on your boyfriend or girlfriend is wrong.
7. The PS3 came out before the PS4.
8. Super Mario is one of the greatest video game characters of all time.
9. Chocolate milk tastes better than regular milk.
10. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the 16th President of the Philippines.
Determine whether each example is a FACT or
OPINION.

26. © 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers
Answers
1. Opinion
2. Fact
3. Opinion
4. Opinion
5. Fact
6. Opinion
7. Fact
8. Opinion
9. Opinion
10.Fact