This document summarizes a classroom lesson on distinguishing between facts and opinions. It provides examples of facts like Barack Obama being the 44th US President and being born in Hawaii, which can be proven. Opinions are beliefs that cannot be proven, and rely on subjective language. Students practiced identifying facts and opinions in sentences. The document reminds them that most writing mixes facts and opinions, so it's important to evaluate evidence and potential biases.

1.  
Wednesday, 3/19/14 -- Professor Elizabeth Buchanan

2.  Homework
o Please place “Inferences” homework in the alpha folder on the
front desk.
 Essay Choices
o If you already know which 3 topics you would like to write
about, please enter this information on the sign-up sheet.
 Agenda
o Review Inferences
o Argument in Reading and Writing
o Fact & Opinion
o Literature Circle 5

3.  

4.  Today we are going to learn strategies that will help
you tell the difference between fact and opinion.
 As students you spend a lot of time listening to other
people—such as your teachers, parents, and friends.
 You also listen to the radio and watch t.v.
 Sometimes people tell you the truth, but sometimes
they are giving an opinion.

5.  A fact is a statement that can be proved.
 You can prove it yourself
o Or you can use a reliable authority.
 Example:
o Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States.
o How can we prove this?

6.  Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu,
Hawaii.
 How can we prove this?
 By looking at his birth certificate.

7. Barack Obama is married to Michelle
Obama.
How can we prove this?
Look at their wedding certificate.

8.  It is important to understand that "facts" can
change over time for a variety of reasons.
o At one time in the past, it was considered to
be a "fact" that the earth was at the center of
the universe.
o Of course, we now know that this is not true.

9.  The requirements to vote in the United States are:
 A U.S. citizen
 At least 21 years old by the general election
 A resident of your precinct at least 30 days prior to
Election Day.

10. Which of the three sentences on the
previous slide is not a fact?
The voting age today is 18.
However, this did not go into effect
until 1971. Before that time the voting
age was 21.

11. So now we know that there are many
ways to determine if something is a
fact, but what about opinions?
An opinion cannot be proved. It is
based on someone’s feelings or
judgment.

12. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6uHR9
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 Can we really prove
this?
 Or is this a matter
of opinion?

13.  Opinions are beliefs or judgments that cannot be
proved by any objective means.
 Any statement that deals with probabilities or future
events is considered to be an opinion because it
cannot be proved.
 Opinions rely on abstract words that are not
measurable, such as value-judgment words.

14. I believe This
suggests
Perhaps Apparently
Presumably In my view Apparently It seems
likely
In my
opinion
Many
experts
agree
One
interpretation is
One
possibility is

15. Necessary Interesting Successful Beautiful
Attractive Greatest Bad Nice
Worst Lovely Kind Thoughtful

16.  Most of what we read and hear is a combination of
fact and opinion.
 Because of this, it is important to be able to
distinguish between the two.
 Remember, not all opinions are of equal validity.
 Poorly supported opinions are of little value, while
opinions from an expert, or someone knowledgeable
in the field, are considered to be more reliable.

17.  In general, writers usually provide evidence to
support their ideas.
 However, as a critical reader, it is up to you to
review the evidence and determine the quality of
the support.
 Also, keep in mind what the author has left out.
 Writers often try to mislead readers by leaving
out some important information.

18.  We are going to take turns reading the sentence that
you picked up. Read it and tell us whether it is a fact
or an opinion.

19. 

20. 

21. Lab Contract
oReminder: On Wednesdays, the
last hour of class is reserved for lab
contracts only! In order to make an
exception, you need to check with
me first.

22.  Fact & Opinion/Bias Activity
 “Education” essay choices