For higher level reading comprehension, it is essential that students are able to accurately distinguish between fact and opinion. To do this successfully students must begin with solid definitions of the two concepts. Once this has been achieved, students must gain practice applying these definitions through activities that engage with a wide range of reading material.
Let’s take a look at defining these two all-important concepts:
Fact - A fact generally refers to something that is true and can be verified as such. That is, a fact is something that can be proven to be true.
Opinion - An opinion refers to a personal belief. It relates to how someone feels about something. Others may agree or disagree with an opinion, but they cannot prove or disprove it. This is what defines it as opinion.
Why Are Fact and Opinion So Important?
The ability to distinguish between fact and opinion helps students develop their critical and analytical skills in both their reading and their listening. Fact and opinion are often woven together in texts and speeches. It is therefore imperative that students are able to unravel the threads of what is true from what is mere belief if they are to successfully navigate the deluge of media they will encounter in their lifetimes.
Whether on the news, in advertising, or a history book, distinguishing between what is fact and what is opinion is crucial to becoming an autonomous person with the critical abilities necessary to avoid being manipulated easily.
The Language of Fact and Opinion: Signal Words and Phrases
As we mentioned above, often writers will liven up their facts with a sprinkling of opinion. Unfortunately, it can at times be difficult to extract the verifiable truths from the author’s preferences and biases. Luckily the language used itself often throws up helpful clues in the forms of words and phrases that assist us in identifying statements as fact-based or opinion-based.
Let’s now take a look at some examples of those signal words and phrases being used in the sentence fragments that often precede a statement of fact or opinion:
Fact
● The annual report confirms…
● Scientists have recently discovered…
● According to the results of the tests…
● The investigation demonstrated…
Opinion
● He claimed that…
● It is the officer’s view that…
● The report argues that…
● Many scientists suspect that…
As we can see from the above examples, the language used to introduce a statement can be helpful in indicating whether it is being framed as a fact or an opinion.
It is important for students to understand too that things are not always as they appear to be. At times, writers, whether consciously or not, will frame opinion as fact and vice versa. This is why it is important that students develop a clear understanding of what constitutes fact and opinion and are afforded ample opportunities to practice distinguishing between the two.