Lesson Topic 3: Fact vs. Opinion

A fact is a statement that can be proven true (or false) with some objective standard. An opinion, on the other hand, is a statement that a person believes to be true, but it cannot be measured against an objective standard.

Fact: Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963.

Opinion: Michael Jordan is the best basketball player of all time.

People have different points of view and differing opinions. It can be difficult at times to discern between facts and opinions. However, part of being a critical reader is knowing the difference between a fact and an opinion.

Nonfiction literature, for example, is known and understood to be factual. However, it is possible that the writer integrates some of his/her own opinions into the nonfiction piece as well. How will you as the reader know which parts of the nonfiction selection are factual and which parts are opinionated?

Facts are things known for certain to have happened, things known for
certain to be true, or things known for
certain to exist.
Opinions, on the other hand, are
things believed to have happened, things believed to be true, or things believed to exist.

As you can see, the key difference between fact and opinion lies in the difference between believing and knowing. Opinions may be based on facts, but they are still what we think, not what we know. Opinions are debatable; facts are not. Reasonable opinions are those based on fact; and indeed, that is what much of writing is: the writer's opinion (an assertion about his or her subject) supported by facts or other evidence.

Determine which of the following sentences are fact, and which ones are opinions.

Review

Review the lesson material with the practice activity below.

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION