Resume fact and opinion

 Name: pipin muspiroh

Nim: 218820300240 

Prodi: PBI

FACT AND OPINION 

A fact is a statement that can be tested by experimentation, observation, or research and shown 

to be true or untrue. 

An opinion is a person’s belief, feeling, or judgment about something. It is a subjective or value 

judgment, and it cannot be proven. 

A writer may use factual statements to support his or her opinions. Opinion statements may 

occur even in what seems to be strictly factual material. A reader should look for words that are 

clues to statements of opinion. 

 Words such as perhaps 

 sometimes 

 probably 

 often indicate the possibility of opinions.

 Words such as I feel 

 I think 

 I believe clearly point out that an opinion is being expressed. 

EXERCISE 1: Write F on the line in front of each factual statement. 

____ 1. Harry S. Truman was a president of the United States. 

____ 2. Truman was one of the best presidents the United States has had. 

____ 3. Movies are generally more interesting than books. 

____ 4. The unemployment rate in the U.S. today is higher than it was in1935. 

____ 5. Non-poisonous snakes make delightful pets. 

____ 6. Business sets outrageously high prices on its products. 

____ 7. Time is a better magazine than Newsweek. 

____ 8. The junior college is a better place to attend school for the first two years than is a 

university or a 4-year college. 

____ 9. In Arizona, smoking in public places is against the law. 

____ 10. Nicotine in cigarette smoke makes the heart beat faster 

. 

____ 11. Gold was discovered in California in 1848. 

____ 12. Charles Dickens’ fascinating novel A Tale of Two Cities was published in 1840. 

____ 13. Israel and Egypt will never have a permanent peace settlement. 

____ 14. There is currently a shortage of science teachers in the state of Florida. 

____ 15. In 1970, over 30,000 children were enrolled in day-care programs in Miami-Dade 

County.

Facts: ​Statements that can be verified. They can be proven true or false. Statements of fact are

objective ­­ they contain information but do not tell what the writer thinks or believes about the

topic.

Example: My car payment is $250 per month.

Questions to Identify Facts:

1. Can the statement be proved or demonstrated to be true?

2. Can the statement be observed in practice or operation? Can you see it happen?

3. Can the statement be verified by witnesses, manuscripts, or documents?

Opinions: ​Statements that express a writer’s feelings, attitudes, or beliefs. They are neither true

nor false. They are one person’s view about a topic or issue.

Example: My car payments are too expensive.

Types of Opinions:

1. Positions on controversial issues

2. Predictions about things in the future

3. Evaluations of people, places, and things

Words to Identify Opinions:

1. Biased Words (bad, worse, worst, good, better, best, worthwhile, worthless, etc.)

2. Qualifiers (all, always, likely, never, might, seem, possibly, probably, should, etc.)

Informed Opinions: ​The opinions of experts are known as informed opinions. As experts in

their field, they may make observations and offer comments that are not strictly factual. Instead,

they are based on years of study, research, and experience.

Example: Chimps are in massive danger of extinction from dwindling habitats.

(Jane Goodall, primate expert and ethologist)

Questions to Identify Informed Speakers:

1. Does the speaker have a current and relevant background to the topic under

Identify Facts and Opinions

______ 1. Alligators provide no physical care for their young.

______ 2. Humans should be concerned about the use of pesticides that kill insects at the bottom

of the food chain.

______ 3. There are 28 more humans living on the Earth now than there were 10 seconds ago.

______ 4. We must bear greater responsibility for the environment than our ancestors did.

______ 5. Nuclear power is the only viable solution to our dwindling natural resources.

Locating Judgment Words ​(underline or circle the bias or qualifying words)

1. Purchasing a brand new car is a terrible waste of money.

2. Many wonderful vegetarian cookbooks are available in bookstores.

3. Of all the film version of Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables, the 1935 version starring

Charles Laughton is the best.

4. The introductory biology textbook comes with an amazing CD­ROM.

5. Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity are engaged in a worthwhile activity.

Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion in a Paragraph

[1] Flowering plants that are native to the South include purple coneflower and rose verbena. [2]

In the view of many longtime gardeners, these two plants are an essential part of the Southern

landscape. [3] Trees that are native to the South include a variety of oaks, as well as flowering

dogwoods and redbuds. [4] Dogwoods are especially lovely, with their white, pink, or coral

blossoms announcing the arrival of spring. [5] For fall color, the deep red of the Virginia willow

makes a spectacular show in the native Southern garden.

1. _____________ 2. _____________ 3._____________ 4._____________ 5.______________

Recognizing Informed Opinion ​(underline or circle the phrase that acts as a clue)

1. It seems clear that parents who would bring a young child to an R­rated movie are putting

their own interests ahead of what’s best for the child.

2. Voters rejected the proposed rapid transit system connecting the southern and northern

suburbs, possibly because of racial issues.

3. According to the city superintendent of schools, school uniforms lead to improved behavior

and fewer disruptions in the classroom.

discussion?

2. Is the speaker generally respected within the field?

3. Does the speaker carefully signal, via judgment words, to identify when they are

presenting opinions vs. facts?