Spent the entire workday churning out the following notes for my students so that they understand the concept of distinguishing facts from opinions. Thank you for reading. :) All images found here are my own work. :)
Let’s Learn: How to give an opinion
What is an opinion?
An opinion is the way you feel or think about something. It expresses certain things about yourself:
- likes and dislikes
- feelings
- attitudes
An opinion is different from a fact. A fact can be tested and proven to be true, unlike an opinion.
Why should we learn to express our opinions?
When you know how to express your opinion clearly, you will be aware of your own thoughts and feel more confident about yourself.
Practising the skill of expressing your opinion many times will make you a competent and confident communicator.
How can I tell when someone is providing facts and when he is giving his own opinion?
Examine the language used.
Language helps us to decide whether a statement can be backed up with evidence and proven in some way. Or it can help to show whether the statement is someone’s perspective or belief.
Worked Example One
Read the following comment submitted to an online magazine article about education and work.
Do the following statements express facts or opinions? Place a tick (✓) in the appropriate box.
Worked Solution
Learn More about Distinguishing Fact from Opinion
- Read the article “How do you differentiate between fact and opinion?” published by the National Library Board
(https://sure.nlb.gov.sg/tng/surevivors-activity5/)
- Try the quiz “How do you differentiate between fact and opinion?” written by the National Library Board
(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1fw1MnPyITxV-32dqiuWluvSISG2N7LmfXEU5bnXTcPACHQ/viewform)
