Glencoe/

Glencoe English/

Fact and Opinion P. 90/

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When you read what other people have written or listen towhat they say, you should be aware of the difference betweenfacts and opinions. When you write and speak, you should alsothink about whether you are communicating facts or opinions.

A statement of fact can be proved or disproved. Forexample, your friend might say, "I am five feet seven inchestall." That is a statement of fact. You can measure your friendand prove or disprove the statement.

A statement of opinion expresses a judgement or belief andcannot be proved or disproved. For example, the same friendmight say, "I am the perfect height for a boy my age." That isstatement of opinion. You can agree or disagree, but neither ofyou can prove or disprove his statement.

�"WORKING WITH THE MODEL•œ

Read the following dialogue.

Raiders of the Lost Ark is the greatest film ever made!

You're being ridiculous! It was a good movie, but is certainly wasn't great.

Listen, Raiders was produced by George Lucas, the same person who produced Star Wars, and it was directed by

Steven Spielberg.

I know, Ramon, but that still doesn't make it a great movie. Raiders didn't even win the Academy Award for best picture. Chariots of Fire won the award for best picture that year. Now there's a great film!

A. Think about each sentence in the dialogue.

1. Which sentences are statements of fact?

2. How could you prove or disprove those statements?

3. Which sentences are statements of opinion?

4. Why would you be unable to prove or disprove those statements?

B. Read each pair of sentences below.

1. Which sentence in each pair is a statement of fact?