Fact & Opinion

In this topic, we discuss what facts and opinions are, and why students must distinguish between them. Students are constantly faced with problems of distinguishing between facts and opinions. They must be able to distinguish between them because it might affects on how you deal with anything you are told and also how you deliver and pass the information

FACTS

A fact can be defined as something said to have happened or supposed to be true. In addition, a fact is also something that can be tested or proven.

Clues to identify fact:

•  The use of dates and year

E.g.     Walt Disney was born on 5th December 1901, and died on 15th December 1966.

• The use of statistics/ figures/ precise numbers or quantities

E.g.     Since Edmund Allary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1953 more than 1000 climbers from 20 countries have also conquered the 8848 metre mountain.

• The use of definition

E.g.     Adolescence can be defined as the stage in a person's life when one develops from a child into an adult.

•  When stating a geographical or scientific fact

E.g.     The earth is round.

OPINIONS

Opinions are different from facts. An opinion is a conclusion reached by someone after looking at the facts. Opinions are based on what people believe to be facts. Hence, opinion cannot be proven true or false

Clues to identify opinions:

• The use of adjectives which show your point of view or emotions (exciting, fun, excellent, worst, ugly, pretty)

E.g.     The climb up Gunung Ledang was exciting.

• The use of comparison words which show a comparison between two or more things (more, most, better, best, worst, least)

E.g.     Siti Nurhaliza is the most talented singer in Malaysia.

• The use of other words which show frequency, possibility, advisability and necessity ( probably, likely, perhaps, may, should, must, always )

E.g.     Sheela is probably still angry with her boyfriend for not remembering her birthday.

• The use of phrases which show a belief, a suggestion, a feeling or an opinion (it appears that, in my opinion, I believe, I suggest, I feel, I think)

E.g.     It appears that, Jasmin and Ayu are both interested 
            in the same