Name: _________________________________Date: _____________________________ Period: __________________
Facts and Opinions #2
How to re-word your biased statement into an unbiased statement:
Opinion -
It was a great season for the Panther wrestlers.
To make it an unbiased statement or fact, add an attribution for the person making the comment:
According to Coach McCullough, it was a great season for the Panther wrestlers.
OR
“It was a great season,” sophomore Dylan DeShane said. (If it was a direct quote.)
OR
“We really had an awesome year,” senior Matt Cole said.
If you are making the opinion based on stats rather than a quote, you must offer the proof using the stats:
The Panthers finished the year with a record of 22-1, making it the most
successful season to date.
OR
It was a record-breaking year for the Panthers, setting five new records, including
the most wins in a single season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Opinion -
Study hall shouldn’t be a time for fun and games; it is a time for quiet study.
To make it a fact, add an attribution for the person making the comment:
“Study hall shouldn’t be a time for fun and games,” Principal McConnell said.
OR
Students may think study hall is a time to goof around, but not according to
Principal McConnell.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Opinion The new math class added to the course offerings will be a pre-geometry class
since the test scores for the high school are so low in that area.
To make it a fact, add facts or an attribution for the person making the comment:
EHS students scored lower in the area of geometry on the PSAE, so
Mrs. Cindy Weaver, guidance counselor, said a new pre-geometry class will be
offered next year.
OR
According to guidance counselor Mrs. Cindy Weaver, EHS students scored low
in the area of geometry. “We’ll be adding a new class next year to help raise those
scores,” she said.
OR
One of the lowest scoring areas on the PSAE for EHS students was in geometry.
Weaver said this was due to the lack of preparation in that area, so a new class
will be offered next year.
Name: _________________________________Date: _____________________________ Period: __________________
Decide whether the WRITER is stating a FACT or is writing
his/her own OPINION. Then check appropriate box.
FACT
OPINION
1. It was a great season for the Cougar wrestlers.
2. Coach McHugh is confident his team will win state this year. “We’re going
to bring home the big trophy,” he said.
3. The new honors study hall was meant to reward students who are doing
well. Instead, many students feel the standard for “honors” isn’t set high
enough. “Getting a C- in class is not an honor,” sophomore Jonas Nixon said.
4. Study hall shouldn’t be a time for fun and games; it is a time for quiet study.
5. The basketball players finished their final game on a high note, breaking
two school records for scoring and rebounds.
6. The new math class added to the course offerings will be a pre-geometry
class since the test scores for the high school are so low in that area.
7. Mr. McConnell recommends any students who struggle in algebra should
take the pre-geometry course.
8. The English department offers a general course at each level for students
who need more individualized instruction.
9. The junior class officers seem pretty excited for the upcoming Prom festivities.
10. The junior class officers are excited about the upcoming Prom festivities.
“It is totally going to rock this year,” Kyle Carsten said.
11. Some EHS students think the laptops were a bad idea. “Giving a 16-year old
kid a $1,500 toy to take care of is ridiculous,” sophomore Lizzy Walters said.
12. Overall, the laptops have been a great resource for the students.
13. Many students do not like that sites are blocked or that administrators
spy on students.
14. It’s that time of year when the students are getting restless and ready to be
out of school.
15. Teachers get restless, too, according to Mrs. Orman, English teacher. “I
don’t think I can read or grade another paper. Spring break can’t get here
soon enough,” she said.
There are seven opinion statements and eight factual statements on this page. Of the seven opinion
statements, rewrite them on a separate sheet of paper to make them facts. (All of the problems are made up,
so you can be a little creative with your attributes.)
Name: _________________________________Date: _____________________________ Period: __________________
Decide whether the writer is stating a FACT or is writing an
OPINION for each sentence or paragraph. Check appropriate box.
FACT
X
1. It was a great season for the Cougar wrestlers.
2. Coach McHugh is confident his team will win state this year. “We’re going to bring
home the big trophy,” he said.
X
3. The new honors study hall was meant to reward students who are doing well.
Instead, many students feel the standard for “honors” isn’t set high enough. “Getting a
C- in class is not an honor,” sophomore Jonas Nixon said.
X
4. Study hall shouldn’t be a time for fun and games; it is a time for quiet study.
5. The basketball players finished their final game on a high note, breaking two
school records for scoring and rebounds.
OPINION
X
X
6. The new math class added to the course offerings will be a pre-geometry class
since the test scores for the high school are so low in that area. A better way of
writing it would be: “...as a result of lower test scores, according to Mr.
McConnell.”
X
7. Mr. McConnell recommends any students who struggle in algebra should take the
pre-geometry course.
X
8. The English department offers a general course at each level for students who
need more individualized instruction.
X
9. The junior class officers seem pretty excited for the upcoming Prom festivities. This is
still a judgement. And an example of “telling” the reader, rather than “showing”
the reader.
X
10. The junior class officers are excited about the upcoming Prom festivities. “It is
totally going to rock this year,” Kyle Carsten said.
X
11. Some EHS students think the laptops were a bad idea. “Giving a 16-year old kid a
$1,500 toy to take care of is ridiculous,” sophomore Lizzy Walters said.
X
12. Overall, the laptops have been a great resource for the students.
X
13. Many students do not like that sites are blocked or that administrators can spy on
students. Unless this is attributed to someone or proof that administrators do
this, it is libelous.
X
14. It’s that time of year when the students are getting restless and ready to be out of
school. They very well may be restless & ready to get out, but someone has to say
it or it’s an opinion of the writer. Plus, using “It’s that time of year again” is
unoriginal.
X
15. Teachers get restless, too. Just ask Mrs. Orman, English teacher. “I don’t think I
can read or grade another paper. Spring break can’t get here soon enough,” she
said.
X