3. Fact and opinion

Overview

The mix of fact and opinion in a piece of writing is what defines it as an opinion piece, or a news story. When reading and writing the news, it’s important to remember that very few reports can be totally free of opinion.

Learning aims

*The difference between a fact and an opinion
*Identify facts and opinions in a report
*Why it’s very hard for a news report to contain no opinion
*The proportion of fact and opinion in a report defines it

Introduction

Ask students if they know what a fact is:
A fact is information based on something that is true. Ask if they know the difference between a fact and an opinion: An opinion is what someone thinks or believes about something.

With the class, read through this Press Pack report:

Animals in zoos need space

As the students read the report help them to identify the facts and the opinions provided by the writer. Underline the facts and opinions in differing colours.

Some facts:

*Hannah is the writer
*She lives in Manchester
*She lives near a zoo
*She has visited other zoos 
 

Some opinions:

*I believe that many zoos are great places
*Helping animals not to be extinct is really important and zoos do help
*But I think that it is cruel to keep animals in small surroundings
*I think all zoos should give animals larger enclosures

Main activity

Give out copies of this interview

Interview: Greenpeace oceans expert

Again the class should underline the facts and opinions in different colours.

Some facts:

*The hunt will kill up to 30 Minke whales and nine Fin whales each year
*Fin whales are an endangered species
*Fin whales are enormous and can weigh as much as 120 tonnes and can grow as long as 27m in length

Some opinions:

*The case of the Fin whales is particularly distressing
*One good bit of news we have is that there is lots of opposition to this decision
*There's no excuse for hunting them (Whales)

Finally – have a look at this news report:

 Big rally to fight climate change

Again ask the class to underline the facts and opinions in different colours.

The third one is the hardest. Why is this?
This is a news report, so the writer is trying to be impartial or fair to both sides.

Do students think the journalist who wrote the report supported or opposed the rally?
Are there any clues in the report?
What things make it hard to be totally impartial in a news report?
Why is it important to remember this when writing and reading news reports?

Extension activity

Using the information from their local environment questionnaires, write a profile of the place where they live and underline the facts and opinions in different colours.

Plenary

Children share their findings and their profiles.

Go back to the journalism lesson plans.