Year 3 English: Fact and opinion
Part of the Year 3 English reading non-fiction chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Fact and opinion
A fact is something that can be checked, and is true. An opinion is what someone thinks or feels. Two people can have different opinions about the same thing.
Clue words often show an opinion: think, believe, should, best, most beautiful and favourite. A fact can be checked in a book, in a reliable source, or by looking.
Read the text in the box. Then answer the questions in exercise 9E.
Puffins (information text with facts and opinions)
Puffins are seabirds with black and white feathers. In spring and summer, their beaks turn bright orange and yellow.
Puffins nest in burrows on cliffs and islands. Each year, a puffin lays one egg. Adults eat small fish, such as sand eels.
I think puffins are the most beautiful birds in the world. Everyone should visit a cliff to see them.
Key ideas
- A fact can be checked, and is true.
- An opinion says what someone thinks or feels, and other people may disagree.
- Clue words for an opinion include think, believe, should, best and favourite.
- A writer can give facts and opinions in the same text. Read each sentence on its own.
- In a discussion, listen to others, take turns, and give a reason for your opinion.
Method. Decide whether the sentence can be checked, or only shows a feeling.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: nest.nest
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:Puffins nest in burrows on cliffs and islands.
- Write the answer. A fact: it can be checked in a book about puffins.
Check. It can be checked, so it is a fact. ✓
Method. Find the last sentence and look for a clue word.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: clue.clue
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:Everyone should visit a cliff to see them.
- Write the answer. should
Check. Should shows what the writer thinks people ought to do. ✓
Method. Look for a clue word, then ask whether it can be checked.
- Look for a clue word. Think shows what the writer believes.I think
- Ask whether it can be checked. Beautiful is a judgement, and people may disagree.beautiful
- Write the answer. An opinion, because I think shows a belief.
Check. Think is a clue word for an opinion. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: an opinion, because beautiful is a judgement.
Watch out
Watch out: a sentence with a number or a name is not always a fact. Ask whether it can be checked, and whether it shows what someone thinks.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Read two sentences about an animal. Ask your child which one can be checked, and which one shows what someone thinks. Ask them to say which words helped them decide.
Exercise 9E Practice: fact and opinion
Method. Find the sentence about the beak.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: beak.beak
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:their beaks turn bright orange and yellow
- Write the answer. their beaks turn bright orange and yellow
Check. The text states the beak colour. ✓
Method. Find the sentence about nesting.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: nest.nest
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:Puffins nest in burrows on cliffs and islands
- Write the answer. in burrows on cliffs and islands
Check. Puffins nest in burrows on cliffs and islands. ✓
Method. Find the sentence about eggs.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: eggs.eggs
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:a puffin lays one egg
- Write the answer. one
Check. A puffin lays one egg each year. ✓
Method. Find the sentence about food.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: eat.eat
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:Adults eat small fish, such as sand eels
- Write the answer. small fish, such as sand eels
Check. Adults eat small fish, such as sand eels. ✓
Method. Find the sentence that starts with I think.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: I think.I think
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:I think puffins are the most beautiful birds in the world.
- Write the answer. I think puffins are the most beautiful birds in the world.
Check. That sentence is an opinion. ✓
Method. Look for a clue word, then ask whether it can be checked.
- Look for a clue word. The word should shows what the writer thinks.should
- Ask whether it can be checked. No one can check whether everyone ought to visit a cliff.ought to visit
- Write the answer. An opinion. The word should shows what the writer thinks people ought to do.
Check. It shows a view, so it is an opinion. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: an opinion, because should shows a view.
Method. Find the opinion in the last paragraph, and look at its words.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: clue word.clue word
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:I think
- Write the answer. think (also accept: should, most beautiful)
Check. Think shows what the writer believes. ✓
Method. Ask whether the sentence can be checked.
- Ask whether it can be checked. Puffins are seabirds, and you can check this in a book about birds.can be checked
- Name a check. A book about puffins or a reliable website would show the same facts.a book about puffins
- Write the answer. A fact. Accept any check that uses a book or a reliable website about puffins.
Check. Facts can be checked in a reliable source. ✓
Method. Think about what someone believes.
- Think about the view. An opinion is what one person thinks or feels.thinks or feels
- Think about other people. Other people may hold a different view.a different view
- Write the answer. A view or a feeling that a person holds, which other people may not share.
Check. Opinions can differ. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: a belief about something, which is not always a fact.
Method. Choose a bird and a fact you know is true.
- Choose a fact. A fact about a named bird can be checked.a robin has a red breast
- Name the check. A bird book or a reliable website shows the same fact.a bird book
- Write the answer. Accept any true fact about a named bird, with a check, for example: a robin has a red breast, which a bird book shows.
Check. The fact is true and can be checked. ✓
Method. Think about how a good discussion works.
- Think about listening. Listen carefully so you understand what your friend said.listen
- Think about turns and reasons. Take your turn, and give a reason for what you think.take turns; give a reason
- Write the answer. Accept any two, for example: listen to your friend and wait your turn; give a reason for your own view.
Check. Listening and giving reasons make a good discussion. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: say whether you agree, and why.