3.9.E.ii
The Standard
distinguishing facts from opinion
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading · The student recognizes and analyzes genre-specific characteristics, structures, and purposes within and across increasingly complex traditional, contemporary, classical, and diverse texts.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify which statements can be checked with evidence and which express a belief, judgment, or preference. They use words and context to explain each choice.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students correctly sort statements as facts or opinions. They explain that facts can be checked with evidence, while opinions express beliefs, judgments, or preferences.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think any sentence they agree with is a fact. They may also label a false but checkable statement as an opinion instead of checking evidence.
How to Assess It
- Give students four sentences about school lunches. Ask them to label each fact or opinion and explain one choice using “can be checked” or “shows a belief.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs sentence cards and two labeled hoops, then have them place each card in Fact or Opinion and defend their choices.
Ask students to write one fact and one opinion about recess, then explain how a reader can tell the difference.
Play Fact or Opinion Corners by reading statements aloud and having students move to a corner, then cite clues for each choice.
Examine a restaurant advertisement and menu, marking checkable details as facts and persuasive claims as opinions.
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