Stage 2 reading - Fact and opinion
Learning intention
Students will learn to determine the difference between fact and opinion and recognise both within a range of texts.
Syllabus outcome
- EN2-RECOM-01: reads and comprehends texts for wide purposes using knowledge of text structures and language, and by monitoring comprehension
- EN2-UARL-01: identifies and describes how ideas are represented in literature and strategically uses similar representations when creating texts
National Literacy Learning Progression
Understanding texts
UnT6: scans texts to locate specific information in a predictable print text (comprehension); makes connections between texts (e.g. compares two versions of a well-known story) (comprehension)
- UnT7: distinguishes between fact and opinion in texts (comprehension); compares and contrasts texts on the same topic to identify how authors represent the same ideas differently (comprehension)
- UnT8: evaluates the accuracy within and across texts on the same topic (comprehension); skims and scans texts for key words to track the development of ideas (process)
- UnT9: analyses texts which have more than one purpose and explain how parts of the text support a particular purpose (comprehension); identifies language used to create tone or atmosphere (vocabulary)
NAPLAN item descriptors
The relevant NAPLAN item descriptors are included in the resource, available for download on this page.
Task outline
Full task descriptions are included in the resource, available for download on this page.
What is the difference between fact and opinion?
Students create posters or short jingles to demonstrate the difference between fact and opinion and discuss how key vocabulary can indicate if a statement is a fact or opinion.
Determining fact reliability
Students learn why recognising the difference between fact and opinion is important, who might disguise opinion as fact and processes to determine the reliability of sources.
Expert panel
Students read a text and devise questions to illicit fact and opinion statements from an ‘expert panel’ of their peers.