English Language Arts
Grade 4
15 min
Identify an author's statement of opinion
Identify an author's statement of opinion
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define the term 'opinion' and distinguish it from a 'fact'.
Identify common clue words and phrases that signal an opinion.
Locate and highlight an author's statement of opinion within a short paragraph.
Explain why a specific statement is an opinion by referencing the author's feelings, beliefs, or judgments.
Summarize an author's main opinion about a topic in their own words.
What is the best flavor of ice cream in the whole world? 🍦 Your answer is an opinion, and today we're going to become detectives to find them in stories!
We will learn what an author's opinion is and how to spot it. This is an important reading skill because it helps us understand what an author thinks and feels, which is different from w...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
OpinionA statement that shows what someone thinks, feels, or believes. It cannot be proven true or false.I think chocolate cake is the most delicious dessert.
FactA statement that can be proven to be true with evidence.The Earth revolves around the Sun.
AuthorThe person who writes a book, story, or article.J.K. Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter series.
StatementA complete sentence that tells you something.The dog is sleeping on the rug.
Clue WordsWords that are hints that a statement is an opinion.Words like 'I believe', 'best', 'worst', 'think', 'feel', 'should', and 'beautiful'.
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Key Rules & Conventions
The 'Prove It' Test
Ask yourself: Can this statement be proven true with evidence?
If the answer is 'no', it's likely an opinion. Facts can be proven with data, observation, or reliable sources. Opinions are based on personal feelings.
Hunt for Clue Words
Look for words that express feelings, judgments, or beliefs.
Authors often use specific words to signal their opinion. Words like 'best', 'worst', 'amazing', 'terrible', 'I think', 'I believe', or 'should' are strong clues.
Feelings, Thoughts, and Beliefs
An opinion statement tells you about the author's internal world, not the external world.
If a sentence describes how someone feels about something or what they beli...
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Challenging
Read the paragraph. What is the author's overall opinion about building a new airport? 'The city council has a plan to build a new airport. The project will cost 50 million dollars and take two years to build. It will be built on the land where Green Tree Park is now. I think this is a terrible idea because our city needs more parks, not more noise and pollution.'
A.The author believes the airport will be too expensive.
B.The author is against building the new airport.
C.The author thinks the airport will be built quickly.
D.The author is excited about the new airport.
Challenging
Two students are talking about a book. Maria says, 'The book has 312 pages.' Leo says, 'The book has the most boring cover I've ever seen.' Which student is stating an opinion and why?
A.Maria, because she is stating a number that could be wrong.
B.Maria, because she is describing the book.
C.Leo, because whether a cover is 'boring' is a personal feeling.
D.Leo, because he uses the word 'ever'.
Challenging
Read this complex sentence: 'Although the concert lasted for three hours, which is a long time, it was the most spectacular show I have ever attended.' Which part of the sentence is the author's opinion?
A.the concert lasted for three hours
B.which is a long time
C.I have ever attended
D.it was the most spectacular show
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