This is Part 3 of a three-part lesson. Find Part 1, the introduction, here. Find Part 2, a guide on checking sources, here.

Listening to news casts or interviews with politicians, celebrities or broadcasters, we can get caught up in what they are saying and the emotion of what is happening. It can be hard to determine what is fact and what his opinion and how we should react to this information.

When reading or listening to the news there are also some signal words or phrases that might help determine if this information is fact or opinion.

For example:

Factual statements might contain the following vocabulary:

The annual report confirms…
Scientists have recently discovered...
According to the results
The Investigation demonstrated ...

Opinions could use some of the following:

He claimed that…
It is the officers view that...
The report argues that…
Many scientists suspect that…

As you can see, the language used in a statement can be helpful in deciding whether it is being presented as a fact or an opinion. It’s important for all of us to understand that information is not always as it appears to be. At times writers, newscasters celebrities, or politicians will present their information to create a specific picture of what they want you to see or believe. Starting with the facts is a very good way to help us feel more sure of the world around us and reduce our anxiety about what is happening in the world.

Let’s practice reading some statements and deciding if they are fact, fiction or opinion! What do you think?

Healthcare costs per person in the United States are the highest in the developed world.
You can only catch coronavirus if you’re old.
There is a shortage of protective gear for medical personnel treating the corona virus patients
In my opinion, eating undercooked meat causes corona virus
Washing your hands does reduces the chance you will get sick from viruses.
The numbers show that regions who have kept people separated had a slower or lesser progression of coronavirus then regions that didn’t.
I don’t feel sick, so I don’t think I have to stay isolated.
One way to obtain factual Information is to talk to medical experts, including your family physician.

Answer Key:

Fact. The cost of healthcare per capita can be verified by many economic and government sources.
Fiction. Checking data available in news sources can tell you this is not true.
Fact. There is lots of data from multiple sources that shows this is happening in hospitals.
Opinion / Fiction. Lots of people might have different ideas about how the virus starts. There is no scientific support given for this statement
Fact. There have been many studies conducted on the transmission of germs depending on if hands are adequately washed or not. There are even some really cool videos showing this fact.
Fact. Studies conducted on the growth of infection and contamination in areas with different degrees of quarantine can verify this statement.
Opinion. / Fiction. This sounds so official, but again, when trying to figure out fact or opinion surrounding this important topic, look for sources that are, scientific, fair, and well respected to confirm them. Don’t forget, anyone can give an opinion about anything!
Fact. Being aware of the sources of information can help you decide if you should believe it, and will insure the opinions you firm are based on facts.

Practice your discriminatory skills by reading a news article and using some of the tools presented to be a informed and discriminating consumer of information! You will feel less anxious and more prepared to make decisions about what you really believe!