fact and opinion essay examples

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• Opinion vs Fact

An essay boils down to arguments, and arguments boil down to the facts. Although defining a fact vs. an opinion ought to be cut and dry, that is far from the case. Simple explanations of facts and opinions will not provide the proper context to truly distinguish them, which is why we will explore “opinions” and “facts” in-depth: how they are different, how they are similar, and how they evolve.

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• Cell Biology

When we die, our souls become butterflies.

This opinion:

I don't find jazz relaxing.

Elvis's death was faked. He's still alive.

Can facts evolve?

Opinion is not concerned with _____, while facts are.

Is a subjective conclusion an opinion?

If a hypothesis has been tested repeatedly and the results are inconclusive, is taking a stance on it an opinion?

If something is quantified, is it fact?

If many people have seen something, is it a fact?

In what ways should you be wary of what you see or read? You should be wary of what? 

What is an opinion?

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Meaning of Opinion and Fact

First we will discuss the opinion , then the fact .

Opinions are what you should avoid in your essay, and something you should never use as evidence to support your thesis.

Opinion is a personal conjecture.

Something is an opinion if it:

Does not require verification:

I like pizza.

Has failed to acquire verification:

The earth is flat.

Or cannot acquire verification:

Humans will evolve into beings of pure energy.

Fact is not “the truth.” Fact is “what is found” during the search for the truth.

Fact is what has continuously withstood the test of hypotheses.

Green is the color between yellow and cyan on the visible spectrum of light.

Humans have been to space and landed on the moon.

Many plants use sunlight to create nutrients from carbon dioxide and water.

Fact can either be arrived at logically (through the argumentation of a hypothesis) or arrived at by experience (through the experimentation of a hypothesis).

Potential Facts

Potential facts are in the process of being proven or disproven. Take for example the advanced study of physics. It would be incorrect to describe the study of quantum mechanics as a study of “opinions,” simply because the topics contained in the field are not fully verified. Rather, the topics regard “potential facts” or "theoretical ideas" that are in the pipeline of research.

There is some overlap between “opinions that have failed to acquire verification” and “potential facts,” but the good news is that neither should be used in an essay as logical support. Potential facts might be referenced as a possible avenue for advancement, oftentimes appropriately in the conclusion of an essay, but “potential facts” should not occupy body paragraphs as a replacement for facts.

Potential facts are often worked upon in theoretical and philosophical fields, and can be identified by their presence near the top of academic study. On the other hand, “opinions that have failed to acquire verification” can be identified by their outsized presence on social media and by their propagation by tabloids, influencers, and celebrities.

Similarities Between Opinion and Fact

There are some fundamental similarities between opinions and facts, but don’t use these things to help you decide whether something is opinion or fact.

Opinions and Facts are Both Conclusions

Someone can present a fact with their whole chest, and someone can present an opinion with their whole chest. Both are conclusive, which can make both of them appear like objective facts. Just because something is said like it is a fact, however, does not mean that it is a fact.

Conspiracy theorists: Fundamentally, conspiracy theorists distrust everything, including their own senses, fearing that whatever they haven’t sensed isn't actually true. To avoid believing in conspiracies, ground yourself in some form of logical belief. Find a conclusion that you trust. While it is beneficial to be wary of taking anything at face value, it is only beneficial if you also have a logical method to verify things.

In your essays, you will constantly provide evidence that you did not personally verify (e.g., studies that you weren’t present for), or draw conclusions about things you did not personally create (e.g. literature that you did not write). This is perfectly fine.

Note that the opposite is also true. Just because something is said in a tentative or unoptimized manner, it does not mean that it is logically flawed and thus an opinion. Do not rely on how something is presented. Instead, pay attention to the content. Right things can be said in a small voice.

Opinions and Facts Both Evolve

This year, pizza might be your favorite food. Next year, it might be brussels sprouts, who knows?

Likewise, what we regard as fact evolves as we learn more. However, opinion is not likely to become fact in this evolutionary process. Rather, potential facts will become facts in this evolutionary process.

The fact of opinion: Say you like pizza. It is then a fact that you like pizza. That is the fact of opinion. This is the only kind of “opinion” argument that is ever likely to appear in your essay. For instance, if you are arguing that the character of a book—let’s call this character Xuan—does not love their job despite repeatedly saying that they do, then you might use evidence from the book to support this claim about their opinion. Arguing the fact of opinion is something you will only do in literary analyses and the like, where the focus is upon the humanity of the topic and not its objectivity. Literature students thrive when exploring interpretations.

Differences Between Opinion and Fact

Opinion is not concerned with verification, while facts are. Ironically, because of this, stating an opinion is far more conclusive than stating a fact. This is why a scientist might struggle to quickly prove a fact while a conspiracy theorist or fear-monger will quickly “prove their point” using some form of faulty logic. Testing hypotheses is time-consuming. Making stuff up is quick.

Someone is not foolish because it takes them time to teach something or to learn something. Someone is foolish when they teach or take something to be fact because it is emotionally exciting.

Identifying Opinion vs. Fact with Examples

Let’s break down opinions and facts:

Identifying Opinions

Here is how you identify an opinion. Any of these are signs that something is an opinion.

Subjective Conclusions (Biased)

It is an opinion if it is subjective. In other words, if it contains a personal bias, then it is an opinion.

Apples are the best fruit.

Contested Conclusions (Verification Inconclusive)

It is an opinion if the verification is inconclusive. In other words, if a hypothesis has been repeatedly tested and the result consistently provides no answer, then to declare a conclusion is a matter of opinion.

Despite what studies show, which is that neither is significantly better than the other, medication X is probably still better than medication Y for those over the age of 65.

Moral Conclusions

Moral judgments should not be used as logical support. Instead of writing in terms of “right and wrong,” instead write in terms of cause and effect. For instance, don’t write about why pollution is wrong. Instead, write about how it is harmful to the planet.

Conclusions About the Unknown (Verification Impossible)

Something is unknown if it cannot be verified in any way at present, and is thus an opinion. Examples of this include: future events not observed by scientific rhythm (the moon’s orbit is not an opinion, for example); past events not observed, recorded, or logically deduced; and faith-based arguments.

Identifying Facts

Here is how you identify a fact. Any of these are signs that something is a fact.

Objective Conclusions (Without Bias)

Something is a fact if it is methodically arrived at without any bias. If the truth is what a researcher seeks, their conclusions will not be tainted with assumptions and personal opinions.

Quantifiable Conclusions (by Research)

Scientific measurements are hugely beneficial in research because they provide a baseline for validity. If a system of measurement is accurate, then something measured that way can be quantified. If something is quantified, that means that numbers can be assigned to it . Quantifiable data is used to draw conclusions based on what we know about that system of measurement.

After 10 hours, the solution had risen from -19 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Verifiable (by Multiple Accounts)

If something is clearly witnessed by multiple unbiased people, then it can be considered a fact. Note the words clearly, multiple, and unbiased. Something is clearly witnessed if it doesn’t happen under dubious conditions, such as someone seeing someone in pitch darkness. If the people are multiple , then more than one person saw it. If someone is unbiased , then they don’t have any preconceived ideas about what might have happened . To give an example of bias, if someone distrusts their neighbor, then that person might be more inclined to think their neighbor did something wrong before any evidence is provided.

Verification by multiple accounts is used all the time, not just in criminal investigations. People use this method of verification to verify all kinds of things that they do not personally witness. If you don’t attend a party, you can still verify that it happened by talking to those who did attend.

They didn’t televise it, but the football game was interrupted by a fan running onto the field. I wasn’t there, but my friends were. They saw it, and so did dozens of others who posted about it online.

Trusted Sources (and Common Knowledge)

When analyzing a passage or writing your own essay, you will frequently rely on trusted sources and common knowledge. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary is an example of a trusted source. “Most birds fly” is an example of common knowledge.

All of this said, just be sure everything is what it claims to be!

How to Avoid Misleading Facts

Do not be hoodwinked by faulty conclusions and sneaky sources. Here are some common ways that “facts” can be misleading.

Be Wary of Unverified Sources

Vague phrases like “studies show...” are often misleading because they don’t cite the studies. Even if something cites a study, don’t trust it just because it’s a study. Some studies are biased and bogus. Consider: what is the actual source of this evidence?

Be Wary of Unread Context

If you haven’t read the study or book that someone cites, you should probably take a glance at it. They could be using it out of context . This goes for videos or photos as well, which are particularly hazardous when used out of context , because photos and videos are often considered to be positive proof. They can be positive proof, but only when correctly attributed, contextualized, and verified. In the age of photo and video manipulation, videos and photos must be verified. "Deepfakes" now exist that can conjure real-seeming people and voices using a computer.

Be Wary of Generalization

If a study or idea is generalized, be wary of it. Don’t trust broad conclusions drawn from a single source or study. Don’t trust broad conclusions about a genre based on a single book or song. Don’t trust broad conclusions about a society, a philosophy, or a people based on one piece of evidence. Bottom line: huge conclusions require huge amounts of evidence. This type of logic should be avoided:

Because some are X, all are X.

Be Wary of Sets of Information

Here’s an example:

After tests, the AC unit was shown to be working within manufacturer parameters.

A phrase like this may or may not be helpful to an argument , even when it is verifiably true. For instance, this statement of fact does not support that this AC is energy efficient, or particularly effective at cooling down higher temperatures. Before you cite a set of information as evidence, you must be sure that the set of evidence contains what you think it does.

Rarely can huge sets of information be used to broadly support one contention. Break down reports, regulations, and even laws in order to use them as evidence. Do not cite the whole when only one part is relevant to your argument. For example, do not appeal to the United States Constitution as an ultimate authority in its own right. After all, at one point, Article 1 of the United States Constitution contained the three-fifths compromise, which helped to constitutionalize slavery. Obviously, even authoritative documents are not right all the time. This fallacy is called the argument from authority .

Be Wary of All Logical Fallacies

Logic is an extremely powerful tool that you can use to verify ideas all on your own. However, if you take a single misstep in your logic, your conclusion will not be correct. These missteps are called logical fallacies . An argument from authority is just a single fallacy among many. Others include circular reasoning and missing the point . Study logical fallacies and look out for them when analyzing something or when writing something yourself.

Opinion vs Fact - Key Takeaways

• Does not require verification
• Has failed to acquire verification
• Cannot acquire verification
• Fact is what has continuously withstood the test of hypotheses. It is not "the truth" but rather "what is found out" during the search for the truth. Facts can be arrived at logically or practically.
• Potential facts are in the process of being proven or disproven. They tend to exist in advanced and theoretical fields, and should not be used as evidence.
• Opinion is not concerned with verification, while facts are.
• Be sure to identify whether something is really a fact before citing it as evidence. Understand logical fallacies, and don't trust conclusions based on them.

Flashcards in Opinion vs Fact 21

Cannot acquire verification.

Does not require verification.

Has failed to acquire verification.

Yes, people are learning new things all the time. This should not be used an argument for conspiracies or pseudoscience, which have no basis in real learning or research. 

Verification

Yes. Subjective conclusions contain bias.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Opinion vs Fact

What's an example of an opinion?

How do you identify if something is a fact or an opinion?

Verification. A fact is verified, while an opinion is not. If something is verified, then it is a fact. 

What is an example of a fact?

What is the main difference between opinion and fact?

What is the meaning of facts and opinions?

Whether something is a fact or an opinion matters a great deal when trying to prove a point. If you are trying to prove something, it is meaningful to include facts as evidence, not opinions.

Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

When we die, our souls become butterflies.This opinion:

I don't find jazz relaxing.This opinion:

Elvis's death was faked. He's still alive.This opinion:

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Chapter 16: Distinguishing Between Facts and Opinions

What is the difference between fact and opinion.

Master readers must sort fact from opinion to properly understand and evaluate the information they are reading.

A fact is a specific detail that is true based on objective proof. A fact is discovered.

An opinion is an interpretation, value judgment, or belief that cannot be proved or disproved. An opinion is created. Objective proof can be physical evidence, an eyewitness account, or the result of an accepted scientific method. Most people’s points of view and beliefs are based on a blend of fact and opinion.

Separating fact from opinion requires you to think critically because opinion is often presented as fact. The following clues will help you separate fact from opinion.

Recognizing Fact and Opinion

Fact:  a specific detail that is true based on objective proof such as physical evidence, an eyewitness account, or the result of an accepted scientific method.   Example: Kanye West was born June 8, 1977 .

Opinion : an interpretation, value judgment, or belief that cannot be proved or disproved. Opinions often include biased words (beautiful, miserable, exciting, frightful).

Kanye West is superior to all other hip-hop artists.

To test whether a statement is a fact, ask these three questions: —Can the statement be proved or demonstrated to be true? —Can the statement be observed in practice or operation? —Can the statement by verified by witnesses, manuscripts, or documents?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, the statement is not a fact. Instead, it is an opinion. With that being said, many statements blend both fact and opinion.

Kanye West, the best hip-hop artist around, was born June 8, 1977.  

This statement has both a fact and opinion. If you don’t have both options as one answer choice on a test, then choose opinion.

There are various ‘levels’ of opinions:

An  informed opinion  is developed by gathering and analyzing evidence.

Example: a news reporter writing an editorial about a political candidate and why we should vote for him or her.

An  expert opinion  is developed through much training and extensive knowledge in a given field.

Example: a doctor giving a patient advice about diet and exercise

Beware! Expert and informed opinions may sound factual, but they still are OPINIONS!

Ask Questions to Identify Facts

To test whether  a statement is a fact, ask these three questions:

• Can the statement be proved or demonstrated to be true?
• Can the statement be observed in practice or operation?
• Can the statement by verified by witnesses, manuscripts, or documents?

If the answer to any of these questions is  no , the statement is  not  a fact. Instead, it is an opinion. With that being said, many statements blend both fact and opinion.

Note : Biased Words to Identify Opinions

Be aware of biased words, words that express opinions, value judgments, and interpretations. They are often loaded with emotion.

Biased words:

• unbelievable

Note Qualifiers to Identify Opinions

• Be on the lookout for words that qualify an idea.
• A qualifier may  express an absolute, unwavering opinion using words like always or never.
• It can also express an opinion in the form of a command as in must, or the desirability  of an action with a word like should.
• Qualifiers may indicate different degrees of doubt with words such as seems or might.

Words that Qualify Ideas

Think Carefully About Supposed “Facts”

Be aware of false facts, or statements presented as facts that are actually untrue. Sometimes authors mislead the reader with a false impression of the facts.  Ex: political and commercial advertisements. Sometimes an author deliberately presents false information.Be aware of opinions that sound like facts. Facts are specific details that can be researched and verified as true.  However, opinions may be introduced with phrases like in truth, the truth of the matter, or in fact.

Example:  In truth, reproductive cloning is expensive and highly inefficient.

Reading Critically: Evaluate Details as Fact or Opinion in Context

• Because the printed word seems to give authority to an idea, many of us accept what we read as fact. However, much of what is published is actually opinion.
• Master readers questions what they read.
• Reading critically is noting the use of fact and opinion in the context of a paragraph or passage, the author, and the type of source in which the passage is printed.

Evaluate the Context of the Author

Even though opinions can’t be proved true like facts can, many opinions are still sound and valuable.  To judge the accuracy of the opinion, you must consider the source; the author of the opinion.

• Authors offer two types of valid opinions: informed opinions and expert opinion.
• An author develops an informed opinion by gathering and analyzing evidence.
• An author develops an expert opinion though much training and extensive knowledge in a given field.

 Evaluate the Context of the Source

• Often people turn to factual sources to find the factual details needed to form informed opinions and expert opinions.
• A medical dictionary, an English handbook, and a world atlas are a few excellent examples of factual sources.

Reading a Textbook: The Use of Graphics, Fact, and Opinion in a Textbook

Most textbook authors are careful to present only ideas based on observation, research, and expert opinion. Textbook authors often use pictures, drawings, or graphics to make the relationship between the main idea and supporting details clear. Master readers must carefully analyze these graphics in order to discern facts from opinion as they are interpreted.

Watch this video to see more examples of facts and opinions:

CC Licensed Content, Shared Previously

Content adapted from  an open course from Broward, licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license .

Video Content

“ Distinguishing fact from opinion ” by Snap Language

Integrated Reading and Writing Level 1 Copyright © 2018 by pherringtonmoriarty and Judith Tomasson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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An author’s purpose can influence the kind of information they choose to include.

Thinking about the reason an author produced a source can be helpful to you because that reason was what dictated the kind of information they chose to include. Depending on that purpose, the author may have chosen to include factual, analytical, and objective information. Or, instead, it may have suited their purpose to include information that was subjective and therefore less factual and analytical. The author’s reason for producing the source also determined whether they included more than one perspective or just their own.

Authors typically want to do at least one of the following:

• Inform and educate
• Sell services or products or

Combination of Purposes

Sometimes authors have a combination of purposes, as when a marketer decides they can sell more smartphones with an informative sales video that also entertains us. The same is true when a singer writes and performs a song that entertains us but that they intend to make available for sale. Other examples of authors having multiple purposes occur in most scholarly writing.

In those cases, authors certainly want to inform and educate their audiences. But they also want to persuade their audiences that what they are reporting and/or postulating is a true description of a situation, event, or phenomenon or a valid argument that their audience must take a particular action. In this blend of scholarly author’s purposes, the intent to educate and inform is considered to trump the intent to persuade.

Why Intent Matters

Authors’ intent usually matters in how useful their information can be to your research project, depending on which information need you are trying to meet. For instance, when you’re looking for resources that will help you actually decide how to answer your research question or evidence for your answer that you will share with your audience, you will want the author’s main purpose to have been to inform or educate their audience. That’s because, with that intent, they are likely to have used:

• Facts where possible.
• Multiple perspectives instead of just their own.
• Little subjective information.
• Seemingly unbiased, objective language that cites where they got the information.

The reason you want that kind of resource when trying to answer your research question or explaining that answer is that all of those characteristics will lend credibility to the argument you are making with your project. Both you and your audience will simply find it easier to believe—will have more confidence in the argument being you are making—based on your selected resources.

Resources whose authors intend only to persuade others won’t meet your information need for an answer to your research question or evidence with which to convince your audience. That’s because they don’t always confine themselves to facts. Instead, they tell us their opinions without backing them up with evidence. If you used those sources, your readers will notice and not believe your argument.

Fact vs. Opinion vs. Objective vs. Subjective

Need to brush up on the differences between fact, objective information, subjective information, and opinion?

Fact – Facts are useful to inform or make an argument.

• The United States was established in 1776.
• The pH levels in acids are lower than pH levels in alkalines.
• Beethoven had a reputation as a virtuoso pianist.

Opinion – Opinions are useful to persuade, but careful readers and listeners will notice and demand evidence to back them up.

• That was a good movie.
• Strawberries taste better than blueberries.
• George Clooney is the sexiest actor alive.
• The death penalty is wrong.
• Beethoven’s reputation as a virtuoso pianist is overrated.

Objective – Objective information reflects a research finding or multiple perspectives that are not biased.

• “Several studies show that an active lifestyle reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes.”
• “Studies from the Brown University Medical School show that twenty-somethings eat 25 percent more fast-food meals at this age than they did as teenagers.”

Subjective – Subjective information presents one person or organization’s perspective or interpretation. Subjective information can be meant to distort, or it can reflect educated and informed thinking. All opinions are subjective, but some are backed up with facts more than others.

• “The simple truth is this: As human beings, we were meant to move.”
• “In their thirties, women should stock up on calcium to ensure strong, dense bones and to ward off osteoporosis later in life.”*

*In this quote, it’s mostly the “should” that makes it subjective. The objective version of the last quote would read: “Studies have shown that women who begin taking calcium in their 30s show stronger bone density and fewer repercussions of osteoporosis than women who did not take calcium at all.” But perhaps there are other data showing complications from taking calcium. That’s why drawing the conclusion that requires a “should” makes the statement subjective.

Critical Thinking in Academic Research Copyright © 2022 by Cindy Gruwell and Robin Ewing is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Difference Between Fact and Opinion

In finer terms, a fact is a proven truth, whereas opinion is a personal view, that represents the outlook of an individual, which may or may not be based on the fact. In this article excerpt, an attempt is made to simplify the difference between fact and opinion, take a read.

Content: Fact Vs Opinion

Comparison chart.

Definition of Fact

The fact is something, that has actually taken place or known to have existed, which can be validated with pieces of evidence. They are strictly defined, and can be measured, observed and proven. It refers to something that makes statements true and used in connection with research and study.

A fact can be an event or information, based on real occurrences which can be tested through verifiability, i.e. they are supported by proofs, statistics, documentation, etc. Therefore, a fact is nothing but a verifiable truth or reality which are agreed upon by consensus of people.

Definition of Opinion

The term ‘opinion’ is defined as the personal view or judgment about a subject, that may or may not be substantiated by the facts or positive knowledge. In other words, an opinion is an inconclusive statement, used in subjective matters, which cannot be proved true or false. It is what a person thinks or feels about something or someone. Hence it is not a true but biased information.

Opinion is highly influenced by a person’s feelings, thoughts, perspective, desires, attitude, experiences, understanding, beliefs, values, etc., which cannot be tested by concrete evidence. Therefore, due to individual differences, every person’s opinion on a particular matter is also different.

Key Differences Between Fact and Opinion

The difference between fact and opinion on the following grounds:

• The fact is described as the statement that can be verified or proved to be true. Opinion is an expression of judgment or belief about something.
• Fact relies on observation or research while opinion is based on assumption.
• The fact is an objective reality whereas opinion is a subjective statement.
• Facts can be verified with the help of evidence or statistics. On the contrary, opinion is not supported by any evidence.
• Facts explain what actually happened. Unlike an opinion, that represents a perception about something.
• One important feature of the fact is that it is universal and does not differ from person to person. As against this, every human being has a different opinion on a particular subject and so, it varies from one person to another.
• Facts are shown with unbiased words, however, opinion is expressed with biased words.
• Facts can change anybody’s opinion, but vice versa is not possible.
• Facts are real information and so it cannot be challenged or debated, but if we talk about opinions, they can be debated.

Therefore, to know the reliability and utility of an information or statement, it is vital to understand the differences between fact and opinion, so as to evaluate things and draw conclusions. While reading comprehension, it is hard to identify, whether a given expression is a fact or an opinion, as they are quite commonly juxtaposed by the writers. Facts are always one step ahead of opinions as facts can be proved to be right or accurate, whereas opinion may also be right but they cannot be proved as true.

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georgia says

August 12, 2022 at 10:02 pm

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Afrah pharouq says

March 27, 2023 at 9:27 pm

Theresa Thompson says

May 29, 2023 at 9:47 am

I like how facts and opinions are broken down and explained with great examples. thank you.

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October 6, 2023 at 1:59 pm

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Teaching Fact and Opinion

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN FACT AND OPINION

For higher-level reading comprehension, students must accurately distinguish between fact and opinion. To do this successfully, students must begin with solid definitions of the two concepts. Once this has been achieved, students can practice applying these definitions through activities engaging with a wide range of reading material. Let’s take a look at defining these two all-important concepts before proceeding into strategies and ideas for teaching fact and opinion in the classroom.

WHAT IS A FACT?

A fact refers to something true and can be verified as such . That is, a fact is something that can be proven to be true. 

WHAT IS AN OPINION?

An opinion refers to a personal belief. It relates to how someone feels about something. Others may agree or disagree with an opinion but cannot prove or disprove it. This is what defines it as opinion.

Common Fact Vs. Opinion Statements

• The Earth is round.
• Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.
• The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world.
• The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
• The human body has 206 bones.
• The fastest land animal is the cheetah.
• The capital of France is Paris.
• The Nile River is the longest river in the world.
• The Statue of Liberty is located in New York Harbor.
• The United States of America has 50 states.
• Pizza is the best food in the world.
• Horror movies are too scary to watch.
• Taylor Swift is the greatest musician of all time.
• Dogs are better pets than cats.
• Chocolate ice cream is better than vanilla ice cream.
• Politics is too complicated to understand.
• Exercise is essential for a healthy lifestyle.
• The internet is the greatest invention in human history.
• Living in a big city is better than living in a small town.
• The color blue is the most calming color.

IDENTIFYING FACT FROM OPINION IS AN ESSENTIAL SKILL FOR STUDENTS

The ability to distinguish between fact and opinion helps students develop critical and analytical skills in reading and listening. Fact and opinion are often woven together in texts and speeches. It is, therefore, imperative that students can unravel the threads of what is true from what is mere belief if they are to navigate the deluge of media successfully they will encounter in their lifetimes.

Whether on the news, in advertising, or in a history book, learning to distinguish between what is fact and what is opinion is crucial to becoming an autonomous consumer with the critical thinking skills to avoid being manipulated easily.

THE ULTIMATE FACT AND OPINION TEACHING UNIT

This  HUGE 120 PAGE  resource combines four different fact and opinion activities you can undertake as a  WHOLE GROUP  or as  INDEPENDENT READING GROUP TASKS  in either  DIGITAL  or  PRINTABLE TASKS.

The Language of Facts AND OpinionS: Signal Words and Phrases

Writers will liven up their facts with a sprinkling of opinions. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be challenging to extract the verifiable truths from the author’s preferences and biases. Luckily, the language used often throws up helpful clues in the forms of words and phrases that assist us in identifying statements as fact-based or opinion-based.

Let’s now take a look at some examples of those signal words and phrases being used in the sentence fragments that often precede a statement of fact or opinion:

FACT SIGNAL WORDS

• The annual report confirms …
• Scientists have recently discovered …
• According to the results of the tests…
• The investigation demonstrated …

OPINION SIGNAL WORDS

• He claimed that…
• It is the officer’s view that…
• The report argues that…
• Many scientists suspect that…

As we can see from the signal word examples, the language used to introduce fact, and opinion statements can help indicate whether it is being framed as a fact or an opinion.

Students must understand that things are not always as they appear to be. At times, writers, whether consciously or not, will frame opinion as fact and vice versa. This is why it is vital that students develop a clear understanding of what constitutes fact and opinion and are afforded ample opportunities to practice distinguishing between the two.

WHAT IS CONTEXT?

Context is the circumstances surrounding an event, statement, or idea and in terms of which it can be fully understood. Facts and opinions must be placed in context to draw conclusions, and they can significantly impact the importance we place upon statements of fact and opinion.

For example, a young boy who tells his mother, “I ate a truckload of sweets at the party last night” needs to be placed in the context of his age and audience.

We can confidently infer he never actually ate a real truckload of sweets, but we can reasonably appreciate he ate a lot of them and wanted to emphasise that point. His mother might ask a clarifying question to turn that opinion into a hard fact.

Context provides the background information or circumstances that help us understand the meaning of facts and opinions.

For instance, if we say the factual statement, “it’s raining outside” , the context may differ depending on the situation. If we’re at home, it might mean we must stay inside or find something to do indoors. If we’re at a sports game, it might affect the playing conditions or attendance.

Similarly, the context of an opinion can vary based on the situation. For example, if someone says, “I don’t like spicy food” , the context might include their previous experiences with spicy food or the cultural norms of the cuisine they’re discussing. Understanding the context helps us understand the meaning and implications of what someone is saying.

THE CHALLENGES OF TEACHING FACT AND OPINION IN THE “POST-TRUTH” ERA

Teaching students to differentiate between fact and opinion is a complex task that requires educators to navigate a number of challenges that have only accelerated in the “Post-Truth” era, in which some members of society cannot accept being wrong on a particular issue, even with an ocean of evidence stacked against them.

One of the key challenges is that students often come to the classroom with preconceived notions and biases that can make it difficult for them to accept certain facts.

This is not a new phenomenon. Throughout history, individuals and groups have clung to their beliefs despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. For example, in the 16th and 17th centuries, many people still believed that the Earth was the center of the universe, despite the mounting evidence to the contrary.

Today, we face a similar challenge when teaching students about scientific issues such as climate change. Some students may come from families or communities that deny the existence of climate change, despite the overwhelming scientific evidence that supports it. In such cases, educators must find ways to engage with students respectfully and constructively, while also presenting the scientific evidence clearly and compellingly.

Another challenge educators face when teaching fact and opinion is that students may struggle to distinguish between the two when presented together. This is particularly true in news media, where news articles often include a mixture of factual information and opinions from various sources.

In such cases, educators must teach students to critically evaluate the sources of information they encounter and distinguish between factual information and opinions. This requires a deep understanding of the media landscape, as well as an ability to evaluate the information that is presented critically.

Teaching Resources

Use these resources and tools to improve your student’s media literacy skills through proven teaching strategies.

Fact Vs. Opinion TEACHING activities

Fact and Opinion Activities: Honing the Skills

To become a skilled, critical reader, a student must develop the ability to evaluate a text for facts and opinions quickly. To achieve this, they must practice distinguishing between fact and opinion to a point where it becomes a subconscious mechanism. The activities below will afford your students these necessary opportunities. They can also easily be adapted to various ages and abilities by carefully selecting the reading material.

Student Activity 1. Top 10 Facts and Opinions  

Not only does this simple activity help students hone their fact and opinion-detecting abilities but serves as a great warm-up research activity when beginning a new topic in class. 

When starting a new topic, whether on a historical period, a literary figure, or a species of animal, set students to list ten facts and opinions from their background reading and research on their new topic. Students must then form and record ten opinions based on reflection on this initial reading and research.

It may also be a valuable exercise for students to review their opinions at the end of the topic. Have they changed their opinion in any areas of the topic? Why did they change or maintain their opinion? This can work as a great review activity to wrap things up.

Student Activity 2. Evaluate an Editorial

Newspaper editorials can be a superb resource for students to practice recognizing facts and opinions. They are filled with the editor’s opinions on the day’s issues, intermingled with facts selected to support that view.

First, give students copies of a newspaper editorial. Then, working in pairs, have students go through the editorial to identify the facts by underlining them and the opinions by highlighting them. Remind them to look for the signal words we covered earlier to help identify facts and opinions.

When finished, students can compare their answers and discuss the reasons for their decisions. This will help identify any areas of confusion within the class, providing valuable data to inform your future planning on this topic.

Student Activity 3. Fact vs Opinion Survey

This activity can initially be undertaken using statements compiled on a worksheet. Later, students can work through text passages or a textbook itself directly. Students work through a series of statements marking either F or O beside each to identify that statement as a F act or an O pinion.

This activity is a practical study preparation exercise as it helps students to filter factual content from opinion. It also makes it easier for students to work out the underlying purpose of a text , whether it is designed to inform, persuade, or entertain. Students will soon begin to recognize that passages of text that contain more facts than opinions are most likely intended to inform. In contrast, a more opinion-based text will most likely be designed to persuade or entertain.

Student Activity 4. The Great Fact or Opinion Sort

Organize students into reasonable-sized groups of four or five students. Provide each group with a jar containing a set of cards , each with a fact-based or an opinion-based statement printed on it. Students take turns picking a card from the jar and reading it to the group. The group discusses each statement before deciding if it is a fact or an opinion.

Students can then record the statements accordingly on the Fact and Opinion graphic organizer described above or sort them into two piles.

This activity effectively supports struggling students as they learn from those who have already developed a firmer grasp of the two concepts.

Extension Exercise: Identifying Bias

One reason it is so vital for our students to learn to differentiate between fact and opinion is that this ability is a stepping stone to detecting bias in a text. Students begin to evaluate a text for bias by identifying how much of the text is fact-based and how much is based on opinion.

Once this is done, students must then analyse whether the opinions expressed in the text are biased by considering whether the writer has:

• Provided incomplete information
• Intentionally ignored or left out information to persuade the reader
• Allowed their own personal experiences to cloud any sense of objectivity.

A Complete Teaching Unit on Fake News

Digital and social media have completely redefined the media landscape, making it difficult for students to identify FACTS AND OPINIONS covering:

Teach them to FIGHT FAKE NEWS with this COMPLETE 42 PAGE UNIT. No preparation is required,

FACT vs OPINION GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS

Graphic organizers are a great tool to help students sort the facts and opinions in a text. Offering, as they do, a very visual means of organizing information, graphic organizers help students drill their ability to identify differences between fact and opinion statements until they become automatic.

The Fact and Opinion Chart

This simple chart consists of two columns helpfully labelled fact and opinion beneath a topic heading. Students work through a text, sorting statements as they come across them into the appropriate column on the graphic organizer. At the end of this task, they will be left with a clear segregation of the statements of the text according to whether they are objective facts or subjective opinions.

READ OUR GREAT ARTICLE ON LITERACY GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS HERE

IN CONCLUSION

Not only is the ability to identify bias in the writing of others essential, but this knowledge will also be of great benefit to students when it comes to forming and expressing their own opinions.

Taking the time to prepare and deliver discrete lessons on recognising facts and opinions in reading is essential. No matter how confident students are in distinguishing between the two, they are still likely to benefit from further practice. Even the most reflective of us can sometimes remain ignorant of our biases!

Becoming the critical readers that our students aspire to become begins with forming clear definitions of the terms in the student’s minds. These definitions must be supported by examples and illustrations to achieve this. Student understanding must be further underpinned by classroom and home practice. The activities above serve as a good starting point, but they are not sufficient on their own.

It will be necessary to support students further to gain a deeper understanding of fact and opinion (and related concepts such as bias) by frequently referencing these concepts when engaged with students in lessons with other explicit objectives seemingly unrelated to fact and opinion. Reinforcement should be persistent to ensure students develop firm skills in this area.

With ongoing technological advances, assessing the reliability and truthfulness of the media, we consume daily has never been more challenging – or essential.

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO FACT AND OPINION

6 Ways To Identify Fake News: A Complete Guide for Educators

How to Write a Descriptive Text

Teaching Proofreading and Editing Skills

Information Literacy and Media Literacy for Students and Teachers

Teaching Compare and Contrast

What Is An Inference? And How To Teach It.

5 Ways to Teach Critical Thinking in Media Literacy to Fight Fake News

IELTS Opinion Essays: Structure, Topics and Sample Answers

10 min read

Updated On Aug 01, 2024

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The article provides guidance on writing IELTS opinion essays, emphasizing structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs supporting one view, and a conclusion. It includes examples, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for clear, concise essays.

Table of Contents

What is the ielts opinion essay format, ielts opinion essay sample answers, latest ielts opinion essay topics of 2024, top 3 common mistakes of ielts opinion essays, tips to answer ielts opinion essay questions.

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IELTS opinion essays mainly focus on agreeing or disagreeing with a particular fact or information. It presents two opposite views and you have to develop your argument supporting one view (strictly one!) You get 40 minutes to complete this task. You have to write at least 250 words on the topic given.

Given below are some examples of IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essays along with their structure. So, let’s understand how to frame the IELTS opinion essay from the sample answers given in the blog!

If you’re gearing up to tackle the Opinion Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2, know that it’s all about writing your opinion on a specific topic with supporting examples. To make sure your essay ticks off all the criteria of a band 8+ essay, organizing it in the right way is key! You can also check tips to write an effective introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2 to present a great IELTS opinion essay!

Let’s now look at a proper format to learn the structuring of an IELTS opinion essay.

Introduction:

• Keep it short, usually around 2-3 sentences.
• Introduce the topic and clearly state your opinion.
• Provide a brief overview of the main points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs (Usually 2 paragraphs):

• Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports your opinion.
• Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea.
• Provide evidence, examples, and reasoning to support your main idea.
• Aim for coherence and cohesion within each paragraph by using appropriate transition words.
• Make sure to use appropriate IELTS Vocabulary and IELTS Grammar while explaining an idea in the body paragraphs.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Restate your opinion, emphasizing its importance or relevance.
• Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion.

Given below is an example of an IELTS Writing task 2 o pinion essay. Let’s understand how to frame the essay from the ideas we have. Additionally, you can review the IELTS Writing Task 2 practice tests on a regular basis to achieve your desired band score.

Sample Question 1

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Given below is a brief outline of what to write in the essay after identifying the essay type.

Opinion Essay

Introduction

Paraphrase the topic of the essay using synonyms for the words used in the topic statement. Clearly state the view on the topic.

Body Paragraph 1

Technological improvements have increased the level of ease and convenience to a point where people can access news and information at the click of a button. This has led to print media becoming outdated.

Body Paragraph 2

The development of news websites and sites that freely distribute information and print media in a digital form has led to a trend of availing such services and content without paying.

Summarize the essay and re-state the opinion on the topic.

Struggling to Crack the IELTS opinion essays? Our 8+ band trainers have got you! Sign up for a FREE demo now!

Sample Answer

Presently, newspapers, books, journals, magazines, etc. are still actively used by a section of the global population. However, with the arrival of news sites and the availability of books, magazines and other forms of media online, totally free of cost, many believe that such forms of media are on their way to becoming outdated. I agree with this statement, and will explain it further with relevant examples in the essay.

It is a well-known fact that in this day and age if an individual wants to read a book or just go over the news of the day, the first step that they take is to search the internet. Devices such as smartphones and tablets have improved the time efficiency of searching for information online to such an extent that a person can access their preferred form of media in the comfort of their homes in a matter of minutes. Consequently, people have started to abandon their preference for print media due to the presence of much more convenient alternatives.

Additionally, the various forms of print media enjoyed by people can often be availed free of charge on several websites. For instance, most news organizations publish their daily news on their official website, which can be accessed by anyone. Also, some numerous sites and databases provide popular books, journals and magazines in a digital form to the public for a nominal subscription fee or sometimes even for free, leading to a majority of readers of such forms of media shifting away from buying hard copies.

Nevertheless, there is still a sizable chunk of the population that enjoys the conventional forms of print media. That being said, with the cost-effective nature of making such information and content available online, organizations will soon completely shift to internet-based services.

In conclusion, I would like to say that people always prefer the more comfortable alternative that is available. Therefore, it can be safely said that in the coming years, there will be a complete shift from traditional print media to online media services and products.

Sample Question 2

Some people say that international sporting events contribute greatly to peace and stability in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Paraphrase the topic sentence using synonyms.

Mention the view on the topic.

Body Paragraphs

International sports tournaments are events where teams and the general public of various countries come together and collectively participate in the event.

Sports events, especially cricket and football help distract the minds of the citizens from the ongoing difficulties in their country and enjoy these events.

Summarize the essay and state the final view.

Sports has always been a magnificent platform for the finest talents of a country to showcase their skills and represent their nation. At the same time, sports is also one of the few occasions where every citizen of the country unites in support of their favourite teams. It is considered by many that sports are a great approach to maintain stability among countries. This essay will elaborate on the given topic and justify why sports can successfully bring and preserve global peace.

One of the greatest characteristics of any popular sporting event is that supporters of every team involved in the tournament almost always attend the matches that are organized in their cities. Some veteran fans even travel to different parts of the country to witness a match between their favourite teams. These events also unite the populace of a nation as every patriotic individual prays for the success of their national team. For instance, the entire nation wishes for the victory of their national team in the Olympic Games as winning an Olympic Medal is one of the most prestigious honours that can be bestowed upon a country.

It is a well-known fact that the people of a country collectively face several challenges on a day-to-day basis. These issues can be caused by numerous factors and are the typical difficulties that ordinary citizens have to overcome. Sports help people enjoy a few moments of excitement and take a break from the monotony of everyday life.

That being said, sometimes the passion of overenthusiastic sports fans ends up leading to harmful and conflicting situations among communities. Nevertheless, the overall impact of sports on our lives is undoubtedly positive.

Finally, sports are one of the aspects of human life that bind a whole community together. This is enough evidence to understand that sports help maintain peace and stability in a nation.

Ready to grab the latest IELTS writing task 2 question papers of 2024?

Sample Question 3

Our personalities are predetermined as a result of our genes before we are born and there is nothing that can be done to change our character traits. To what extent do you agree?

Paraphrase the topic and mention the view.

Genetics are only a part of the entire list of factors that affect a person’s personality.

One of the most important influences on an individual’s personality is their childhood and upbringing.

Summarize the essay and mention the final view in brief.

Even between small periods of time, there are subtle variabilities in our disposition. Such alterations are quite natural and are a part of a human being’s existence. However, it is often assumed that our personality is entirely dependent on genetics. The following paragraphs will explore the different aspects of personality and justify why genetics are not the only factor influencing our personality.

An individual has countless experiences in their life from childhood to adulthood and finally until death. Every one of these experiences has an impact on a person’s mind, no matter how giant or small. The kind of people present in a person’s immediate surroundings also has a huge influence on their nature and characteristics. Thus, it can be safely surmised that a person’s genes are not the only contributing factor when it comes to personality.

One of the most significant influences on our personality is our childhood experiences and the teachings of our parents. Children are always known to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Thus, if the parents of a child are successful in teaching their children the right values and morals, they are bound to grow into responsible and decent individuals.

It is true that the personality traits of an individual are determined by the features of their parents. Nevertheless, these traits can be altered over the course of many years and different experiences.

In conclusion, genetics affect our personalities in a trivial manner as compared to all the other aspects of our temperament. That being said, our life experiences and learnings are the consequential factors in developing our character.

A few IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essay of opinion essay topics are listed down below, which you can practice. These opinion essay questions may appear in the actual examination.

• In the future, it seems more difficult to live on Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching another planet to live on, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Many people say that the only way to guarantee a good job is to complete a course in university education. Others claim that it is better to start work after school and gain experience in the world of work. How far do you agree or disagree with the above views?
• Although more and more people read the news on the internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people. Do you agree or disagree?
• Students in schools and universities learn more from their teachers than through other means such as the Internet, libraries, and TV. To what extent you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays university education is very expensive. Some people say that universities should reduce their fees, especially for the less fortunate students or for those coming from rural areas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Some people think that governments must insist on preserving the traditional appearance of old buildings undergoing renovation or redevelopment. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?
• Some people believe that international trade and communication with other countries is a positive trend, while others think it is harmful to nations and they might lose their identities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
• Many people believe that schools should teach children to become good citizens and workers rather than independent individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
• People should follow the customs and traditions when they start to live in a new country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• It is impossible to help all people in the world, so governments should only focus on people in their own countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Prevention is better than cure. Do you agree or disagree that out of the country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventive measures?

In IELTS opinion essays, it’s easy to make some common mistakes that can lower your IELTS band score . Getting aware of them is the key to not committing them knowingly or unknowingly while you prepare! The top 3 common mistakes to avoid are:

• Not giving a clear opinion.
• Presenting arguments for both sides of the issue.
• Failing to support your opinion with well-defined reasons and examples.

In the IELTS opinion essays, you need to write your opinion about a topic and back it up with proof and examples. If you use a clear structure and good writing methods, you can improve your chances of doing well!

• Spend 5 minutes on a mind map before writing.
• Stick to one viewpoint throughout the essay.
• Use a single main idea to support the topic in each of the two body paragraphs.
• Express your opinion throughout the essay, not just in the conclusion.
• Keep the introduction short, a maximum of 50 words.
• Ensure each body paragraph explains a main idea within 100 words.
• The conclusion should be shorter than the introduction.
• Write a complete essay following the given structure.
• Aim for a word count of 280 words or less.

Here are the 10 Examples for the Opinion Essay Topics IELTS:

Also check:

• Tips to write great writing essay
• How to get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• IELTS 2024 Study Plan for 1 month (30 Days) / 15 Days / 7 Days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure for writing the introduction for an opinion essay?

Is it mandatory to state my opinion in the introduction? Can I skip it and introduce my opinion in the body paragraphs?

What are the words that I can use to state my opinion?

Can I underline the important sentences, to attract examiner’s attention?

Is it mandatory to write the essay in first person?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

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Nehasri Ravishenbagam, a Senior Content Marketing Specialist and a Certified IELTS Trainer of 3 years, crafts her writings in an engaging way with proper SEO practices. She specializes in creating a variety of content for IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL, and certain immigration-related topics. As a student of literature, she enjoys freelancing for websites and magazines to balance her profession in marketing and her passion for creativity!

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Fact vs Opinion: Know the Key Difference with Useful Examples

By Waqas Sharif

Facts Checklist

• A fact is a statement that we can back up with evidence or put to the test through experimentation.
• Besides, we can compare it to a measurable standard that is universally acceptable.
• So, whatever is true and justifiable, we call it a fact.
• Then, we can prove a statement of fact to conform to our daily life experience , which is the most common criterion for a statement of fact.
• So, to double-check information, we frequently use standard reference materials.

Opinions Checklist

• A person’s belief, sentiment, personal understanding, or position regarding anything forms the basis of an opinion. So, it’s partially Subjective .
• Because, everyone does not agree equally with you, or the statement you make based on your likes or dislikes.
• So, we use personal interpretations to form opinions, which we cannot support with evidence.

Fact vs Opinion

To differentiate between fact and opinion , you must understand that you agree with a fact. And, you disagree with an opinion. Because a fact is always based on truth , or it can be proved as true or false. Whereas, you have an open choice to agree or disagree with the opinion of someone. Last, if a fact is true, it means that the statement is trustworthy and useful. Similarly, if you agree with an opinion, it becomes a useful and trustworthy statement. In our everyday life, we use both opinions and facts in spoken as well as written discourse. For example, we can write an essay or a paragraph based on facts and opinions.

Table of Key Differences between Fact and Opinion

The table above highlights the key differences between fact and opinion, including their definitions, examples, basis of statement, verification, importance, and use in writing. Understanding the distinction between fact and opinion is crucial for effective communication and decision-making. Facts are objective and verifiable, while opinions are subjective and based on personal beliefs and preferences. Incorporating this knowledge into your writing can enhance your credibility and ensure your arguments are supported by evidence.

Fact and Opinion Examples

Evaluation of Fact-based Statements

You should keep in mind the following guidelines since not all of the evidence you gather will be equally valuable:

• Your actions and justifications must be relevant to your subject.
• Avoid making snap judgments that your evidence does not support or point you toward.
• Your justification must be adequate . Because incomplete evidence can lead to false conclusions.

You should use relevant evidence. For example, if you run a poll to gather your evidence, ensure you get responses from a varied population rather than just people or groups whose opinions are the same as yours.

Your fact must be verifiable. It is possible or unlikely that two occurrences that take place near together in time or space are causally connected. For instance, the fact that an accident happened the day after new traffic signs were installed at a crosswalk does not imply that the signs were to blame. With relevant information and reasoning, you must show how the two occurrences are related.

Evaluation of Opinion-based Statements

Evaluating an opinion-based statement can be a tricky task, especially when the statement is based on the beliefs and feelings of an individual. The first thing that you need to do is identify the objective facts or evidence that support the statement. This will help you to determine whether the opinion is based on any factual information or not.

Next, consider the source of the opinion. Is the person qualified to hold an opinion on the particular subject matter? Do they have any biases or conflicts of interest that may influence their opinion? It’s also important to consider the context in which the statement is being made. Is the opinion relevant to the situation or is it simply a broad generalization?

Finally, compare the opinion to other opinions on the subject. Are there other opinions that contradict or support the statement? Once you have evaluated these factors, you can develop your own opinion on the statement and decide whether or not you agree with it.

Download the Fact and Opinion Worksheets

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Mr. Waqas Sharif is an English Language Teaching (ELT) Professional, Trainer, and Course Instructor at a Public Sector Institute. He has more than ten years of Eng Language Teaching experience at the Graduate and Postgraduate level. His main interest is found in facilitating his students globally He wishes them to develop academic skills like Reading, Writing, and Communication mastery along with Basics of Functional Grammar, English Language, and Linguistics.

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49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students

• Lesson Plans
• Grading Students for Assessment
• Becoming A Teacher
• Assessments & Tests
• Elementary Education
• Special Education
• Homeschooling

One of the most common essay types is the opinion, or persuasive, essay. In an opinion essay , the writer states a point of view, then provides facts and reasoned arguments to support that viewpoint. The goal of the essay is to convince the reader to share the writer’s opinion.

Students aren't always aware of how many strong opinions they already hold. Use the following opinion writing prompts to inspire them to start thinking and writing persuasively.

Prompts About School and Sports

School- and sports-related topics often elicit strong opinions in students. Use these writing prompts to kick off the brainstorming process.

• Ch-ch-ch-changes . What is one thing about your school that needs to change? Is bullying an issue? Do students need longer breaks or a dress code? Choose one vital issue that needs to change and convince school leaders to make it happen.
• Special guest. Your school is trying to decide on a famous person to give a speech or presentation to students. Who do you think they should choose? Write an essay to convince your principal.
• Oxford or bust. Is the Oxford comma essential or obsolete?
• Scribble scrabble. Do students still need to learn cursive handwriting?
• Co-ed conflict. Would students perform better if more schools were single-gender rather than co-ed? Why or why not?
• Participation awards. Should there be winners and losers in sports, or is participation the ultimate goal?
• Homework overload. Write an essay to convince your teacher to assign less homework.
• Sports. Which sport (or team) is the best? What makes it better than the others?
• No slacking . Write an essay persuading a fellow student to do their homework.
• Class trip. This year, students get to vote on where to go for a class trip. Write an essay convincing your fellow students to vote for the place you’d like to go.
• Superlatives. Which would you rather be: a top student, a talented athlete, or an accomplished artist?
• Virtual athletes . Video games competitions are often aired on TV and treated like sports competitions. Should video games be considered sports?
• Class debate. Should classes that students may not use or that don’t interest them (such as physical education or foreign language) be required?

Prompts About Relationships

Friendships, dating, and other relationships can be both rewarding and exasperating. These writing prompts about relationships will help students explore their feelings about both the positive and the negative moments.

• Snitch. Your best friend tells you about his plan to cheat on a test. Should you tell an adult? Why or why not?
• Give it a chance. Your best friend is convinced that she would hate your favorite book, even though she's never read it. Convince her to read it.
• Friendships vs. relationships. Are friendships or romantic relationships more important in life? Why?
• Driving age. What age do kids start driving in your state? Is that age too old, too young, or just right? Why?
• Truth or consequences. Your best friend asks your opinion about something, but you know that a truthful answer will hurt her feelings. What do you do?
• Who chooses? Your best friend is visiting, and you want to watch TV together, but his favorite show is at the same time as your favorite show. Convince him that your show is a better choice.
• Fun times. What is the most fun thing you and your best friend have ever experienced together? Why does it deserve the top spot?
• Dating. Are long-term dating relationships good or bad for teens?
• New friends. You want to spend time with a new student at school, but your best friend is jealous. Convince your friend of the importance of including the newcomer.
• Be mine. Is Valentine’s Day worthwhile or just a scheme for the greeting card and chocolate industry to make more money?
• Debbie Downer. Should you cut ties with friends or relatives who are always negative?
• He loves me not. Is it really better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?
• Elders. Should you respect your elders merely because they are older, or is respect something that must be earned?

Prompts About Family, Pets, and Leisure Time

The following writing prompts related to family, furry friends, and free time will help students reflect on preferences, ethics, and integrity.

• Self-reflection. This time, you're the one who needs convincing! Write an essay to persuade yourself to start a healthy habit (or kick a bad habit).
• Paper wars. Should toilet paper hang with the loose end resting on the top of the roll or hanging from the bottom?
• Movie vs. book. Choose a book that has been made into a movie. Which version is better, and why?
• Weekend wanderings . Do you prefer to stay home on the weekends or get out and do things around town? Write an essay to convince your parents to let you do what you prefer this weekend.
• Sweepstakes. A travel agency is hosting an essay contest to give away an all-expenses-paid trip to the one place in the world you’d most love to visit. Craft a winning essay that convinces them they need to choose you.
• Zoo debate. Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos? Why or why not?
• Presence of pets. Should there be limits on the types of places pets can go (e.g. airplanes or restaurants)? Why or why not?
• Inspiring stories. What is the most inspiring book you’ve ever read? Why is it so inspiring?
• Dollar discovery. You find a $20 bill in the parking lot of a crowded store. Is it okay to keep it, or should you turn it in to customer service?
• Vacation day. What is the very best way to spend an unexpected day off from school and why is it the best?
• Digital or print? Is it better to read books in print or digitally? Why?

Prompts About Society and Technology

The people and technology around us have a significant impact on our lives. These writing prompts encourage students to consider the effect that society and technological advances have on our day-to-day lives.

• Reverse technology. Pick one technological advancement that you think the world would be better off without. Explain your reasoning and persuade the reader.
• Out of this world . Do aliens exist? Why or why not?
• Social media. Is social media good or bad for society? Why?
• Emoji. Has the use of emoji stunted our ability to express ourselves in writing, or does it help us identify our emotions more precisely?
• Auto safety. Have advancements like self-driving cars, blind spot indicators, and lane departure warning systems made driving safer, or have they just made drivers less attentive?
• Exploration Mars. Write a letter to Elon Musk convincing him that you should be part of a colony to Mars.
• Fundraisers. Is it okay for kids to stand outside stores and ask shoppers for money for their sports teams, clubs, or band? Why or why not?
• Inventions. What is the greatest invention ever made? Why is it the best?
• Important cause. In your opinion, what global problem or issue deserves more attention than it currently receives? Why should more time and money be invested in this cause?
• Minimalism. Does living a minimalist lifestyle make for a happier life? Why or why not?
• Gaming gains. Are video games generally a positive or a negative influence? Why?
• Rose-colored glasses. Is the current decade the best era in history? Why or why not?
• Paper or plastic. Should plastic bags be outlawed?
• Writing Prompts for 7th Grade
• Writing Prompts for Elementary School Students
• 3 Real World Exit Slips for Formative Assessment
• Engage Students With a Four Corners Debate
• 8 First Day of High School Activities to Get to Know Your Students
• Writing a Lesson Plan: Closure and Context
• Topics for a Lesson Plan Template
• The Best Interactive Debate Websites for Students and Teachers
• Lesson Plan Step #8 - Assessment and Follow-Up
• Using Bloom's Taxonomy for Effective Learning
• Write Lesson Plans
• Writing a Lesson Plan: Independent Practice
• Writing a Lesson Plan: Guided Practice
• Writing a Lesson Plan: Anticipatory Sets
• 5 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month in the Classroom
• Writing a Lesson Plan: Objectives and Goals

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Introduction

An important critical thinking skill is the ability to distinguish between statements of fact and expressions of opinion. Like many other critical thinking skills, the ability to ask question is essential. Think of questions like a flashlight that guides us through dark places or unknowns.

First, when reading written work, it is important to determine a fact from an opinion. For example, the sentence, today is a nice day is an opinion. Someone else might think, today is a terrible day because it is sunny outside and I cannot see clearly. Facts, on the other hand, are rooted in evidence. Facts create credibility in a written argument. Second, this is where questioning comes into the picture. By asking questions, we can begin to distinguish fact from fiction and gain a greater understanding of the author’s argument. Is the information objective in nature or is it subjective? These kinds of questions will begin the discovery process of evaluating written work.

Fact vs Opinion

Thinking about the reason an author produced a source can be helpful to you because that reason was what dictated the kind of information he/she chose to include. Depending on that purpose, the author may have chosen to include factual, analytical, and objective information. Or, instead, it may have suited his/her purpose to include information that was subjective and therefore less factual and analytical. The author’s reason for producing the source also determined whether he or she included more than one perspective or just his/her own.

Authors typically want to do at least one of the following:

• Inform and educate
• Sell services or products or

Combined Purposes

Sometimes authors have a combination of purposes, as when a marketer decides he can sell more smart phones with an informative sales video that also entertains us. The same is true when a singer writes and performs a song that entertains us but that she intends to make available for sale. Other examples of authors having multiple purposes occur in most scholarly writing.

In those cases, authors certainly want to inform and educate their audiences. But they also want to persuade their audiences that what they are reporting and/or postulating is a true description of a situation, event, or phenomenon or a valid argument that their audience must take a particular action. In this blend of scholarly author’s purposes, the intent to educate and inform is considered to trump the intent to persuade.

Why Intent Matters

Authors’ intent usually matters in how useful their information can be to your research project, depending on which information need you are trying to meet. For instance, when you’re looking for sources that will help you actually decide your answer to your research question or evidence for your answer that you will share with your audience, you will want the author’s main purpose to have been to inform or educate his/her audience. That’s because, with that intent, he/she is likely to have used:

• Facts where possible.
• Multiple perspectives instead of just his/her own.
• Little subjective information.
• Seemingly unbiased, objective language that cites where he/she got the information.

The reason you want that kind of resource when trying to answer your research question or explaining that answer is that all of those characteristics will lend credibility to the argument you are making with your project. Both you and your audience will simply find it easier to believe—will have more confidence in the argument being made—when you include those types of sources.

Sources whose authors intend only to persuade others won’t meet your information need for an answer to your research question or evidence with which to convince your audience. That’s because they don’t always confine themselves to facts. Instead, they tell us their opinions without backing them up with evidence. If you used those sources, your readers will notice and not believe your argument.

Fact vs. Opinion vs. Objective vs. Subjective

Need to brush up on the differences between fact, objective information, subjective information, and opinion?

Fact  – Facts are useful to inform or make an argument.

• The United States was established in 1776.
• The pH levels in acids are lower than pH levels in alkalines.
• Beethoven had a reputation as a virtuoso pianist.

Opinion  – Opinions are useful to persuade, but careful readers and listeners will notice and demand evidence to back them up.

• That was a good movie.
• Strawberries taste better blueberries.
• George Clooney is the sexiest actor alive.
• The death penalty is wrong.
• Beethoven’s reputation as a virtuoso pianist is overrated.

Objective  – Objective information reflects a research finding or multiple perspectives that are not biased.

• “Several studies show that an active lifestyle reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes.”
• “Studies from the Brown University Medical School show that twenty-somethings eat 25 percent more fast-food meals at this age than they did as teenagers.”

Subjective  – Subjective information presents one person or organization’s perspective or interpretation. Subjective information can be meant to distort, or it can reflect educated and informed thinking. All opinions are subjective, but some are backed up with facts more than others.

“The simple truth is this: As human beings, we were meant to move.”

“In their thirties, women should stock up on calcium to ensure strong, dense bones and to ward off osteoporosis later in life.”*

*In this quote, it’s mostly the “should” that makes it subjective. The objective version of the last quote would read: “Studies have shown that women who begin taking calcium in their 30s show stronger bone density and fewer repercussions of osteoporosis than women who did not take calcium at all.” But perhaps there are other data showing complications from taking calcium. That’s why drawing the conclusion that requires a “should” makes the statement subjective.

In order to be a critical thinker, one must sharpen their skills to distinguish between statements of fact and expressions of opinion. Facts, rather than opinions, provide the strongest support for a claim.

To begin, facts are subjective and can be verified. For instance, the color of your car (or bike or the bus) is a fact. My bike is gray in color and that is a fact. When determining facts behind a claim, it’s important to look for data and statistics that support your view.

On the other hand, opinions are subjective and based on feelings. For instance, I like my bike and I think it is a good bike. That is a statement about how I feel about my bike. If I were to define what a good bike is, we are now moving into facts. The factual evidence may include the weight, tires and overall sturdiness of my bike.

It is very important to be able to distinguish what is fact and what is opinion. In this way, we are able to judge things more carefully and make decisions based on evidence.

“Fact vs Opinion.” By The Ohio State University Libraries . Retrieved from: https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/choosingsources/chapter/fact-or-opinion/ Licensed under: CC-BY

ENG114 KnowledgePath – Critical Reading and Response Copyright © by The American Women's College and Jessica Egan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

50 Examples of Fact and Opinion Statement

In English, whether you are analyzing literature or any informational text, it is very essential that you understand the difference between a fact and an opinion. Generally, a fact is a statement that is proven to be true. Whereas an opinion is a stated preference or an idea or belief. The opinion may vary from source to source and person to person.

Critical thinking is the best possible way of determining which statements are fact and which statements are opinion.  

What are Fact Statements?

Facts are simple statements used to inform or make an argument.

How Can You Identify A Factual Statement – Questions to Identify Facts: 

You need to ask the following three questions to identify if it is a factual statement.

• Can the statement be proved or demonstrated to be true? 
• Can the statement be observed in practice or operation?
• Can you see it happen? 
• Can the statement be verified by witnesses, manuscripts, or documents?

Examples Of Factual Statements

Following is a list of 10 examples of fact sentences:

• Your heart pumps blood through your body.
• The leaves of growing plants are usually green.
• People use their legs to walk.
• Some people keep dogs as pets.
• 1 liter of water weighs 1 kilogram.
• There are 50 states in the United States.
• Water always comes from the sky.
• The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv.
• The third president of the United States was Thomas Jefferson.
• Bali tigers are extinct.
• Sir Ian McKellan played Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit franchises.
• King John of England signed the Magna Carta in 1215.
• The United States was established in 1776.
• The pH levels in acids are lower than pH levels in alkalines.
• Beethoven had a reputation as a virtuoso pianist.

Let’s move to the other section and learn about sentences to give opinions.

What are Opinion Statements?

Opinions are useful to persuade, but careful readers and listeners will notice and demand evidence to back them up.

How Can You Identify Opinion Statement – Words to Identify Opinions:  

We use two types of words to identify Opinions:

• Biased Words (bad, worse, worst, good, better, best, worthwhile, worthless, etc.)
• Qualifiers (all, always, likely, never, might seem, possibly, probably, should, etc.)

What Are Different Types of Opinions: 

There are three common types of opinion statements.

• Positions on Controversial Issues 
• Predictions about things in the future 
• Evaluations of people, places, and things

Examples Of Opinion Statements

Following is a list of 10 examples of opinion sentences:

• The cake tastes delicious.
• She looks sad.
• He is childish.
• My history teacher hates me.
• The movie was boring.
• To solve traffic, it is better to invest in subways and trains than in road widening programs.
• The TV shows in ABS-CBN are more entertaining than the shows of other channels.
• It is better to live in Singapore than in Japan.
• The internet is being used by teenagers to waste their time in social media.
• I prefer using Facebook to Twitter because Twitter has limited characters per caption.
• Nike is more useful than Adidas.
• Liza Soberano is more beautiful than Janella Salvador.
• Watching someone dance is more entertaining than watching someone sing.
• Traveling in Asia is more fun than traveling in Europe.
• I believe that the greatest president in the USA is Barack Obama.
• The legal age for drinking should be lowered to 16.
• London is the best city in the world.
• Today seems hotter than yesterday
• That was a good movie.
• Strawberries taste better blueberries.
• George Clooney is the sexiest actor alive.
• The death penalty is wrong.
• Beethoven’s reputation as a virtuoso pianist is overrated.

Conclusion :

Basically, the fact and opinion strategy teaches us about the difference a sentence can create in a content. This difference and strategy are quite valuable for people who are interested in learning English. This process facilitates evidence-based learning and encourages them to be analytical in their reading and listening skills.

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IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

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IELTS Opinion Essay Sample Questions

Below are some IELTS opinion essay sample questions which can come in writing task 2. Another name for these essays is argumentative essays.

Opinion Essays Tips

• spend at least 5 minutes analysing the words and ideas in the statement
• make sure your answer is a complete answer which addresses all parts of the task
• give a clear opinion
• stay true to your opinion throughout your essay
• follow a safe opinion essay model

Opinion Essay Questions

“Prevention is better than cure”. Researching and treating diseases is too costly so it would be better to invest in preventative measures. To what extent do you agree.

With the increased global demand in oil and gas, undiscovered areas of the world should be opened up to access more resources. To what extent do you agree?

We live in a world of technology these days. While the internet brings with it clear advantages, the problems in terms of control and security of information outweighs the advantages. To what extent do you agree?

In many countries today, parents are able to choose to send their children to single-sex schools or co-educational schools. Some people think that children going to single-sex schools have disadvantages later in life. To what extent do you agree?

Scientists and technology experts seem to be more valued by modern society than musicians and artists. To what extent do you agree?

Some people think that success is the best measure for intelligence, while others think that intelligence can be measured in other ways. What is your opinion?

The growing number of overweight  people is putting a strain on the health care system in an effort to deal with the health issues involved. Some people think that the best way to deal with this problem is to introduce more physical education lessons in the school curriculum. To what extent do you agree or disagree? CLICK HERE: MODEL ESSAY

Some people believe that men and women are equal and so women should be able to do any job they want. Others feel that men and women are not equal and therefore there are certain jobs which are not suitable for women. What is your opinion?

Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money. What is your opinion?

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What happened in the Kolkata rape case that triggered doctors’ protests?

Activists and doctors in India demand better safeguarding of women and medical professionals after a trainee medic was raped and murdered in Kolkata.

Activists and doctors across India continued to protest on Wednesday to demand justice for a female doctor, who was raped and murdered while on duty in a hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata.

Feminist groups rallied on the streets in protests titled “Reclaim the Night” in Kolkata overnight on Wednesday – on the eve of India’s independence day – in solidarity with the victim, demanding the principal of RG Kar Medical College resign. Some feminist protesters also marched well beyond Kolkata, including in the capital Delhi.

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While the protests were largely peaceful, a small mob of men stormed the medical college and vandalised property. This group was dispersed by the police.

This comes after two days of nationwide protests by doctors following the incident at RG Kar Medical College in West Bengal’s capital city. “Sit-in demonstrations and agitation in the hospital campus will continue,” one of the protesting doctors, identified as Dr Mridul, told Al Jazeera.

Services in some medical centres were halted indefinitely, and marches and vigils shed light on issues of sexual violence, as well as doctors’ safety in the world’s most populous nation.

What happened to the doctor in Kolkata?

A 31-year-old trainee doctor’s dead body, bearing multiple injuries, was found on August 9 in a government teaching hospital in Kolkata.

The parents of the victim were initially told “by hospital authorities that their daughter had committed suicide,” lawyer and women’s rights activist Vrinda Grover told Al Jazeera. But an autopsy confirmed that the victim was raped and killed.

Grover has appeared for victims in sexual violence cases in India in the past, including Bilkis Bano , a Muslim woman who was gang-raped during the 2002 Gujarat riots, and Soni Sori, a tribal activist based in Chhattisgarh state.

Thousands of doctors marched in Kolkata on Monday, demanding better security measures and justice for the victim.

On Tuesday, the Kolkata High Court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) called for a nationwide halting of elective services in hospitals starting on Monday. Elective services are medical treatments that can be deferred or are not deemed medically necessary.

On Tuesday, FORDA announced on its X account that it is calling off the strike after Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda accepted protest demands.

One of these demands was solidifying the Central Protection Act, intended to be a central law to protect medical professionals from violence, which was proposed in the parliament’s lower house in 2022, but has not yet been enacted.

FORDA said that the ministry would begin working on the Act within 15 days of the news release, and that a written statement from the ministry was expected to be released soon.

Press release regarding call off of strike. In our fight for the sad incident at R G Kar, the demands raised by us have been met in full by the @OfficeofJPNadda , with concrete steps in place, and not just verbal assurances. Central Healthcare Protection Act ratification… pic.twitter.com/OXdSZgM1Jc — FORDA INDIA (@FordaIndia) August 13, 2024

Why are some Indian doctors continuing to protest?

However, other doctors’ federations and hospitals have said they will not back down on the strike until a concrete solution is found, including a central law to curb attacks on doctors.

Those continuing to strike included the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), Delhi-based All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Indira Gandhi Hospital, local media reported.

Ragunandan Dixit, the general secretary of the AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association, said that the indefinite strike will continue until their demands are met, including a written guarantee of the implementation of the Central Protection Act.

Medical professionals in India want a central law that makes violence against doctors a non-bailable, punishable offence, in hopes that it deters such violent crimes against doctors in the future.

Those continuing to protest also call for the dismissal of the principal of the college, who was transferred. “We’re demanding his termination, not just transfer,” Dr Abdul Waqim Khan, a protesting doctor told ANI news agency. “We’re also demanding a death penalty for the criminal,” he added.

“Calling off the strike now would mean that female resident doctors might never receive justice,” Dr Dhruv Chauhan, member of the National Council of the Indian Medical Association’s Junior Doctors’ Network told local news agency Press Trust of India (PTI).

Which states in India saw doctors’ protests?

While the protests started in West Bengal’s Kolkata on Monday, they spread across the country on Tuesday.

The capital New Delhi, union territory Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow and city Prayagraj, Bihar capital Patna and southern state Goa also saw doctors’ protests.

Who is the suspect in the Kolkata rape case?

Local media reported that the police arrested suspect Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer who would visit the hospital often. He has unrestricted access to the ward and the police found compelling evidence against him.

The parents of the victim told the court that they suspect that it was a case of gang rape, local media reported.

Why is sexual violence on the rise in India?

Sexual violence is rampant in India, where 90 rapes were reported on average every day in 2022.

Laws against sexual violence were made stricter following a rape case in 2012, when a 22-year-old physiotherapy intern was brutally gang-raped and murdered on a bus in Delhi. Four men were hanged for the gang rape, which had triggered a nationwide protests.

But despite new laws in place, “the graph of sexual violence in India continues to spiral unabated,” said Grover.

She added that in her experience at most workplaces, scant attention is paid to diligent and rigorous enforcement of the laws.

“It is regrettable that government and institutions respond only after the woman has already suffered sexual assault and often succumbed to death in the incident,” she added, saying preventive measures are not taken.

In many rape cases in India, perpetrators have not been held accountable. In 2002, Bano was raped by 11 men, who were sentenced to life imprisonment. In 2022, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi authorised the release of the men, who were greeted with applause and garlands upon their release.

However, their remission was overruled and the Supreme Court sent the rapists back to jail after public outcry.

Grover believes that the death penalty will not deter rapists until India addresses the deeply entrenched problem of sexual violence. “For any change, India as a society will have to confront and challenge, patriarchy, discrimination and inequality that is embedded in our homes, families, cultural practices, social norms and religious traditions”.

What makes this case particularly prominent is that it happened in Kolkata, Sandip Roy, a freelance contributor to NPR, told Al Jazeera. “Kolkata actually prided itself for a long time on being really low in the case of violence against women and being relatively safe for women.”

A National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report said that Kolkata had the lowest number of rape cases in 2021 among 19 metropolitan cities, with 11 cases in the whole year. In comparison, New Delhi was reported to have recorded 1, 226 cases that year.

Prime Minister Modi’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for dismissing the government in West Bengal, where Kolkata is located, led by Mamata Banerjee of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). Banerjee’s party is part of the opposition alliance.

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in parliament, also called for justice for the victim.

“The attempt to save the accused instead of providing justice to the victim raises serious questions on the hospital and the local administration,” he posted on X on Wednesday.

Roy spoke about the politicisation of the case since an opposition party governs West Bengal. “The local government’s opposition will try to make this an issue of women’s safety in the state,” he said.

Have doctors in India protested before?

Roy explained to Al Jazeera that this case is an overlap of two kinds of violence, the violence against a woman, as well as violence against “an overworked medical professional”.

Doctors in India do not have sufficient workplace security, and attacks on doctors have started protests in India before.

In 2019, two junior doctors were physically assaulted in Kolkata’s Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRSMCH) by a mob of people after a 75-year-old patient passed away in the hospital.

Those attacks set off doctors’ protests in Kolkata, and senior doctors in West Bengal offered to resign from their positions to express solidarity with the junior doctors who were attacked.

More than 75 percent of Indian doctors have faced some form of violence, according to a survey by the Indian Medical Association in 2015.

What happens next?

The case will now be handled by the CBI, which sent a team to the hospital premises to inspect the crime scene on Wednesday morning, local media reported.

According to Indian law, the investigation into a case of rape or gang rape is to be completed within two months from the date of lodging of the First Information Report (police complaint), according to Grover, the lawyer.

The highest court in West Bengal, which transferred the case from the local police to the CBI on Tuesday, has directed the central investigating agency to file periodic status reports regarding the progress of the investigation.

The FIR was filed on August 9, which means the investigation is expected to be completed by October 9.

Bengal women will create history with a night long protest in various major locations in the state for at 11.55pm on 14th of August’24,the night that’ll mark our 78th year as an independent country. The campaign, 'Women, Reclaim the Night: The Night is Ours', is aimed at seeking… pic.twitter.com/Si9fd6YGNb — purpleready (@epicnephrin_e) August 13, 2024

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Here Are the Olympic Moments We Won’t Forget

It doesn’t take a medal to make a lasting memory.

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Success and failure. Exhilaration and agony. Gold, silver and bronze.

The Olympics will always turn on who won and who lost, how high and how fast and how far. But they linger in our minds long after they end for moments that might have little to do with the actual competitions.

Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles came up with the plan. They had both wanted to be on the top step of the medal stand after the final event of the women’s gymnastics competition, the floor exercise. But Biles, the favorite, had made a few mistakes, and Chiles had made a few more, so they instead became bookends to the true headliner: Rebeca Andrade of Brazil. And so a plan was hatched.

After Chiles accepted her bronze medal ( temporarily, it turned out ) and Biles her silver, Andrade was introduced as the Olympic champion. As she approached the podium — completing the first all-Black podium in Olympic gymnastics history — Biles and Chiles turned to Andrade, dropped to one knee and bowed. Afterward, they called her a queen. — JULIET MACUR

More Cowbell

After Bobby Finke won the 1,500-meter freestyle in world-record time — preserving American men’s 120-year streak of winning at least one individual swimming gold at the Olympic Games — the NBC cameras panned to a particularly excited fan. She screamed. She pumped her fists. She clanged her cowbell.

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