Fact Versus Opinion - Lesson

Lesson Plan

Level(s): Grades 9 to 12

Author: This five lesson unit was adapted from News is Not Just Black and White, a workbook of classroom activities dealing with representations of race and ethnicity in the newspaper. The workbook was created by the Canadian Newspaper Association (CNA) as part of their Newspapers in Education program.

This is the fourth of five lessons designed to teach students to think critically about the way aboriginal peoples and visible minorities are portrayed in the press. "Fact Versus Opinion" begins with students discussing the difference between fact and opinion. Students then apply what they have learned to an opinion piece selected by the teacher, and then an opinion piece that they have selected.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• recognize bias and value judgements in written work
• distinguish between fact and opinion
• understand the reasons why bias might occur in news reports
• understand the underpinnings of fact and of opinion

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) is available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.

Lesson Kit:

Lesson_Fact_Versus_Opinion.pdf