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Listen for the Facts
Comprehension Lessons »
- Analyze Character, Setting, and Plot
- Retell a Story
- Identify an Unstated Main Idea
- Main Idea Sentences
- Identify Problem and Solution
- Find a Solution
- Summarize
- The Summary Game
- Make Comparisons
- What’s the Difference?
- Listen for the Facts
- Analyze Author’s Purpose
- What’s Your Purpose?
- Make Inferences and Analyze
- Follow All Clues
- Cause-and-Effect Relationships
- Cause and Effect Buildup
- Order of Events
- Instructions in Chronological Order
- Draw Conclusions
- Play Detective
- Make and Analyze Predictions
- Can You Make a Prediction?
- Chronological Order of Events
- Directions Out of Order
- Identify Theme
- Theme Theater
- Identify Facts and Details
- It Looks and Sounds Good
- Make Judgments
- You Be the Judge
- Draw Conclusions
- Color Me Hidden
Explain Point out that when reading nonfiction it is important to focus on relevant facts and details and to distinguish an author’s opinions from facts. Remind students that a fact can be proved, such as by checking a reference book, but an opinion cannot be proved either true or false. Tell students that they will listen for statements of fact and opinion. Ask students to give examples of words or phrases that signal opinions, such as best, worst, or I think.
Guided Practice/Practice Read aloud a passage from a nonfiction book. Pause after each sentence. Ask students if the sentence states a fact that can be proved or an opinion. If the statement is a fact, ask students where they might check to see if the fact is true (for example, an online site, an atlas, or a print encyclopedia). If the statement is an opinion, ask students to state the clue words that helped them identify it as an opinion.