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E10 G - Facts, opinions and sources

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E10 G - Facts, opinions and sources

Look – think – check. When you read a post, a news item or a school message, ask three short questions:

Fact? Can I check it?
Opinion? Is it a personal view or judgement?
Source? Where does the information come from?

Course route: English first → understand → respond → analyse → communicate → feedback → revise → transfer.

Media start: Watch the first part of the video. Do not try to understand every word. Listen for the words news, facts, opinions and sources. Then say one sentence: The video is about …

I can …

At the end of this aiMOOC, you can:

identify a factual statement in a short English text.
identify an opinion and name a signal word.
find a source hint such as an author, date, link or publication.
check a source with a short checklist.
give a simple reason for your judgement.
write a short structured text that separates information and opinion.
ask for evidence politely and explain your view.

Vorwissen: Quick start

Read the three sentences.

A: The school library closes at 5 p.m. B: The school library is the nicest place in town. C: According to the school website, the library closes at 5 p.m.

Decide: Which sentence is mainly checkable information, which is an opinion, and which contains a source hint?

Help: You do not need to prove the sentences yet. First classify them.

Input

Fact, opinion or source hint?

A factual statement says something that can be checked with evidence.

Example: The café opens at 8 a.m.

A factual statement is not automatically correct. It may be true or false. You need evidence to check it.

An opinion expresses a personal view, judgement or preference.

Example: The café is the best place in town.

Common opinion signals are I think, I believe, in my view, great, boring, better and worst.

A source hint tells you where information comes from.

Example: According to the café website, it opens at 8 a.m.

A source hint can name an author, organisation, website, date, study, interview or document.

Remember: Checkable does not mean already checked. A link does not mean reliable. An opinion can be well reasoned, but it is still an opinion.

A five-question source check

Use W-W-E-C-C:

Question	Easy English
Who?	Who made the claim?
When?	Is the date clear and useful?
Where?	Where was it published?
Evidence?	Is there evidence for the claim?
Cross-check?	Can another suitable source confirm it?

You do not need a long investigation for every school task. Start with these five questions.

Reading: The quiet room

Fictional school text

Greenfield School opened a quiet study room on Monday. The school page says Room 204 is open from 12:30 to 13:15. Student Sam Lee writes, “It is the best place in school.” A class blog says about 20 students used the room on Tuesday, but it gives no link. The school page was updated on 16 September. A student council post links to that page and says the room may stay open until December.

Task 1 – understand: What is the text mainly about?

Task 2 – analyse: Find:

two statements that can be checked,
one clear opinion,
two source hints,
one statement that needs more evidence.

Help: Look for names, dates, numbers, links and opinion words.

Reading strategy: label the sentence

Use three short labels:

Label	Meaning	Question
F	factual statement	Can I check it?
O	opinion	Is it a personal judgement?
S	source hint	Does it tell me where the information comes from?

One sentence can contain more than one function.

Example: “According to the school page, the room opens at 12:30.” This is a factual statement with a source hint.

Listening and viewing

Watch the TED-Ed video again.

Before viewing: Predict two things a careful news reader should do.

First viewing: Listen for the main idea. Do not stop.

Second viewing: Use subtitles if helpful. Replay one short section. You may choose 0.75× or 1× speed.

After viewing: Complete these sentence starters:

One useful idea is …
A reader should check …
I still want to know …

G-level help: You only need the main message and two useful details. You do not need to reproduce the full video.

Optional viewing challenge: evidence and fact-checking

This video gives a deeper explanation of evaluating evidence. Use only a short section if the full video is too difficult.

Focus question: What does the speaker do before trusting a claim?

Challenge task: Write three key words, then explain one idea in your own simple English.

Mini listening with three voices

Read this dialogue in a group of three. One learner or the teacher reads each voice. Read it twice: first normally, then more slowly. A private audio recording is optional.

Voice A: “The school trip starts at eight.” Voice B: “How do you know?” Voice A: “The email from our teacher says eight.” Voice C: “Good. I think eight is very early.” Voice B: “So the time is checkable, and ‘very early’ is your opinion.”

Listening check:

What is the factual statement?
What is the source?
What is the opinion?

Privacy: Recordings are voluntary and should stay private unless you knowingly choose to share them in your class setting. Do not upload recordings without permission.

Context vocabulary

English	Simple meaning	Example
claim	something a person says is true	The post makes a claim.
evidence	information that supports a claim	The photo may be evidence.
source	where information comes from	The website is the source.
reliable	suitable to trust after checking	The source looks reliable.
author	the person or group that made the text	The author is named.
date	when something was published	Check the date.
opinion	a personal view	“Great idea” is an opinion.
verify	check if something is correct	Verify the number.
according to	introduces a source	According to the report, …
because	gives a reason	I trust it because …

Pronunciation focus

Speak clearly. Accent-free English is not the goal. Being understood is the goal.

fact – one strong syllable.
opinion – stress the second syllable.
evidence – stress the first syllable.
reliable – stress the second syllable.
source – one strong syllable.
verify – stress the first syllable.

Practice: Say one short sentence twice: According to the source, this fact can be checked.

Partner feedback: Could you understand every key word?

Functional grammar

Use grammar to show the function of your sentence.

Function	Useful structure	Example
Give a source	According to + source, …	According to the school page, the room opens at 12:30.
Report information	The source says that …	The source says that the room is open.
Give an opinion	I think …	I think the room is useful.
Give a reason	… because …	I trust the information because the page gives a date.
Be careful	may / might	The claim may be correct.

Accuracy goal 1: Use according to with a named source. Accuracy goal 2: Use because to add one clear reason. Accuracy goal 3: Mark opinions with a clear opinion phrase when needed.

Speaking: Ask, answer, justify

Work in pairs.

Learner A reads a claim: The new school club meets every Friday.

Learner B asks:

What is your source?
When was it published?
Is there evidence?
Can we check another source?

Then switch roles.

Useful response: I think this source is useful because … I am not sure because … I need another source because …

Writing: A short source-check report

Write about 80–120 words.

Use this structure:

Title: Source check Claim: What does the text say? Source: Who published it and when? Check: What evidence can you see? Cross-check: What second source could you use? Conclusion: What can you say safely?

Model frame:

The claim says that … According to …, … The source gives … I can also check … I think the information is / is not well supported because …

Do not copy a model text. Keep your own first version.

Mediation: Give the key message, not a full translation

A German school notice says:

Die Schülervertretung informiert: Der Lernraum ist ab nächster Woche montags und donnerstags in der Mittagspause geöffnet. Der Plan wurde am 24. September aktualisiert.

Your English-speaking exchange partner asks: When can I use the room, and where is the information from?

Give the key information in two or three English sentences. Do not translate every word.

Source quality: useful does not mean perfect

A source can be useful for one question and weak for another.

Example: A school timetable is useful for the start time of a school event. It may not be useful for judging whether the event is exciting.

Ask: Is this source suitable for this claim?

Common errors and how to fix them

Common error	Better move
“I think it is true.”	Add evidence or a source check.
“There is a link, so it is reliable.”	Check author, date, evidence and another source.
“This is a fact because it sounds true.”	Ask whether it can be checked.
“According to the internet …”	Name the actual website, person or organisation.
Opinion words are hidden inside a report.	Mark the opinion clearly.
A copied text replaces your own work.	Keep your first version and revise it yourself.

Feedback and revision

Give feedback on one short text.

Use three questions:

Clear? Can I see what is fact, opinion and source?
Supported? Does the writer give evidence or a useful source hint?
Reasoned? Does the writer explain a judgement with because?

Useful feedback: I can follow your idea because … Please name the source here. This sounds like an opinion. Could you mark it? Add one piece of evidence.

Then revise your text. Keep both versions so you can see your progress.

Using AI information carefully

AI output can contain correct information, wrong information or missing context. Treat an AI statement as a claim to check, not as automatic proof.

Check important claims with suitable independent sources.
Ask for the original source when possible.
Check whether the source really supports the claim.
Keep your own draft and show what you changed.
Do not enter private personal data, private recordings or other people's work into external AI services without permission.

Rule: A source reference from an AI tool must still be checked.

Transfer: use the method outside class

Try the same three-way check with:

a sports post,
a product advertisement,
a school announcement,
a video description,
a comment under a post.

Ask: What is checkable? What is opinion? Where is the source?

Can-do check

Tick what you can do now.

Can-do statement	Yes	Not yet
I can identify a checkable statement.	□	□
I can identify an opinion.	□	□
I can find a source hint.	□	□
I can ask for evidence.	□	□
I can give a reason with because.	□	□
I can check who, when, where, evidence and cross-check.	□	□
I can revise my own short text after feedback.	□	□

Next step: E10 G - Evaluating sources and misinformation

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

Which sentence is a factual statement that can be checked? (The school bus leaves at 7:45.) (!The school bus is terrible.) (!I love the school bus.) (!The bus ride feels too long.)

Which sentence is clearly an opinion? (I think the new library is great.) (!The library opens at 8:00.) (!The website was updated on Monday.) (!The report names two authors.)

What does a source hint show? (Where information comes from) (!How long a sentence is) (!Which opinion is best) (!How difficult a word is)

What should you check first about a source? (Who made the claim) (!Whether the page has bright colours) (!Whether your friend likes it) (!Whether the title is short)

Which phrase introduces a source? (According to the school website) (!In my opinion) (!I really like) (!This is boring)

Why is a link alone not enough? (The linked source still needs checking) (!Every link is an opinion) (!Links never contain information) (!A link cannot have an author)

Which question checks evidence? (What supports this claim?) (!Is the font large?) (!Do I like the topic?) (!Is the sentence funny?)

What is a good cross-check? (Compare the claim with another suitable source) (!Read the same sentence again) (!Choose the shortest article) (!Ask only one friend)

Which sentence gives a reason? (I trust the source because it gives a date and author.) (!The source is online.) (!The page is blue.) (!The text has five lines.)

How should an important AI claim be treated? (Check it with suitable independent sources) (!Accept it because it sounds confident) (!Use it without reading it) (!Remove all source information)

Memory

Fact	Checkable statement
Opinion	Personal judgement
Source	Origin of information
Evidence	Support for a claim
Author	Person or group behind a text
Cross-check	Comparison with another suitable source

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Fact	Can be checked with evidence
Opinion	Expresses a personal view
Source hint	Shows where information comes from
Evidence	Supports a claim
Cross-check	Uses another suitable source

Kreuzworträtsel

EVIDENCE	What can support a claim?
OPINION	What word means a personal view or judgement?
SOURCE	Where does information come from?
AUTHOR	Who creates or writes a text?
CONTEXT	What helps you understand when, where and why a claim was made?
VERIFY	What verb means to check whether information is correct?

LearningApps

Lückentext

A factual statement can be

with evidence.

An

expresses a personal view or judgement.

A

tells you where information comes from.

The person or group behind a text is the

.

Useful support for a claim is called

.

The word

can introduce a reason.

The phrase

can introduce a source.

A second suitable source can be used for a

.

A publication

can show whether information is current enough for your question.

An important AI claim should be

before you rely on it.

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Fact card: Write four short sentences about a fictional school club. Make two checkable statements and two opinions. Mark F or O.
Source hunt: Choose one school webpage or textbook page and find the author or organisation, date and title.
Opinion signals: Collect six English words or phrases that can signal an opinion and write one short example for each.
Ask for evidence: Create a four-line dialogue in which one person makes a claim and another politely asks for the source.

Standard

Mini source check: Check one non-political online claim with the W-W-E-C-C questions and write a short result.
School news card: Create a six-sentence fictional school news item with facts, one opinion and two clear source hints.
Speaking check: In pairs, discuss a claim for two minutes. Ask at least two checking questions and give one reason with because.
Mediation message: Take a short German school notice and give only the key information to an English-speaking partner in three or four sentences.

Schwer

Compare sources: Find two suitable sources about the same non-political topic. Compare author, date, evidence and purpose.
Revision portfolio: Write a 120-word source-check report, get feedback, revise it and explain three changes.
Media analysis: Analyse a short advertisement or social-media post. Separate checkable claims, opinions and source hints.
Verification tutorial: Create a one-minute private or classroom-only tutorial that teaches the W-W-E-C-C method. Recording is optional; a storyboard is enough.

Lernkontrolle

Claim and evidence: A fictional post says, “Our school can save 50 percent of its paper next month.” Explain what evidence you would need before accepting the claim.
Useful source: A student uses an old sports blog to prove today's school timetable. Explain why the source may be unsuitable even if the blog is real.
Fact and opinion mix: Rewrite a short sentence that mixes a checkable statement and a judgement so that the two functions become clear.
Cross-check strategy: Choose a second source for a claim about a school event and explain why that source is suitable.
AI source check: An AI answer names a report but gives no link or date. Describe the steps you would take before using the information.
Transfer task: Compare a product advertisement and a school notice. Explain how the purpose of each text affects the way you check its claims.

Lernnachweis

For a successful Lernnachweis, you should show that you can:

distinguish checkable statements from opinions,
identify clear source hints,
apply the W-W-E-C-C source check,
support a judgement with evidence and a reason,
communicate your result in clear, structured English,
revise your own text after feedback,
explain how you checked an important claim,
keep facts, opinions and source references visibly separate.

The Lernnachweis should use your own work. Keep earlier drafts when you revise them.

OERs zum Thema

Further useful links inside MOOCwiki: Quellenkritik, Medienkompetenz, Argumentation, Fake News, Informationskompetenz.

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