Fact and Opinion — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which sentence states the writer's MAIN claim in a persuasive essay about plastic bag bans?
A) Cities should ban single-use plastic bags
B) Reusable bags come in many bright colors
C) Some grocery stores stay open very late
D) Plastic was invented in the early 1900s
Identifying the central recommendation lets readers test whether the supporting facts really back it.
2. Which sentence is a SUPPORTING FACT rather than an opinion?
A) Plastic bags are the worst invention
B) About 5 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year
C) Everyone hates plastic bags now
D) Reusable bags feel obviously better to carry
Specific worldwide usage numbers come from research, making them facts rather than opinions.
3. Which statement is an UNSUPPORTED opinion in the essay?
A) California passed a statewide bag ban in 2014
B) Sea turtles often mistake bags for jellyfish
C) Anyone who likes plastic bags clearly hates the planet
D) Recycling rates for plastic bags stay below 10 percent
Insulting generalizations without evidence are unsupported opinions, even within a persuasive essay.
4. Which source listed in the essay would be MOST credible?
A) An online comment from a stranger
B) A meme reposted on a social media feed
C) A grocery cashier's casual offhand remark
D) A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ocean pollution report
Government science agencies like NOAA produce reviewed reports, making their data far more trustworthy.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A persuasive essay's main claim is the position the writer wants readers to accept and act upon.
Pinpointing the main claim helps readers evaluate whether the supporting evidence actually backs it.
2. When a writer cites government data such as EPA reports, the supporting evidence becomes more credible.
Official agency reports undergo review, which strengthens their reliability and persuasive value.
3. Sweeping statements with the word 'everyone' often signal an unsupported opinion in persuasive writing.
Universal claims rarely match reality, marking them as opinions disguised as factual statements.
4. The careful reader checks whether each cited statistic actually links to the writer's main claim.
Effective persuasion uses tightly connected evidence, while loose facts weaken the overall argument.
5. When a single questionable source appears alongside many credible ones, the essay's overall credibility weakens slightly.
Readers judge essays as a whole, so weak sources reduce confidence in connected facts.