Article Comparison Analyst

This worksheet helps students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 strengthen media literacy, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills by comparing two articles about the same event. Learners examine a factual news report alongside an opinion column, analyzing tone, word choice, emotional emphasis, and author purpose to understand how information can be framed differently.

Learning Goals

• News vs. Opinion Distinction (Grades 5-7)
  Students identify differences between informational reporting and opinion-based writing.
• Author’s Purpose & Intent
  Learners determine the main goal of each article, whether to inform objectively or persuade readers.
• Tone and Language Analysis
  Students examine emotional wording, persuasive techniques, and neutral language choices.
• Evaluating Reliability & Bias
  The activity encourages critical evaluation of credibility and framing in media texts.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to support upper elementary and middle school ELA and media literacy standards.
• Side-by-Side Comparison Format
  Makes contrasts between fact-based and opinion-based writing clear and accessible.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for media literacy units, ELA lessons, small-group discussion, homework, or assessment.
• Promotes Evidence-Based Discussion
  Questions require students to cite examples directly from each article.

This printable worksheet helps students become more discerning readers by analyzing how the same event can be reported or interpreted in different ways. By comparing factual accuracy, tone, and persuasive elements, learners build stronger skills in media literacy, author purpose, and critical evaluation. It’s a practical, no-prep resource well suited for both classroom instruction and homeschool use.

This worksheet is part of our Fact vs. Opinion Worksheets collection.