Mission: read an opinion column critically
Critical reading. Find the thesis, arguments and tone of a French opinion column, and separate fact from opinion.
FrenchB2 · Reading the real worldAbout 9 min: 5 reading, 4 practiceUpdated
- Identify an author's thesis, arguments and counter-argument
- Recognise tone (ironie, indignation, prudence)
- Spot signal words of opinion and distance (prétendument, soi-disant, certes… mais, force est de constater)
- Separate fact from opinion
- Say whether you agree, and why, in one precise sentence
Reading the real world: lesson 4 of 4
- B2 · Reading the real world
- Mission: read a novel's first page 10 min
- Mission: understand news headlines 9 min
- Mission: say exactly what you mean 10 min
- Mission: read an opinion column critically 9 min
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Level Level B2 (around the DELF B2 exam). Real French: reading a newspaper column and deciding what you think.
What it is
Your mission: your flatmate Malik forwards you a newspaper column with the message « Tu as vu ? Elle a raison, non ? » Before you answer, read it like a critic: find the thesis, the arguments and the counter-argument; name the tone; and separate what can be checked from what is only the author's view. Use tu.
An opinion column (une chronique, une tribune, un éditorial) is not news: it argues. To read it critically, ask six questions.
| Question | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Thesis | the main claim, often in the title or the last line |
| Arguments | the reasons given for it |
| Counter-argument | the other side, often after certes |
| Tone | ironie, indignation, prudence… |
| Fact or opinion? | figures, dates, sources, or a judgement |
| Distance | does the author take responsibility for a claim? |
Signal words show you where the author stands:
- certes… mais (concession, then the real point): Certes, c'est cher, mais c'est utile.
- force est de constater que (the author insists, formally): Force est de constater que…
- il va sans dire que ("obviously", often a shortcut): Il va sans dire que…
- prétendument, soi-disant (distance: the author does not believe it): un projet soi-disant écologique
- selon lui, d'après elle (a claim attributed to someone else): Selon le maire, …
Tone. Ironie: saying the opposite of what you mean, or mocking (Quelle drôle d'idée !). Indignation: anger at something unfair (strong words, exclamation marks, rhetorical questions). Prudence: caution (il semble que, peut-être, the conditional).
Fact or opinion? A fact can be checked: a figure with a date, a named source, a vote on a certain day. An opinion is a judgement (injuste, drôle, nécessaire), a prediction, or an order (il faut, il est temps de).
More detail: the thesis often comes after the "certes"
In Certes… mais… the first half admits a point; the second half is the author's real position. A common error is to summarise the certes half as the thesis.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
In « Certes, la mesure coûte cher, mais elle est nécessaire », what does the author think?
- the certes half only admits that point
- the mais half states a clear position
Show answer
The measure is necessary.. after certes… mais, the real view comes after mais.
Why it matters
Newspapers are full of columns that look like information but are built to persuade. If you can only follow the meaning, you will agree with whoever writes most confidently; if you can find the thesis, the evidence and the tone, you can decide for yourself. At B2 the DELF writing paper is 1 hour for one text of at least 250 words, and the speaking paper has a monologue suivi and an exercice en interaction. Critical reading is this lesson's own skill: it lets you answer an author's view with a precise view of your own.
Worked example
Malik's column (invented for this lesson; by « Agnès Vidal »):
Le centre-ville sans voitures : enfin !
Certes, la fermeture des rues du centre aux voitures ne fera pas plaisir à tout le monde. Mais force est de constater que notre centre-ville, soi-disant « vivant », étouffe sous les pots d'échappement. En 2024, la mairie de Valmont a mesuré un bruit moyen de 68 décibels devant l'église : c'est un fait, et il est difficile à ignorer. Les commerçants, eux, annoncent une catastrophe prétendument certaine : leurs clients ne viendront plus. Quelle drôle d'idée ! Ailleurs, les rues piétonnes ont souvent attiré davantage de visiteurs, pas moins. Il faut aussi, bien sûr, des parkings à l'entrée de la ville et des bus plus fréquents ; sans cela, la mesure serait injuste pour les personnes âgées. Mais ne laissons pas la peur du changement décider à notre place. Les enfants qui jouent sur la place valent bien quelques minutes de marche supplémentaires. Franchement, qui regrettera les embouteillages ? Personne, j'en suis convaincue. Ceux qui veulent tout laisser en l'état oublient que la ville change déjà sans eux. Il est temps d'agir.
Word count: 166 (the title is not counted; words are groups of letters or figures separated by spaces; a standalone punctuation mark such as « » : ; ! ? is not counted; a word with a hyphen or an apostrophe counts as one).
The critic's reading:
| Element | In the column |
|---|---|
| Thesis | Close the city centre to cars |
| Arguments | noise, children's use of the square, other towns |
| Counter-argument | shops fear losing customers; older people |
| Tone | indignation, with irony (Quelle drôle d'idée !) |
| Distance | soi-disant « vivant », prétendument certaine |
| Fact | 68 décibels measured in 2024 |
| Opinion | injuste, drôle, il est temps d'agir |
| Weak point | « Ailleurs… souvent » has no named source |
You could answer Malik: « Elle a raison sur le bruit, mais elle ne cite aucune source pour les autres villes, et elle caricature les commerçants. »
Real French: force est de constater que… is a fixed formal expression of written French (force never changes), common in editorials and tribunes. Soi-disant is invariable; prétendument is an adverb. Both tell you the author is distancing herself. Soi-disant with things (un projet soi-disant écologique) is common but criticised by some; prétendu or prétendument is safer in careful writing.
Common mistake
Reading the concession as the author's view: wrong: L'auteure pense que la mesure déplaira, donc elle est contre. The certes part grants a point; the thesis follows mais.
And a false friend: prétendre means "to claim", not "to pretend" (faire semblant). Il prétend être malade means he claims to be ill, and the writer may well doubt it.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
In « notre centre-ville, soi-disant "vivant" », the author…
- soi-disant means "so-called": the author does not vouch for it
- soi-disant is never neutral
Show answer
doubts that the city centre is lively. soi-disant marks distance.
Key terms
- la thèse
- the main claim of a text
- l'argument
- a reason given for the thesis
- le contre-argument
- a point from the other side
- la concession (certes… mais)
- admitting a point before making yours
- l'ironie
- saying the opposite, or mocking
- l'indignation
- anger at something felt to be unfair
- la prudence
- caution in what is claimed
- prétendument
- supposedly (the author doubts it)
- soi-disant
- so-called (the author doubts it)
- force est de constater que
- one has to admit that (formal)
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 10 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| la thèse | the main claim of a text |
| l'argument | a reason given for the thesis |
| le contre-argument | a point from the other side |
| la concession (certes… mais) | admitting a point before making yours |
| l'ironie | saying the opposite, or mocking |
| l'indignation | anger at something felt to be unfair |
| la prudence | caution in what is claimed |
| prétendument | supposedly (the author doubts it) |
| soi-disant | so-called (the author doubts it) |
| force est de constater que | one has to admit that (formal) |
Practice
Sort it
Fact or opinion?
La mairie a mesuré 68 décibels devant l'église en 2024.
a figure with a date, which can be checkedShow answer
Fact. a figure with a date, which can be checked
Quelle drôle d'idée !
irony, a judgementShow answer
Opinion. irony, a judgement
Les enfants valent bien quelques minutes de marche.
a value judgementShow answer
Opinion. a value judgement
Le conseil a voté la mesure le 3 mars.
a vote on a date can be checked in the recordsShow answer
Fact. a vote on a date can be checked in the records
La mesure serait injuste pour les personnes âgées.
a prediction and a judgementShow answer
Opinion. a prediction and a judgement
Recognition drill
Pick the right answer, as fast as you can.
All pairs
Tap a card to turn it over. 6 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| prétendument | supposedly (the author doubts it) |
| soi-disant | so-called |
| certes… mais | admittedly… but |
| force est de constater que | one has to admit that |
| il va sans dire que | it goes without saying that |
| selon lui | according to him |
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
What is the thesis of Agnès Vidal's column?
- that is a supporting fact, not the main claim
- the author argues the opposite
Show answer
The city centre should be closed to cars.. the title and the last line (« Il est temps d'agir ») give the thesis.
Which sentence in the column states a checkable fact?
- irony, an opinion
- a rhetorical question, an opinion
Show answer
En 2024, la mairie de Valmont a mesuré un bruit moyen de 68 décibels devant l'église.. a figure, a date and a named source can be checked.
What is the dominant tone of the column?
- the author is categorical, not cautious (« Il est temps d'agir »)
- she argues and mocks (« Quelle drôle d'idée ! »)
Show answer
Indignation, with touches of irony. strong judgement words and ironic remarks.
Build the sentence
Build "Admittedly, the measure will not please everyone, but it is necessary." Start with the concession.
Show answer
Certes, la mesure ne plaira pas à tous, mais elle est nécessaire.. certes… mais introduces the concession, then the real point.
Practise speaking
Studyfern has no voice tools of its own. To practise out loud, copy this prompt into a voice-capable AI assistant and talk with it.
Mission role-play. You are Malik, my flatmate, who has just read an opinion column. Speak naturally but clearly, at level B2, using tu. Invent a short opinion column on an everyday topic (for example, school uniform, a new cycle lane, or a ban on phones at dinner), and tell it to me in about four sentences, including « certes… mais », one « soi-disant » or « prétendument », and one fact with a figure. Then ask me, one question at a time: what is the thesis, which sentence is a fact and which an opinion, what is the tone, and what does the word « soi-disant » or « prétendument » tell us. After each answer, tell me in English what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again. Finally ask « Et toi, tu es d'accord ? » and let me answer in one sentence with « certes… mais ». The mission is complete when I have answered all questions correctly: then say « Mission accomplie ! » and give me one tip. Keep every reply under 3 sentences, except when you tell me the column.
Listen too. Listen to native speakers before and after: see the free listening and shadowing links.
Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. Many assistants turn your speech into text first, so a vowel or liaison you got wrong may be silently “heard” as the right word. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
New to this? Read Practising speaking with an AI.
In short
- A column argues: find the thesis, the arguments and the counter-argument.
- Certes… mais: the real view comes after mais.
- Tone: ironie, indignation, prudence; check it against the word choice and punctuation.
- Prétendument and soi-disant show distance; selon lui attributes a claim to someone else.
- Fact = checkable (figure, date, source); opinion = judgement, prediction or order.
- Force est de constater que is a formal expression: the author insists.
Mastery check
Answer without looking back. Score 80% or more and the lesson is marked done. Your result is kept only in this browser.
Check yourself
Answer in your head first, then open the answer. Nothing is saved.
In « Certes, c'est cher, mais c'est utile », which half is the author's thesis?
Show answer
The half after mais: c'est utile.
What does « un projet soi-disant écologique » tell you about the author?
Show answer
The author doubts that the project is ecological.
Is « le conseil a voté la mesure le 3 mars » a fact or an opinion?
Show answer
A fact: it can be checked in the records.
Further reading
- RFI, Journal en français facile: free daily news in simple French, to practise separating what is reported from what is claimed.
- TV5MONDE, Apprendre le français: free exercises built on real TV clips.
- France Éducation international, DELF B2: the official exam format.
Finished? Mark it done to fill in your leaf on the French map.