Bias and Inference Learning Outcomes Define bias Recognise
Bias and Inference
Learning Outcomes • Define bias. • Recognise bias in writing. • Define inference. • Recognise Bias in writing
Bias in writing • Can you think of any types of text that are biased? • What about the media? E. g. news reports? • What about persuasive writing? • We can recognise bias in writing by the following: Emotional responses Exaggerations Stereotypical comments Opinions stated as facts One sided views No consideration for other side Missing information Positive/negative word choices
Bias • Bias is a prejudice, preference or an inclination that inhibits fair judgement. • Bias is being subjective as opposed to being objective. • We all have biases. Subjective Influenced by past experiences. Objective Not allowing bias to affect judgment.
Bias Explained • How is it that eleven people can witness the same accident – all with their eyes open – and each account will be different despite the fact they all saw the same thing? • Bias is like wearing sunglasses. • The sunglass represent your past experiences e. g. how you were reared as a child/previous learning/experiences. • This is why two people can look at the same thing and describe it differently.
Fact: • a piece of information presented as having an objective reality; knowledge or • information based on real occurrences Opinion: • a view, judgment, or appraisal formed • in the mind about a particular matter; a • belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty Bias: • an inclination of temperament or outlook, • especially • a personal and sometimes • unreasoned judgment Ways that bias may be created • the writer has incomplete information • the writer is deliberately trying to persuade the audience • the writer’s experience is influencing the writer’s attitude
TASK
What is an Inference? An inference is an assumption that you make about something that you see, read, or experience. • It is based on all of the information that you have available at that time. • It is not necessarily a correct guess, but it is an educated one.
• "The men walked down the streets to the mine with their heads bent close to their chests. In groups of five or six they scurried on. It was impossible to recognise individuals from the small gaps between their caps, pulled down over their eyes, and the tightly bound scarves tied tightly over the bottom half of their faces". • Now answer this question - What was the weather like as the men walked to the mine? Very cold and windy - associated hats pulled down and scarves with winter or cold weather - people keep their heads down when walking against the wind - "scurried"
What can I infer (guess) from the photograph? (These are the answers to your questions) What questions could I ask to find out more about the situation? (Questions you CAN’T answer by looking at the photo) What can I see?
Everyday Inferences Here are some inferences that you probably make on a daily basis. If a teacher writes information on the board during a lesson If a child runs in the house holding their knee and crying You infer that it is important information that you may need later. You infer that they have somehow hurt their knee. You may not always be correct in your inferences, but they are assumptions that you make based on the given clues.
Let’s transfer these skills we have developed from analysing pictures to analysing hidden meanings in text. 1. When I woke up, there were branches and leaves all over the garden. It is probably morning time. The person has woken up and seen something in their garden that was not there before. ‘All over’ suggests the garden is covered!
1. When I woke up, there were branches and leaves all over the garden. How did the leaves and branches get there? How does the person feel?
1. When I woke up, there were branches and leaves all over the garden. I think there has been a storm over night which has caused leaves and branches to blown into someone’s garden. I can infer it is morning time and perhaps the person is a little shocked to see their garden covered.
1 2 3 Spend some time viewing the photo, then show what you observe, wonder and infer from the photo
Task: Make an inference about the sentence(s) highlighting and picking out a key word or phrase. Think about what the text suggests about the person or situation. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. We bought tickets and some popcorn. I forgot to set my alarm clock last night. Sam grabbed his coat and umbrella. The judge condemned the suspect and issued a £ 3000 fine. I nimbly dodged the puddles on the pavement. For example: 5. I can infer from the adverb ‘nimbly’ that the person is quick and light on their feet.
Inference • Once bias, opinion and fact have all been recognised within a text, we are able to reach conclusions based upon evidence and reasoning. • These conclusions take into account the various elements of texts. • That’s what we mean by Inference.
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