Identifying Bias TRIMESTER 1 2014 15 Day 1

Identifying Bias { TRIMESTER 1 – 2014 -15

Day 1

I can explain to another person what the word bias means. I can list at least three red flags to look for to identify bias in an article. I can use the skill of annotation to further comprehend an article and to identify bias and ethos, pathos, logos. Learning Targets

A bias is a strong leaning in either a positive or negative direction. A bias is very similar to a prejudice Bias

Good critical readers must be aware of their own biases and the biases of others. Sometimes writers simply state their biases; however, most biases are implied by the writer. Bias

A critical reader will study the author’s line of reasoning, notice whether opinions are supported by facts and reasons, and then decide if the author’s bias hindered the making of a good argument. Reading Critically

Pay attention to q q the author’s tone and choice of words to determine if a bias is present. Loaded Words: connotations evoke emotional responses Writers who have a particular point of view and want to persuade you to accept that view often make use of loaded words or phrases. Loaded Words

The words the author uses gives us clues about how the author feels about life’s issues. For example, if the author was describing America using words like: honor, cherish, treasure, and proud…we can infer (infer means piece the clues together) that the author’s viewpoint about America is… A good place to live and a great nation to be a part of! Language Used

If an author used the following words to describe the beach: cold, bitter wind, nauseating smell of fish, shrieking seagulls…we can infer (piece the clues together, remember? ) that the author’s view about life at the beach is… An awful, cruddy way to spend vacation! Language Used

Egotistical Proud Confident Scrawny Underweight Slender

Negative Egotistical Scrawny Positive / Negative • Proud • Underweight Positive Slender Confident How do we know these words have a positive or negative connotation? What do we associate with these words?

“She wore foundation that was several shades lighter than the rest of her skin. . . when I am with my mother, she will say nothing about it until we are back in the car. Then she’ll point to the darkness of her own skin, wondering aloud why women try to camouflage who they are” (Munoz). What does camouflage bring to mind? How does this word add to the meaning of the sentence?

As I writhed under it (slavery), I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. I had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out. In moments of agony, I envied my fellow-slaves for their stupidity. I have often wished myself a beast. I preferred the condition of the meanest reptile to my own (Douglass). What are the connotations of the highlighted words?

A group of teenagers stood on the corner waiting for the bus. A mob of juveniles lurked at the street corner bus stop. The frowning clerk ripped the receipt from my hand scribbled his initials on it before handing me my refund. The sullen clerk grabbed the receipt from my hand wrote his initials on it before handing me my refund.

Intemperate tone or language ("stupid jerks, " "shrill cries of my extremist opponents") Overclaims ("Thousands of children are murdered every day in the United States. ") Sweeping statements of excessive significance ("This is the most important idea ever conceived!") Conflict of Interest ("Welcome to the Old Stogie Tobacco Company Home Page. To read our report, 'Cigarettes Make You Live Longer, ' click here. " or "The products our competitors make are dangerous and bad for your health. ") Red Flags for Bias

Numbers or statistics presented without an identified source for them Numbers and statistics presented in a way to make them seem more spectacular. Absence of source documentation when the discussion clearly needs such documentation You cannot find any other sources that present the same information or acknowledge that the same information exists (lack of corroboration) Red Flags for Bias

Read Why Chinese Mothers are Superior

Western parents Fortitude – mental strength or courage Virtuous – morally good Tenacious – not easily stopped; firm, strong Rote repetition - use of memory with little intelligence Ostracized – to exclude someone from a group Rehabilitate – to bring someone back to normal Mediocre – not very good Psyche – soul, mind, personality of a person Excoriate – to criticize harshly Lavished – giving a large amount of something Confucian filial piety – devoted to son/daughter Foist – to force someone to accept Coercion – making someone do something by force Schizophrenically – contradictory qualities within one person Morphed – changed from one thing into another Mimicked – to copy someone’s speech or behavior, especially for humor Imperturbable – calm; hard to upset Tentatively – not done with confidence; hesitantly

Use the annotation guide on your desk, plus. . . v Find examples of ethos, pathos, logos. v Find at least 3 examples of bias. v Find statements you agree with and disagree with. v You should have at least 5 annotations per page. Read and Annotate the article

Finish reading and annotating the article Why Chinese Mothers are Superior. This Power. Point will be on my website if you need to refer to it as you finish the assignment tonight. For Homework Tonight

Day 2

Where does the news story come from? What is the author’s background? What kind of agenda or bias might that person have? How might that person benefit from one side or the other? Is one source overused for facts? Is the source of facts known to lean one way or another politically? Questions to ask to identify Bias

Is the writer choosing to include details from one side only? Whose voice, which side, or which group of people is being omitted from the topic? Which details or statistics are being omitted? Red Flags for Bias - Omission

I can identify possible biases I may have. I can identify examples of bias in an article I read. Learning Targets

What experiences in your life shape how you view the world? FRAME NAME List 15 experiences.

What opinions and beliefs have you formed based on your experiences? Immigration issues Gun Control Poverty in the U. S. Sports issues Dangers in Social Media Drug Abuse in the U. S. Ebola epidemic in Africa Race issues in America Health care Education List at least 5 Race and the Justice System Marriage and Dating Use of military force in foreign countries Violence in the media Gambling Homelessness Domestic Violence Minimum Wage

What did you learn about yourself from this activity? What surprised you? Answer these questions on the back of your circle.

Caroline and Amy, I did not show a video clip. Instead I had students share what they already knew. Adrian Peterson Story

Is this a case of child abuse or was Adrian Peterson simply disciplining his child? http: //hollywoodlife. com/2014/09/13/adrian-peterson-child-abuse-reactions -defend-twitter/

Read annotate As you annotate, look for Loaded words or insulting language Questionable or overstated statistics Are both sides of the issue presented? Are the experts credible? Whose voice or point of view is missing? Read for 4 minutes

Discuss - Should parents spank children as a form of discipline? Complete the Analyzing for Bias Chart. Begin with front columns that seem easiest to you. Write specific words and lines from the article into the column. You do not have to write the CEW paragraph at the back, yet. Meet with your Green Partner