Identifying Bias

What does it mean to show bias?

• to be conceited

• to favor one side over another

• to refuse to take a side

• to show selfishness

True or False: Everybody is biased in some way.

• True
• False

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.SL.8.2

Citizens of the Fairlawn Park area look with alarm at the evil plot to change a beautiful spot into a baseball park. If this malicious plan is carried out, the lovely trees in the park will be chopped down. Values of the property within the area will drop sharply as the park fills with the filth and debris of the bulldozers and other equipment. Later the shrieks of the young ruffians who take over the park will destroy the peace and quiet of the neighborhood. Obviously no one cares about the poor citizen who has slaved to pay for his home and to keep up with his taxes.

The author is biased against...

• homeowners and taxpayers

• citizens of the Fairlawn Park area

• a baseball field in the park

• more trees in the park

What is a fact?

• A statement that everyone agrees upon
• A personal belief
• A true statement which can be verified with evidence
• A general understanding of reality

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

What word is used to describe a text that contains NO bias?

• Objective

• Impersonal

• News

• Opinion

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.L.8.5C

CCSS.RI.8.4

What is bias in journalism?

• Only writing bad things about a person, event or issue
• Only writing good things about a person, event or issue
• An unbalanced and unfair way of looking at a situation and reporting it
• Making up your mind about a person before getting to know him/her

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RI.8.8

Leaving out one side of an article is called _____ bias.

• Omission

• Source

• Placement

• Spin

Where a story is placed in a newspaper/magazine or on a website is

• Bias by Omission

• Bias by Placement

• Bias by Spin

• Bias by Selection of Sources

If CNN runs a story on the idea of banning guns in America, and they only consult gun control advocates, this is

• Bias by Selection of Sources

• Bias by Placement

• Bias by Labeling

• Bias by Story Selection

Bias is...

• the way that someone thinks about something

• an opinion about someone or something that is not always fair or based on facts

• necessary, very important

• something different instead of the usual thing

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.RI.8.4