Identifying Author's bias, stereotypes, and exaggerations

Which sentence belongs in an objective news article?

• The truth became blindingly apparent to everyone at the meeting.

• The annoying sound of constant whispering disturbed the speaker.

• At the meeting, four teachers presented their plans for summer school.

• The most popular speaker glowed with enthusiasm as he finished his talk.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.10

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RI.8.10

CCSS.RI.9-10.10

Which sentence contains an example of stereotyping?

• His Irish temper blazed up the instant I laughed at him.

• Rani, one of my friends from India, arrived in town yesterday.

• Michelle has every intention of trying out for the football team.

• I shuddered when I realized that I had once again forgotten my homework.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.6

Read the following paragraph.

Our middle school is in desperate need of a practice field for football. We have to use the old one at the high school because the high school now has a new one. That figures because the high school kids always get what they want and we have to take the leftovers. Taking the bus to the high school for practice every afternoon takes up all our free time, but nobody cares about that except us. We need a practice field, and that’s that! No argument!

Identify an example of stereotyping.

• nobody cares about that except us/that’s that! No argument!

• takes up all our free time

• high school kids always get what they want/we have to take     the leftovers

• in desperate need of a practice field for football

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.6

Read the following paragraph.

Our middle school is in desperate need of a practice field for football. We have to use the old one at the high school because the high school now has a new one. That figures because the high school kids always get what they want and we have to take the leftovers. Taking the bus to the high school for practice every afternoon takes up all our free time, but nobody cares about that except us. We need a practice field, and that’s that! No argument!

Identify an example of exaggeration .

• nobody cares about that except us/that’s that! No argument!

• takes up all our free time

• high school kids always get what they want/we have to take     the leftovers

• in desperate need of a practice field for football

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.8

CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

Read the following paragraph.

Our middle school is in desperate need of a practice field for football. We have to use the old one at the high school because the high school now has a new one. That figures because the high school kids always get what they want and we have to take the leftovers. Taking the bus to the high school for practice every afternoon takes up all our free time, but nobody cares about that except us. We need a practice field, and that’s that! No argument!

Identify an example of bias .

• nobody cares about that except us/that’s that! No argument!

• takes up all our free time

• high school kids always get what they want/we have to take     the leftovers

• in desperate need of a practice field for football

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

Letter 1

Dear Sir/Madam

The decision to build a new terminal at Darlington Airport is a clear indication that this Government has finally abandoned any pretense of listening to local opinion and are determined to discredit and dismantle any of the remaining rights that local people have to a say in the future of their environment.

No sensible argument has been put forward for the extension. The real losers in this argument are local people. It seems that if you choose to live by an airport you then give up the right to have a say in local matters.

The private sector is the only opinion the Government seems to want to listen to. The wishes of local people are now totally ignored in the planning process.

We all want to see a decent, well-planned travel system but this is not the way to go about it. Everybody should be involved, not just big business.

Yours faithfully

Is the writer of the letter for or against the extension to the airport? What text evidence supports your answer?

• For "We all want to see a decent, well-planned travel system"

• Against "No sensible argument has been put forward for the extension"

• Against "The real losers in this argument are local people."

• For "Everybody should be involved, not just big business"

Letter 1

Dear Sir/Madam

The decision to build a new terminal at Darlington Airport is a clear indication that this Government has finally abandoned any pretense of listening to local opinion and are determined to discredit and dismantle any of the remaining rights that local people have to a say in the future of their environment.

No sensible argument has been put forward for the extension. The real losers in this argument are local people. It seems that if you choose to live by an airport you then give up the right to have a say in local matters.

The private sector is the only opinion the Government seems to want to listen to. The wishes of local people are now totally ignored in the planning process.

We all want to see a decent, well-planned travel system but this is not the way to go about it. Everybody should be involved, not just big business.

Yours faithfully 

What would you say are the main arguments the writer uses in the letter to support their point of view? Choose all that apply

• Government has finally abandoned any pretense of listening to local opinion

• determined to discredit and dismantle any of the remaining rights that local people have

• No sensible argument has been put forward for the extension.

• seems that if you choose to live by an airport you then give up the right to have a say in local matters

• The real losers in this argument are local people

Letter 2

Dear Sir/Madam

The announcement that the Darlington extension will go ahead will mean a noise pollution and traffic nightmare for tens of thousands of people living near and around the airport. It must be stopped before it is too late.

The new terminal will bring a horrendous increase in traffic. It is estimated that there will be an increase of over 30 million passengers every year. This is totally unacceptable and we must fight to the death to oppose it. It is simply dreadful that the people of Darlington will be made to suffer for the greed of the rest of the country.

It is disgraceful and totally unnecessary that noise and air pollution should be allowed to grow to what will be a deadly level.

Yours faithfully

Is the writer of Letter 2 for or against the extension to the airport? What text evidence supports your answer?

• For "the Darlington extension will go ahead"

• For "It is estimated that there will be an increase of over 30 million passengers every year"

• Against " It is estimated that there will be an increase of over 30 million passengers every year"

• Against "the Darlington extension will go ahead will mean a noise pollution and traffic nightmare"

Letter 1

Dear Sir/Madam

The decision to build a new terminal at Darlington Airport is a clear indication that this Government has finally abandoned any pretense of listening to local opinion and are determined to discredit and dismantle any of the remaining rights that local people have to a say in the future of their environment.

No sensible argument has been put forward for the extension. The real losers in this argument are local people. It seems that if you choose to live by an airport you then give up the right to have a say in local matters.

The private sector is the only opinion the Government seems to want to listen to. The wishes of local people are now totally ignored in the planning process.

We all want to see a decent, well-planned travel system but this is not the way to go about it. Everybody should be involved, not just big business.

Yours faithfully

Letter 2

Dear Sir/Madam

The announcement that the Darlington extension will go ahead will mean a noise pollution and traffic nightmare for tens of thousands of people living near and around the airport. It must be stopped before it is too late.

The new terminal will bring a horrendous increase in traffic. It is estimated that there will be an increase of over 30 million passengers every year. This is totally unacceptable and we must fight to the death to oppose it. It is simply dreadful that the people of Darlington be made to suffer for the greed of the rest of the country.

It is disgraceful and totally unnecessary that noise and air pollution should be allowed to grow to what will be a deadly level.

Yours faithfully

 What type of words does each writer use to try to get their point of view across?

• Figurative

• literal

• Charged or loaded

• Denotative

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.8

CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

Letter 1

Dear Sir/Madam

The decision to build a new terminal at Darlington Airport is a clear indication that this Government has finally abandoned any pretense of listening to local opinion and are determined to discredit and dismantle any of the remaining rights that local people have to a say in the future of their environment.

No sensible argument has been put forward for the extension. The real losers in this argument are local people. It seems that if you choose to live by an airport you then give up the right to have a say in local matters.

The private sector is the only opinion the Government seems to want to listen to. The wishes of local people are now totally ignored in the planning process.

We all want to see a decent, well-planned travel system but this is not the way to go about it. Everybody should be involved, not just big business.

Yours faithfully

Letter 2

Dear Sir/Madam

The announcement that the Darlington extension will go ahead will mean a noise pollution and traffic nightmare for tens of thousands of people living near and around the airport. It must be stopped before it is too late.

The new terminal will bring a horrendous increase in traffic. It is estimated that there will be an increase of over 30 million passengers every year. This is totally unacceptable and we must fight to the death to oppose it. It is simply dreadful that the people of Darlington be made to suffer for the greed of the rest of the country.

It is disgraceful and totally unnecessary that noise and air pollution should be allowed to grow to what will be a deadly level.

Yours faithfully

Which letter do you think is the most biased? Explain your reasons. YOU MUST USE THE RACE strategy for credit.

R- restate or reword question as part of the answer

A - answer the question (s) fully

C - cite text evidence (a quote) to support your answer

E - explain why your answer is correct

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.6