Identifying
Author’s Bias for
or Against
Week 1 – Quarter 3
BIAS
- is a subjective way of thinking that tells
only ONE SIDE of the story which
sometimes leads to inaccurate information
or wrong impression. It is a prejudice in
favor of or against one thing, person, or
group compared with another, usually in a
way considered to be unfair. Favoritism for
something an author is writing about.
BIAS
- is the tendency of an individual
to have a positive or negative
liking towards or against
something. Showing bias prevents
an individual from approaching an
issue or matter from a neutral
point of view.
BIASED STATEMENT:
“SHANE DESERVES TO BE THE SSLG
PRESIDENT SINCE SHE IS MORE
RESPONSIBLE THAN AKIESHA AND
BECAUSE SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND..”
BIAS IN WRITING
A prejudice against something an
author is writing about.
Favoritism for something an author is
writing about.
An author letting feelings or emotions
cloud his/her objectivity concerning
something he/she is writing about.
RECOGNIZING BIASES
1.Look for loaded Emotional Biases:
words Stem from impulse or
intuition and tend to
– words that result from reasoning
are charged with influenced by feelings.
emotion (whether Are harder to correct
positive or because they are based
negative) can reveal on feelings, which can be
an author’s opinion difficult to change.
about his/her topic.
2. Watch for stereotypes
– if the author labels an entire group, the
writing is probably biased.
EXAMPLES:
Black people to be more violent and to engage more in crimes than white
people.
People with tattoos are troublemaker and bad people.
Politicians are all corrupt.
People with lighter skin complexion are kinder and more intelligent and
more capable than those with darker complexion.
All Filipinos working abroad are domestic helpers who can’t afford
branded items.
3. Notice vague language or generalizations
- if the author isn’t using specific language, this
could be an indicator of bias.
EXAMPLE:
BIASED STATEMENT BETTER STATEMENT
“Educators do not “Some educators do
consider each child’s not consider each
particular learning child’s particular
style when developing learning style when
lessons.” developing lessons.”
4. Be on the lookout for one-sided argument
- if the author only presents one side of an
argument, his/her writing is probably biased.
EXAMPLE:
BIASED STATEMENT BETTER STATEMENT
“My daughter texts “Teenagers use cell
constantly, which phones, specifically for
shows that teenagers texting, has increased
use cell phones more 33% in the last 2 years
than we did in the (Mcdonalds, 2011).”
past.”
5. Does the author present facts or
opinions?
Facts are what they are – the truth.
But opinions can be based on feelings,
emotions, and prejudice, which aren’t
objective.
WORDS THAT DENOTE BIAS
awful better fun miserable terrible
amazing disgusting good more unbelievable
bad exciting great most ugly
beautiful favorite handsome smart very
best frightful horrible stupid
IDENTIFYING AUTHOR’S BIAS FOR /
AGAINST
An author/speaker can be:
BIASED AGAINST something
(lean negatively against it)
have a BIAS FOR/TOWARD something
(lean favorably or positively
toward it).
Identify the bias statement. Put a checkmark
before the number if the statement is biased and
cross if it is
1. Pretty are. lazy.
unbiased
people
2. The research shows that the stock market
has risen a larger percentage during
summer than in winter.
3. He is the best person for the job.
4. The survey shows that the elderly are our
biggest customers.
5. People who are good at Math are brainy.
Processing Questions:
1. What is the editorial cartoon about?
2. What issue is shown in this editorial
cartoon?
3. State the stance of the cartoonist in
creating it?
4. Describe the biases depicted in the
editorial cartoon by completing the sentence
below.
A.Bias for/toward (in favor of)
Read the statements below. Then, point out the
ideas that favor the author and those that don’t.
1.Nations will rise and fall, but equality remains
the ideal. The universal aim is to achieve
respect for the entire human race, not for the
dominant few.
― Carlos P. Romulo
A.Bias for/toward (in favor of) __________________
B.B. Bias against (not in favor of
__________________
2. Love should have no alternatives;
love should be the sole reason for
loving; love should spring of itself.
― Nick Joaquín
A.Bias for/toward (in favor of)
___________
B.B. Bias against (not in favor of)
_________
Identify whether the author/speaker is biased for/toward or biased
against someone or something. Put a check (/) mark on the
statement indicating that the author is in favor of the message
being conveyed and cross (X) mark on the message or idea he /
she is not in favor.
_________ 1. The youth is the hope of our future. - Jose Rizal
_________ 2. With proper governance, life will improve for all. -
Benigno Aquino III
_________ 3. A broken immigration system means broken families
and broken lives. - Jose Antonio Vargas
_________ 4. I don't like this kind of life where every month you are
faced with a coup. - Jejomar Binay
_________ 5. I want every Filipino woman empowered with
information regarding all options available to her regarding family
planning. - Lea Salonga
