Detecting Bias English 11

Questions for Discussion 1. Did you attend day care/ pre-school as a young child? What do you remember learning in these programs/ What do you think is learned? 2. Share what you know about the Dalai Lama. 3. Should the driving age be raised to reflect higher maturity levels? Explain. 4. Have holidays been made too commercial? 5. What is a guillotine? What do you think of the use of these in the past? 6. Consider times you multitask. Are you effective at multitasking? Explain.

What does Bias mean…?  Definition: Positive or negative attitude toward an idea, topic, etc. Often based on preconceived prejudice or viewpoints rather then valid evidence.  Examples?  Who can it affect?  Where do we see it the most? News Gossip columnists Where else?

How to detect Bias in the news?  Bias through selection and omission Details ignored Others included EXAMPLE:  A few people boo during a speech. “Remarks were greeted by jeers.” “A handful of dissidents.”

How to detect Bias in the news?  Bias through placement Who makes the headlines? In what order are they placed in the paper? Where do the details in the article fall? EXAMPLE:  Article on the topic of The number of sufferers of mental illness imprisoned. Newsworthy facts first… Wait until 4 th line to say: “Sufferers of mental illness are no more likely to be violent then anyone else.”

How to detect Bias in the news?  Bias by headline How creative can you be with a title? EXAMPLE:  On the topic of Young Offender killing Police Officer. (come up with examples) “17 Year Old Boy Murders esteemed officer Sergeant Jim Brown.” “Young Offender Guns Down Police Officer”

How to detect Bias in the news?  Bias by word choice and tone  The use of word choice with positive or negative connotation. EXAMPLE:  Reporting on last nights Hockey Game “loss” vs. “near win” “come back” vs. “defeat” “shut out” vs. “stopped” “winless” vs. “loosing streak” Source:

Bias in the news today!  Quebec Muslim Badia Senouci told: 'change your religion' - Montreal - CBC News Quebec Muslim Badia Senouci told: 'change your religion' - Montreal - CBC News Demonstrators take part in a protest against Quebec's proposed Values Charter in Montreal on Saturday Sept. 14, (Ryan Remiorz/CP)

Reading for Thinking- Detecting Bias  PART ONE: Read through the scenarios provided on your handout and decide if the author shows bias- select a possible response from a-c. KEEP TRACK ON LOOSELEAF!  PART TWO: Working with a classmate share your answers and compare your findings.  PART THREE: Self Evaluation Pass in your work once completed!