1. Biased and Objective Writing
Jennifer Garner
English 121 RALP

2. What is Bias?
A bias is a prejudice in a general or specific sense, usually in the sense for having a preference to one particular point of view or ideological perspective.

3. What Is Objective?
Simply stated, the objective viewpoint is an attempt to present the most factual, truthful account of reality.
Journalists attempt to use objectivity in their news reporting.

4. Try It!
Read the following excerpts and decide whether each is presenting a biased or objective viewpoint.
There was a three alarm fire on Main Street yesterday afternoon.
The soldiers should return home from the War in Iraq.
Stricter gun control laws need to be in effect.
MADD will hold their monthly meeting at the high school tonight.

5. Putting it all together
In what situations do we see biased perspective?
In what situations do we see objective perspective?
How do bias and objective viewpoints influence our world today?
Is the news biased or objective? Why or why not?

6. Bias or Objective?
Of all the traditional presentation media, 35mm slides promise to make the best impression on an audience. There is something attention grabbing and impressive about seeing well-executed color slides on a big screen. At the same time, slides are the greatest challenge to produce from the desktop (computer). Creating 35mm slides is not a solo activity like running the company newsletter off a laser printer. Making slides requires additional hardware in the form of a slide recorder, and maybe even another computer. (Thompson, “Sliding Home,” PC Publishing and Presentations)

7. Answer
Bias idea that slides make the best impression.

8. Bias or objective?
Is the following passage biased or objective? How do you know?
In a tragic loss for fiscally responsible Americans, and a giant step towards bringing the evils of socialism to our country, the U.S. Congress passed the healthcare reform bill last Sunday, ensuring that our generation’s legacy to the future will be a crippling national debt.

9. Answer
Bias because it states the author’s opinion and is full of loaded language.