Bias and Propaganda - continued

KIPP Healthy Schools Survey

Aims:
1. IWBAT define bias and propaganda.
2. IWBAT identify bias and propaganda in nonfiction articles.

Tasks:
1. As you wait to get your computer, read this article on author's bias. Then, answer the four questions that follow.

2. Review the definitions and examples for propaganda and bias:

• Bias is having a preference or dislike for something or someone.
• example: Mr. T went to Yale and had a great experience there, so he thinks it is the best college in the world. That is his bias because he has a strong preference for something.
• Propaganda is information used to change the way people think or act. It is often one-sided, meaning that it doesn't consider other viewpoints.
• example: If he starts giving information that is one-sided or misleading in order to try to get his students to go there, then this information would be propaganda because he is using information to change the way the students act.

3. Reread "How to Exercise and Eat Right."

• This article is located in the Writing Portfolio folder of your Google Drive.
• Highlight unsupported inferences.
• An unsupported inference is an opinion statement that lacks evidence to back it up. Unsupported inferences are often found in propaganda and indicate the author is biased.

4. On Socrative, answer the analysis questions about the "How to Exercise and Eat Right" article. Your answers will be scored after each question. You will work independently.

5. Reread a selection from today's reading of Our America (Chapter 12, page 109):

Tymeka: Johnny was my baby. Everybody use to label him as "that little bad sucker!" But I got close to Johnny and he became like a little brother to me.

          ... And I believe what happened was a freak accident, an honest mistake.

          I know from this experience, O.K.? I have a littler brother and a little sister that are twins. When they use to really get on my nerves, I used to say, "I'm gonna throw your butt out this window!" And I'd hold them out the window--just to scare them. So I feel that's what happened to Eric--they wanted to scare him so that the next time he would get that candy for them, and they just dropped him by accident. And I believe truly in my heart that's how it happened. That baby slipped out the window. They didn't throw that baby out the window. Who's that cruel? An adult would do something like that, but not no children.

6. Identify bias in the previous passage. (It's okay to look at the definition of bias in Task #1).

• Go to Google Moderator.
• Type an answer to the question: "How is Tymeka biased?"
• Remember to only use your first name and use CA as your location.
• When you finish typing and submitting your response, vote on other students' responses.

7. Review the following:

Remember, bias is the author’s opinion. All people have bias. Bias can affect your objectivity and ability to write an article in a way that is truthful. 

Going through the following checklist can help us determine if an article is objective or biased:

Author’s Bias Checklist

• The author wrote an opinion piece

• The author uses loaded words
• The author only gives one side of an argument
• The author uses stereotypes

• The author leaves out important facts or details

8. Read about loaded words:

Loaded words are words that attempt to influence the audience by appealing to their emotions. Loaded words and phrases have strong emotional implications and involve strongly positive or negative reactions beyond their literal meaning.

9. Determine which statements include loaded words and are, therefore, likely biased:

• Go to Socrative.
• Enter the room number kba. Click Join Room.
• Read the choices Mr. T places on the screen, and select the one with loaded words.   

10. Read a newspaper article and look out for bias! Answer the questions that follow. Click here to view the article and the questions. This is your exit slip.


If you finish early:

• Explain why Mr. T thinks the comic at the top of this page is funny.  Make a comment below.
• In your Google Drive, create a new document and write two versions of the same nonfiction article--one with bias and one without bias. You could write a person, a place, or event. What did you add in or take out to make it biased? (Hint, take a look at the checklist above!)
• Explore the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum online propaganda exhibit: click here
• Read an AR book silently

Homework:  Poetry Analysis: "The Grumble Family"