POINT OF VIEW/DETECTING BIAS
NOTES

Objective
Students will be able to recognize bias, vested interests, stereotyping, manipulation, and misuse of information after completing the lesson on Point of View/Detecting/Bias. 

Notes: What is a point of view detecting bias?
1. People (writers) often try to persuade others (their readers) to accept a certain viewpoint by presenting facts and opinions. 

2. The reader must analyze the reasoning that the author uses in support of his/her point of view. 

3. To detect a point of view or evidence of bias one must understand the following:
	A. generalizations (what All, or Everybody says/thinks) 
	B. exaggerations to distort or mislabel
C. use loaded (emotionally charged) words/images for example worst, best, or heinous.
	D. use opinions as facts

4. Bias can be found in television news reports, movies, current events programs, Internet websites, and public speakers.

5. Where can Point of View artifact be located?
	A. Newspaper
	B. One the same page as political cartoons.
	C. Editorial section.

6. Students will Analyze an author’s  point of view and determine the bias. 

7.Students will research contemporary controversial issues on individual and group rights by detect bias for their Point of View section of their portfolio.

Point of View/Detecting Bias
Template

What is the source? 

What is the title?

Who is the author?

What is the author's purpose?

What are the author's arguments in support of his/her viewpoint? 

Are generalizations or exaggerations used? Give evidence from the source. 

Are any opinions stated as facts? Give evidence from the source. 

Are emotionally "loaded" words/images used? Give evidence. 

Does the author's bias weaken his/her arguments? Explain. 

Describe how you were able to evaluate the author's point of view. 

				Point of View/Detecting Bias

It's time to stop playing with these kids!
Times have changed and the nature of the crimes have become more serious. Many more juveniles are committing crimes today than ever before. Juveniles who commit these heinous crimes should pay the appropriate price. After all, misbehaving and truancy of yesterday are not the same as the drug use and murder of today. No matter what the age, if you do the crime you should do the time.
	Gregory Kane, Opinion Editor for the Sun Paper. November 1, 2005
What is the source? 
The Baltimore Sun Paper, November 1, 2005

What is the title?
“It is time to stop playing with these kids.”

Who is the author?
Gregory Kane, Opinion Editor for the Sun Paper.

What is the author's purpose?
He suggests that juvenile penalties no longer fit the severity of the crimes being committed.

What are the author's arguments in support of his/her viewpoint? 
The author implied that “times have changed, juvenile crimes have become more severe, and the current penalties do not address more violent crimes. Mr. Kane believes that, penalties should be harsher

Are generalizations or exaggerations used? Give evidence from the source. 
		The generalization Gregory Kane used was “crimes have become more serious"

Are any opinions stated as facts? Give evidence from the source. 
The author implied that many more juveniles are committing crimes today as compared to the past. He failed to provide data or statistics

Are emotionally "loaded" words/images used? Give evidence. 
We selected "heinous crimes" because to seemed to label young people as criminals
Does the author's bias weaken his/her arguments? Explain. 
		No ‑ the author supports his viewpoint with comparisons of crime yesterday and today
		Yes ‑ the author should include more facts

Describe how you were able to evaluate the author's point of view. 
We analyzed the article by reading the editorial to identify the viewpoint, and then we decided if the arguments were convincing.