In order to become well-informed adults, it is a good idea for students to develop the habit of reading the news and keeping informed on important topics, such as geography, the environment, and world events. With the overwhelming amount of information available both in print and online, it is critical that students learn to read news stories with a critical eye. This lesson will help you evaluate news stories by determining their sources and recognizing biases or viewpoints.
Read the following two articles: Kids and Food Ads from Newsweek and Nepalese Sherpas from National Geographic. In your blog, answer the following questions based on one of the articles:
What is the article about?
Are there biases in this article? If yes, is the bias against or for someone or something?
Explain the bias and provide examples.
If you have the time read this commentary titled Rocking the Vote which contains many examples of bias against individuals.
Answers to the exercises in the handout.
The Presidency of John F. Kennedy
b. The authors are critical of John F Kennedy
Examples of bias:
...promised more than Kennedy could deliver...
Only eight months into his first year, it was evident that Kennedy lacked the ability to move Congress (no evident to support)
Still struggling to appease conservative members of Congress, the new president pursued civil rights with a notable lack of vigor.
Statements above are merely opinions with no facts to support.
The Animal Rights Movement.
c. It's is impossible to determine the authors' personal feelings.
Explanation:
The authors of this article have presented views from those who support the movement (e.g. Singer) and those who by reseachers who used animals in experiments (Jasper & Nelkin; Novak)
Frida Kahlo
a. The author admires Kahlo's work.
Example:
...developing her brand of colorful, personalized surrealism. (positive description)
The Civil Right Act of 1964.
c. It's impossible to determine the authors' personal feelings.
Explanation.
The article merely presents the events as they actually happened with no judgment and use of emotional words.
Lowel, Robert (1917 - 1977)
b. The author is critical of Robert Lowell.
Example(s):
For better or for worse, Lowell was the modern poet-as-film-star..
Lowell was extremely gifted....even where it judges the most recent poems as failures, is not quite incorrect, for it mistakes potential for achievement, and overrates him.
The description on Lowell's work are positive. Thus, the author is biased for Lowell.
If you have any questions, need clarification or disagree with me ask me in the 'comment' feature. I'll be glad to answer them.
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