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English 9 Activity Sheet

Quarter 3 – MELC 1

Differentiating Biases from Prejudices

REGION VI – WESTERN VISAYAS

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 Quarter 3, Week 1

Learning Activity Sheets (LAS) No. 1

Name of Learner: _______________________________________________________

Grade and Section: _____________________________ Date: ___________________

ENGLISH LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET DIFFERENTIATING BIASES FROM PREJUDICES

I. Learning Competency with Code

Differentiate biases from prejudices

II. Background Information for Learners

To become a critical reader, one must have the skill of understanding certain processes, models, questions, and
theories that result in enhanced clarity and comprehension. These processes involve a lot of cognitive skills – and one
of them is the skill to evaluate the statements of opinions embedded in each text. Opinions are a great find in any text
for they make reading interactive. The flow of ideas between and among the author, the text, and the reader is a good
manifestation of understanding. Therefore, reading opinions and arguments develops one’s critical mindedness.

In reading argumentative texts, a reader must identify which parts are the author’s biases and prejudices. Biases and
prejudices stir conversation and interaction – resulting to a constructive exchange of viewpoints. They may sound
subjective and lacking evidence but biases and prejudices add to the text’s personal connection to the reader especially
if the topic is relevant to him.

In this Learning Activity Sheet, you will be learning how to differentiate a bias from a prejudice and how each affects
the purpose served in a text.

BIAS is a tendency to lean in a certain direction, either in favor of or against a particular thing. It may be a favor of or
against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. Most of the time,
biases come from cultural contexts. People may develop biases toward or against an individual, an ethnic group, a
sexual or gender identity, a natural viewpoint, or not having an open mind. Bias can come in many forms and is related
to prejudice and intuition.

Look at the examples below:

GENDER BIAS: If someone has a bias about women, they can take
two different approaches. If they are biased towards women, they might
hire only women because they feel they make better employees for
some gender-related reason. Conversely, if they are biased against
women, they might hire a man over a more-qualified female candidate.

Image source: How gender bias hurts men. (2015). Retrieved

Image from:https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-
magazine/pages/1015-discriminating-against-men.aspx
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RELIGION BIAS: Biases toward certain religions can be
manifested in two different ways. If someone is biased
toward their own religion, they will think their beliefs and
practices are superior to 1 any other form of religion. If,
however, they're biased against a certain religion, they
might show it by making rude or insensitive comments or go
as far as vandalizing religious buildings.

Image source: Does GoFundMe have a bias against religious beliefs? (2016).
Retrieved fro m:https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion -

PREJUDICE - Prejudice is a preconceived affective feeling towards a person or group member based solely on his or her
group membership. The word is often used to refer to preconceived, usually unfavorable, feelings towards a person or people because
 of their sex, gender, beliefs, values, social class, age, disability, religion, sexuality, race/ethnicity, language, nationality, beauty,
occupation, education, criminality, sport team affiliation or other personal characteristics. In this case, it refers to a positive or negative
evaluation of another person based on his or her perceived group membership.

Some of the more common examples of prejudice include:

racism sexism homophobia religious prejudice

ageism nationalism classicism
Prejudice often ends in discrimination. In essence, prejudice is a feeling, and the act of discrimination is the
end result. Examine the following historical events that are examples of prejudice and discrimination.

RACIAL PREJUDICE: After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, any person of Japanese
descent living in America was considered a suspect. As prejudices against the Japanese
grew simply because they had a genetic link to an enemy country, discrimination
became evident as President Roosevelt had them rounded up and held in internment
camps.
Image source: times. (n.d.) Retrieved from: Example of prejudice in history and modern
https://examples.yo
urdictionary.com
xamples-
ofprejudice.html

AGEISM PREJUDICE: Making retirement mandatory or strongly

encouraged at a specific age based on the prejudice that people of
that age won't be as productive or able to do their jobs.
Image source: Ageism in the workplace cuts both ways. (2019). Retrieved
from: https://www.trainingjournal.com/articles/opinion/ageimworkplace-
- cuts-both-ways

III. Accompanying DepEd Textbook and Educational Sites

English 9 Anglo-American Literature Learner’s Material s. 2015, pp. 403-404

Example of prejudice in history and modern times. (n.d.) Retrieved from:

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-prejudice.html

Prejudice vs. Bias. (2018). Retrieved from: https://www.askdifference.com/prejudice-vs-bias/

IV. Activity Proper

Activity No. 1

Read the situations stated below and write down the first thing that you have thought of upon reading each. You may
write a reaction, a feeling, a description or anything that comes first into your mind.

1. A girl wearing thick eye glasses - __________________________

2. Somebody who has an iPhone - ___________________________
3. Children begging for money in the streets - ___________________

Each of you might have answered differently in each item. It is because you all have different experiences and opinion.
What might appear right to you may appear wrong to other people. This is where the concept of bias and prejudice
comes in.

Activity No. 2

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 Biases and prejudices are found in many forms and aspects in the society. Take a look at the activity found on pages
403-404 of your Learner’s Material. You will see four pictures and quotations which have reflective questions for each.
Instead of doing this by group, choose only one picture and answer the question that goes with it.

1. A picture showing black slaves being chained and sold to masters Question/Task: Give your insights regarding
the sufferings of people who attempted to live as human beings.
______________________________________________________________
2. A quote from Nelson Mandela saying, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change
the world.”
Question/Task: Cite situations that prove the relevance and worth of this quote.
______________________________________________________________
3. A short poem from Shakti Gawain entitled “No Bullying”

No Bullying

Anything in life that we don’t

Accept will simply make trouble For us until
me make peace. with it.

Question/Task: Have you ever experienced being bullied in school, at home, or in your community? Share
your stories.
______________________________________________________________

Let us deal with differentiating a bias from a prejudice. This skill is helpful for you, readers, to spot opinions that are
based on facts and opinions that are products only of preconceived feeling toward someone or something.

Activity No. 3

Directions: Read the following situations and understand the context of each. Then, answer the questions that follow.
A judge in a local beauty pageant is the uncle of one of the candidates. Given the criteria for judging, the candidate ranks
second only to her contender. Everyone was surprised when at the end of the contest, the candidate rose to first place
after her uncle changed his scores in the last minute.

1. The scenario illustrates a/an ______________________.

a. bias b. prejudice c. discrimination d. opinion
2. Which factor affected the favor given by the judge?
a. personal relationship
b. religious affiliation
c. community membership
d. set of criteria

For the upcoming Barangay Day, the people of Brgy. Lubi-lubi were gathered by their barangay captain to plan for the
activities to be done on the day of the celebration. One of the proposed activities is the Amateur Singing Contest to be
participated by both young people and adults. When the prize was discussed, the barangay captain suggested that the
prize for the adult category must be larger than the prize for the youth category.

3. The scenario illustrates a ______________________.

a. bias b. prejudice c. discrimination d. opinion
4. What do you suggest to make the situation get rid of favors and biases?
a. Encourage the people not to vote the captain in the next election.
b. Cancel the contest and prize money.
c. Let the majority decide about the prize money allocation for both categories.
d. Convert the prize money into a new project in the barangay.

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 In the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, there are social class prejudices. The main example is Darcy,
who didn't consider Elizabeth as a suitable wife because of her lower social status. Jane Austen wrote the first draft of
Pride and Prejudice in 1793. During this time, a man who was well-educated and grew up immersed in refineries
would never consider marrying a woman who grew up in a lower-income household. He'd consider her unworthy
and even unable to function in his high society hemisphere.

5. Prejudices are determined also by social norms and standards. In the 18th century, which norm was challenged
by the characters in the novel?

a. For a couple to be married, they must be of the same religion.

b. Wealthy men must also marry women of influence.
c. Children of slaves must not play with children of masters.
d. Same sex marriage is prohibited.

Activity 4
Directions: Tell whether the situation presented is a BIAS or a PREJUDICE. Write B if it states a bias and P if it states
a prejudice.

_______ 1. A store manager did not hire a competent man just because of his tattooed arms and neck.
_______ 2. A black man found it hard to be liked by his fiancée’s white parents even if it is legally accepted to
interracially marry.
_______ 3. A judge who is related to a particular politician dismisses the case against his relative.
_______ 4. Your friend’s father talks ill about the government because he thinks the president is incompetent.
_______ 5. After the 9-11 bombing, Americans looked at Muslim people with hate and disgust.

V. Reflection

How should you respond to a friend’s biased or prejudiced statement which is the total opposite of what you
believe in? __________________________________________________________________________

VI. Answer Key

Activity Proper