8

Activity Sheet for

English

Quarter 3 – Week 1 – MELC 1 Examining

Biases in Written works

REGION VI – WESTERN VISAYAS

 Quarter 3, Week 1

Activity Sheets in English 8

Examining Biases (for or against) Made by the Author

I. Learning Competency
Examine biases (for or against) made by the author

II. Background information for learners

Critical Reading requires that a reader recognize bias in writing. Without this
recognition, the reader may become the victim of the writer’s propaganda. To identify bias in
a passage or article, the reader must read through the material and ask “What does the writer
want me to think or to do?”
Bias is a subjective way of thinking that tells only one side of a story, sometimes
leading to inaccurate information or a false impression. When reading the information, you
must be able to evaluate whether the author is biased in giving out information; and you must
be able to identify the level of bias in potential sources.
An Author’s bias is any opinion or prejudice that affects the author’s writing. It
prevents the author from being completely neutral about the topic or issue about which s/he
is writing.
Some Possible Sources of Bias
● The writer is relying on incomplete information
● The writer is trying to deceive the reader
● The writer wants the reader to believe what he or she is saying
● The writer’s past experience is influencing his or her thinking.
● The writer is trying to persuade the reader.
Bias is often present in editorials, advertisements, religious publications, and political
materials.
Common Devices or techniques used by writers of propaganda and biased
materials:
1. Use of words for emotional effect – words like “commie”, “racist”, “hippie”, “liberal”,
“pinko” or words that appeal to the emotion like “happy”, “wonderful” to promote either a
positive or negative response to the reader.
Example: An example of bias in an advertisement of a beverage is that if you open it and
drink it, you become happy.
2. Repetition – The most frequently used propaganda and advertising technique. Repetitive
exposures of ads and propaganda to gain familiarity and popularity among the audience.
3. Flattery – The writer may use praise to try to gain a positive reaction from the reader.
Example: The man of the hour is the superman of this agency. Without him, this company
would be in the drain. His smile captures the spirit. His voice is an authority, and his
actions, exemplary.
4. Stacking the Cards – Instead of giving an objective description, the writer may give
evidence to support only one side of a question and may deliberately omit any opposing
ideas.
Example: Pots Potato chips are 100% homegrown organic potatoes, freshly baked and
fried in healthy fats and oils, with less sodium, less artificial flavorings, picked and packed
on the same day to ensure freshness.
5. Bandwagon – The writer might suggest that everyone is doing something or thinking in
a certain way and that the reader should do the same.
Example: You believe that High School students should take the Drug Test, but your
friends and schoolmates disagree with the idea, so you joined them and didn’t take the
drug test yourself.
 Quarter 3, Week 1

6. Testimonial - when a product is endorsed by using words from famous people or figures
of authority
Examples: People believed and preferred generic drugs because it is being endorsed by
Susan Roces, the wife of Fernando Poe Jr.
7. Transfer - when a product is endorsed using the picture of a famous person, things,
ideas, or symbolisms but no words from the said person, thing, ideas, or symbolisms
Example: People prefer to eat at a fast-food chain because they saw pictures of a happy
family and children of celebrities eating there.

III. Reference for Learners

● https://www.google.com/search?q=www.+sjsu.edu%3Efaculty%3Emary.warner%3EIdentifyi
ng+Bias&rlz=1C1CHBF_enPH876PH876&oq=www.+sjsu.edu%3Efaculty%3Emary.warner%
3EIdentifying+Bias&aqs=chrome..69i57.84641j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
● https://www.gpisd.org/cms/lib01/TX01001872/Centricity/Domain/2148/Week%209.pdf
● https://www.qacps.org/cms/lib02/MD01001006/Centricity/Domain/857/bais%20cell%20phon
e%20articles.pdf

IV. ACTIVITIES

Activity 1.
Identify the propaganda used in the following advertisements:

1. A. transfer
B. emotional
C. testimonial
D. flattery

A. transfer
2. B. emotional
C. testimonial
D. flattery

A. card stacking
3. B. bandwagon
C. testimonial
D. flattery

4. Centurion Tuna Flakes in Oil. With Omega 3. Good for the Heart Good for the Health.
Fresh from the Sea to the Can. Lavish in nature’s health provided by Centurion Tuna
Flakes in Oil.
a. card stacking b. bandwagon c. testimonial d. flattery

5. Germ Guard Bactericidal soap. Kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses. Approved by
the Epidemiologist Association of the Philippines. Join the 90% Filipino Families who use
Germ Guard Bactericidal Soap and stay safe and clean in a germ free environment.
a. card stacking b. bandwagon c. testimonial d. flattery
 Quarter 3, Week 1
Activity 2. As you read each paragraph, be ready to determine and identify the bias made by
the author.
1. During this time of the pandemic, the majority of communications rely on using cellphones.
Even students are now relying heavily on cellphones - to reach and be reached as well as to
continue learning. But according to Thomas Sherman- A Virginia Tech Professor of education
said, “Cellphones don’t contribute to learning and are potentially a distraction.” He further
said that there are already enough distractions; there’s no need to add another.
a. The Tech Professor is relying on incomplete information.
b. The Tech Professor is trying to deceive the reader.
c. The Tech Professor wants the reader to believe what he or she is saying.
d. The Tech Professor's experience is influencing his or her thinking.
e. The Tech Professor is trying to persuade the reader.
2. Reports on certain people who were tested positive of SARS – a co-agent of COVID19 in a
particular community, shocked the townspeople. The residential area was locked down for 2
weeks and contact tracing was intensively implemented. One of the residents, manifested
early stages of cough and sore throat without a fever. He was not listed among the contacts,
but one of the Brgy. Officials insisted to report him to the Local Health Center for swab testing
and quarantine.
a. The Brgy. Official is relying on incomplete information.
b. The Brgy. Official is trying to deceive residents.
c. The Brgy. Official wants the residents to believe what he or she believes.
d. The Brgy. Official past experience is influencing his or her thinking.
e. The Brgy. Official is trying to persuade health officials that he is right.
3. A Local radio station reported and posted on their FB page about a certain Juan de la Cruz
not his real name) who went amok and started terrorizing the village holding and waving a
Bolo (a big sharpened blade used for cutting sugar cane). The report mentioned the name of
the person, the place, the interviews among the residents and the police who was sent to the
incident. The report went viral and the netizens flooded the page with different comments but
the majority of their comments were that Juan was under the influence of drugs and liquor.
a. The netizens are relying on incomplete information.
b. The netizens are trying to deceive the readers.
c. The netizens want the residents to believe what they believe.
d. The netizens past experience is influencing his or her thinking.
e. The netizens are trying to persuade the readers that they are right.
Activity 3. Identify the following statement as objective or biased. Write (O) if it is objective
and (B) if it is biased.
1. COVID19 cases in the Philippines breached 352 thousand.
2. Students to stay at home and mulling on modules are really boring.
3. According to DOH, physical distancing, wearing face mask & face shield cuts virus
transmission by 96%.
4. The government has wasted far too much money on a COVID19 cases.
5. The front-line workers like the nurses and the doctors are the first people to be hit by the
virus.
6. It is still fun in the Philippines despite this pandemic.
7. Rubbing alcohol is a natural bactericidal treatment. This means it kills bacteria but doesn’t
necessarily prevent their growth.

V. Answer Key