ENGLISH 8 – WEEK 1

IDENTIFYING AUTHOR’S BIAS FOR OR AGAINST

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW ….………………………......................

This module mainly focuses on one lesson:
 IDENTIFYING AUTHOR’S BIAS FOR OR AGAINST

After this module you are expected to:

 Examine biases (for or against) made by the author
 Judge the relevance and worth of ideas presented in the text
 Determine the issue and stand presented in the material

INTRODUCTION ….………………………......................
We all have different opinions. We may not notice that we are carried away by the ideas of what we have read,
watched and heard. Our opinion, on the other hand, also affects one’s thoughts, feelings and actions or vice versa. In
other words, we inevitably become biased and choose what we want to believe and apply. On the other hand, not all
biases are bad. The truth is, if used only in the right way it will also be used for good.
In the same way, it is very important to detect bias because it helps us identify the purpose of the article,
movies, pictures, paintings, songs, speeches etc. It will also strengthen our understanding of the relevance and
importance of the ideas mentioned by the author/speaker as well as the issues and assumptions or stance he/she
presents.
Observe the editor’s view regarding rapid testing:

Illustration Credit: Editorial Cartoon April, 20, 2020

In this lesson, we are expected to examine the author's bias and categorize it whether he/she is biased
for/towards or biased against someone or something. This will also help us recognize the relevance of the author's
biases or worth of ideas to our own stand based on the assumptions he presented in his/her work.

Let's find out which of the statements below you would side with. Be prepared to explain your perspective on why it
was chosen.

ANTICIPATION GUIDE
Statements Agree Disagree Comment or Explanation
1. Children should be involved in family decision making.
2. Minors need to work to help with family needs.
3. People need to be vaccinated to prevent various
diseases.
4. Parents has the right to monitor your phone calls and
social media accounts.
5. Putting tracking devices on students’ ID Cards
In this activity we found out your opinion on various topics in which you stated the side you are in favor or not in favor
of. It simply shows that we have biased for / toward or biased against someone or something.
DEVELOPMENT ….………………………......................
LEARNING TASK 1. Read the statements carefully. Identify whether the author/speaker is biased for/toward or
biased against someone or something. Put a check (/) mark on the statement indicating that the author is in favor of
the message being conveyed and cross (X) mark on the message or idea he / she is not in favor.

_________ 1. The youth is the hope of our future. - Jose Rizal

_________ 2. With proper governance, life will improve for all. - Benigno Aquino III
_________ 3. A broken immigration system means broken families and broken lives. - Jose Antonio Vargas
_________ 4. I don't like this kind of life where every month you are faced with some kind of a coup. - Jejomar Binay
_________ 5. I want every Filipino woman empowered with information regarding all options available to her
regarding family planning. - Lea Salonga

LEARNING TASK 2: Analyze the editorial cartoon below. Then, answer the questions that follow.

Processing Questions:
1. What is the editorial cartoon about?
2. What issue is shown in this editorial cartoon?
3. State the stance of the cartoonist in creating it?
4. Describe the biases depicted in the editorial cartoon
by completing the sentence below.
A. Bias for/toward (in favor of) __________________
because ___________________.
B. Bias against (not in favor of) ________________
because ________________________.

https://opinionmashup.wordpress.com

IDENTIFYING AUTHOR’S BIAS FOR / AGAINST

A significant part of evaluating an author’s ethos (convincing the audience that he/she is a credible source and
is worth listening to) is identifying that author’s bias (inclined to favor one side over another).

Bias is any opinion that influences a person’s thoughts, feelings, or actions. An author/speaker can be:
• biased against something (lean negatively against it); or
• have a bias for/toward something (lean favorably or positively toward it).

Example:
“Men have sacrificed and crippled themselves physically and emotionally to feed, house, and protect women
and children. None of their pain or achievement is registered in feminist rhetoric, which portrays men as oppressive
and callous exploiters.” ― Camille Paglia

(The author/speaker has a bias for/towards gender equality. On the other hand, the author/speaker biased
against the thinking which describes men as oppressive and reckless exploiters.)

How to determine what an author’s bias is:

Author’s Use of Evidence Author’s Use of Diction

• Does the author present more positive evidence for • Does the author use words with more negative
one side of an issue than the other? connotations when referring to a part of an issue or
specific people?

• Does the author present more negative evidence for • Does the author use words with more positive
one side of an issue than the other? connotation when referring to a part of an issue or
specific people?
Source: Core Hero.com

ENGAGEMENT ….………………………......................
LEARNING TASK 3: Examine the sets of statements or opinions below. Then, categorize the following whether the
speaker/author is biased for or against someone/something. Explain why.
(Bias for) In favor of

(Bias against) Not in favor of

(Bias for) In favor of

(Bias against) Not in favor of

ASSIMILATION ….………………………......................
Learning Task 4: Search on the lyrics of the song “Where is the Love” by Black Eyed Peas. Study its message then,
complete the table below by answering the given questions.

What is/are the issue/s presented?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________
What is/are the author’s assumption/s or stance?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
________________________________________

(Bias for) In favor of (Bias against) Not in favor of

Do you agree with the idea presented by the author in his work?
Explain why you think that way.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
 ASSESSMENT ….………………………......................
INSTRUCTIONS: Read the statements below. Then, point out the ideas that favor the author and those that don’t.

1. Nations will rise and fall, but equality remains the ideal. The universal aim is to achieve respect for the entire human
race, not for the dominant few. ― Carlos P. Romulo

A. Bias for/toward (in favor of) __________________

B. Bias against (not in favor of __________________

2. Love should have no alternatives; love should be the sole reason for loving; love should spring of itself.― Nick
Joaquín

A. Bias for/toward (in favor of) __________________

B. Bias against (not in favor of) __________________

3. I want our people to be like a Molave tree, strong and resilient, standing on the hillsides, unafraid of the rising tide,
lighting and the storm, confident of its strength. ― Manuel L. Quezon

A. Bias for/toward (in favor of) __________________

B. Bias against (not in favor of) __________________

REFLECTION ….………………………......................
Write your personal insights about the lesson using the prompts below.

I understand that ____________________________________________________.

I realize that _________________________________________________________.
I need to learn more about ___________________________________________.

ANSWER KEY:
Prepared by:
IDENTIFYING AUTHOR’S Checked by:
BIAS FOR OR AGAINSTAnna Joy C. Asilo- SDO Tayabas City Maria Madel C. Rubia-Head Teacher III
LEARNING TASK 1
1. /
2. /
3. X
4. X
5. /