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English Grade 8
Quarter 3 Module 1
Examine biases (for or against) made by
the author

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I. Title Topic

Examine biases (for or against) made by the author

II. Concept Notes

An essential part of evaluating an author’s morals or standards is identifying that author’s

bias. Bias is any opinion that influences a person’s thoughts, feelings, or actions. A person can be
biased against something or have a bias for something. An author’s bias is any opinion or prejudice
that affects that author’s writing and prevents the author from being completely neutral about the
topic or issue which s/he is writing.
Bias is a disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing, usually in a way that
is closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair. Biases can be innate or learned. People may develop biases
for or against an individual, a group, or a belief. In science and engineering, a bias is a systematic
error. Statistical bias results from an unfair sampling of a population, or from an estimation process
that does not give accurate results on average.
A bias is a tendency, inclination, or prejudice toward or against something or someone.
Some biases are positive and helpful—like choosing to only eat foods that are considered healthy or
staying away from someone who has knowingly caused harm. But biases are often based on
stereotypes, rather than actual knowledge of an individual or circumstance. Whether positive or
negative, such cognitive shortcuts can result in prejudgments that lead to rash decisions or
discriminatory practices.
Bias is an irrational assumption or belief that warps the ability to make a decision based on
facts and evidence. Equally, it is a tendency to ignore any evidence that does not line up with that
assumption.
How to determine what an author’s bias is:
The author may state directly some of his/her biases by telling the reader his/her opinion on
certain topics or admitting that s/he has a conflict of interest or preference. But when an author does not
acknowledge his/her own bias, a skilled reader can infer what an author’s bias may be by looking at the
author’s diction and use of evidence.

When looking at the author’s use of evidence, ask yourself:

• Does the author present more positive evidence for one side of an issue than the
other?
• Does the author present more negative evidence for one side of an issue than the
other?
These are both clue s that the author may be biased for or against a particular side.

When looking at the author’s diction, ask yourself:

• Does the author use words with more negative connotations when referring to one
side of an issue or particular people?
• Does the author use words with more positive connotations when referring to one
side of an issue or particular people?
These connotations are another clue to what or whom the author may be biased for or against.
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III. Learning Tasks

➢ Learning Task 1
Instructions: Read the text comprehensively and answer the following questions below.

I am Michelle, a single mother. People say I will never be a successful person someday.
If a guy gets a girl pregnant, he is right and it is natural. But if a girl gets pregnant without a
husband, it is another story. When the news spreads of my pregnancy, they say I am top of
my game. People make stories like I am "Malandi" or a woman of the world. Was I unfairly
judged?

1. What have you learned about the text?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________
2. How would you react to the situation where Michelle was unfairly judged?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________

➢ Learning Task 2
Instructions: Read the short conversation and answer the questions below.

Aya: Hey Raine, how are you?

Raine: Hi Aya! Have you heard about our classmate who became an international actor after
winning the contest? Do you still remember Gian?
Aya: Really? How lucky he is!
Raine: I don't think so if Gian is good. I am still in favor of Daniel.Where did you get that
information?
Aya: I have just seen it on television. Yeah, I agree with you.Daniel is the best.
Raine: We are both in favor of Daniel. Poor Gian.

1. When you are in favor of someone, do you consider yourself as biased?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________
2. How do you evaluate the conversation you read?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________
3. Why do some people easily judge their fellowmen?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________

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 ➢ Learning Task 3
Instructions: Read and answer the following questions carefully.

1. What does it mean to show bias?

A. to be angry C. to favor one side over another
B. to refuse to take a side D. to show knowledge

2. Which statement is NOT an example of author bias?

A. The best new song is Black Pink’s “How you like that.”
B. The #1 song on the Billboard Top 100 this week is “Blinding Lights” by The Weekend.
C. “One Call” is the worst song.
D. Taylor Swift is the best singer.

3. Everybody is biased.
A. True B. False C. Maybe

4. My daughter’s boyfriend is very rude. He calls so late at night, sometimes as late as

11:00 at night. Last week he called me Clara instead of Mrs. Guzman--I quickly corrected
him. So disrespectful. Today he came over for lunch and brought cookies without even
asking if it was okay. What if I had already made cookies? The author is biased against…
A. Dating B. Her daughter C. Her daughter’s boyfriend D. Rude children
5. Which of the underlined words help show the author’s bias?

My daughter’s boyfriend is very rude. He calls so late at night, sometimes as late as

11:00 at night. Last week he called me Clara instead of Mrs. Guzman--I quickly corrected
him.
A. boyfriend B. called C. quickly D. rude

IV. Reflection
Instructions: Complete the statement.

I have learned that ______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

V. References

http://en.m.wikipedia.org › wiki › Bias

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/bias
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bias.asp
https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/authors-bias
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 https://www. sjsu.edu/mary.warner
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bias.asp
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/bias
https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/basics/bias
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/bias
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bias.asp
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bias.asphttps://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/authors-bias
https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/authors-biashttps://www
https://www./

VI. Answer Key

Answers may vary. Answers may vary. 5. D 4. C 3. A 2. B 1. C

Learning Task 1 Learning Task 2 Learning Task 3

Compiled by: Ma. Melody D. Pejante

Lea M. Bayaya