Identifying Author’s

Bias for or Against

ENGLISH 8
3rd Quarter (Week 1)|
In this lesson, you are expected to:

⮚Examine biases (for or against) made by the author.

⮚Judge the relevance and worth of ideas presented in the
material.
⮚Determining the issue and stand presented in the
material.
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:
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
Comment or
Statements Agree Disagree
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
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 ________________________.
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 • Does the author use words with more
evidence for one side of an issue than the negative connotations when referring to a
other? part of an issue or specific people?
• Does the author present more negative • Does the author use words with more
evidence for one side of an issue than the positive connotation when referring to a
other? part of an issue or specific people?
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.
Learnig Task 5: Cut an article from a newspaper or magazine that
contains author’s bias and paste it in your notebook. Read the article
carefully. Then, identify the bias you have analyzed. Write a five-
sentence explanation to prove your point.
Reflection

Write your personal insights about the lesson using the

prompts below.

I understand that ___________________.

I realize that ________________________.
I need to learn more about __________.