In this unit, students examine the problems in communication caused by bias, stereotypes, and exaggeration. Students will:

• identify the use of bias in nonfiction texts.
• recognize the difference between an objective and a biased account of an event.
• recognize that bias appears to some degree in almost all writing.
• distinguish between reasonable opinions and irrational prejudice.
• recognize the ways in which viewpoint affects what an individual says, writes, and reads.
• compose a biased account of an event from a particular individual’s viewpoint.
• examine articles to identify author’s purpose and to identify evidence of biased thinking.
• recognize the role of word choice in revealing bias.
• define stereotyping and identify examples of it.
• identify and discuss the problems associated with stereotyping.
• define exaggeration and propaganda.
• identify examples of exaggeration in nonfiction.
• read several articles and identify them as objective or biased, citing supporting evidence.
• label specific examples of stereotyping and exaggeration.

• How does interaction with text provoke thinking and response?

The possible inclusion of commercial websites below is not an implied endorsement of their products, which are not free, and are not required for this lesson plan.

• “Good Morning Boys and Girls” by Rebecca Bigler from Teaching Tolerance: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-28-fall-2005/good-morning-boys-and-girls
• “Teaching ESL/EFL Students to Recognize Gender Bias in Children’s Literature” by Junmin Kuo in The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. XI, No. 11, November 2005. http://iteslj.org/Articles/Kuo-GenderBias.html
• “What Is Critical Reading?” from How the Language Really Works: The Fundamentals of Critical Reading and Effective Writing by Dan Kurland. http://www.criticalreading.com/critical_reading.htm

“Test Yourself for Hidden Bias” from Teaching Tolerance: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

http://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hidden-bias

• “Game Face” by Jill Caryl Weiner from Teaching Tolerance: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Number 28. Fall 2005. http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-28-fall-2005/game-face