Language, Bias, and Putting It All TogetherRead 142Week 15

Today’s Agenda•Go over next week’s work•Discuss writing tips for the paper•Word choice and bias•Discussion web

Make-Up Week•Choose two weekly that you missed.•Come to class on time, and submit it

for full credit.•If you are absent, make sure you

submit it by 7:00 pm.

Last Inspiration Assignment •Activity O: Inspiration•Go to the counter and ask for the

Opposing Viewpoints pamphlets.  •Choose ONE article in a pamphlet. •Create a map that include the

following: claim, assumptions, emotional appeals, logical fallacies, the larger issues, counter-arguments.  

Next Week•Come to class first.•I will go over the final review sheet and

give any last-minute instructions for the presentation.

•We will go to lab together.•You will have until the lab closes to work

with your group.•On the back of the sheet of paper entitled

“Homecoming Marred by Police Activity,” write “Writing Tips.”

Writing tip #1:•Do not use the word “you.”•Please re-write this:

•The writer wants you to think that capital punishment is wrong.

•Better: The writer wants the reader to think that capital punishment is wrong.

•The writer tries to make you feel sorry for recipients of the death penalty.

Writing tip #2:

•Elaborate and use examples from the text.•How can you elaborate?

Malkin makes an appeal to fear when she says that many crimes are being made by illegal immigrants.

Writing Tip #3: Refer to author by last name.•Anna makes a slippery slope fallacy when

she says that the economy will come to a standstill if illegal immigrants are deported.

Pairing ActivityYou will be given a card.The cards will have different numbers and colors. Some cards will say “Wild.”

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Find someone with . . .A different number, different color

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If you have a Wild card,Wait until all the pairs are formed, and then choose a pair to join.

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Find someone with . . .A different number, same colorThe person with the Wild card, joins later.

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Find someone with the. . .Same number, different colorThe person with the Wild card, joins later.

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Let’s go over last week’s syllogisms.

Find someone with . . .A different number, same colorThe person with the Wild card, joins later.

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All boys are failing in school.

•My son is a boy.•He is failing in school.

All Democrats spend money.•President Obama is a Democrat.•He spends money.

No eight-year-old is a college student.•George is eight years old.•He is not a college student.

No politician is honest.•Barbara Boxer is a politician.•She is not honest.

Language and Bias•A few weeks ago we talked about

ambiguous, prejudicial, euphemistic language.

•Today we are going to talk about how this affects an article’s objectivity.

Editorial vs. News Articles• Bias is an inclination to present or hold a partial

perspective at the expense of (possibly equally valid) alternatives. Bias can come in many forms.

• Editorial articles, by its nature, are inherently “biased.” They are written to reflect a writer’s opinion, and a writer will do whatever it takes to be persuasive.

• News articles are meant to be objective. However, bias sometimes creeps in, and we, as informed and educated readers, need to be aware when that happens, especially on a topic we feel strongly about.

• Remember to choose editorial articles for your paper, NOT news articles.

Word Choice and Bias1. What is the fundamental piece of information being presented?2. Is there an easier or less insinuating way to express that piece of information?

Two articles from March 11, 2003Iraq forces suspension of U.S. surveillance flights U.N. Withdraws U-2 Planes

• UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -Iraqi fighter jets threatened two American U-2 surveillance planes, forcing them to return to abort their mission and return to base, senior U.S. officials said Tuesday.

• (NY Times)

WASHINGTON (AP)-U.N. arms inspectors said Tuesday they had withdrawn two U-2 reconnaissance planes over Iraq for safety reasons after Baghdad complained both aircraft were in the air simultaneously.

(USA Today)

Hockey: Red Wings 5, Avalanche 3The Denver Post The Detroit News

• Injury begins Avs' tumble

• Wings are too much for Avalanche

About the 2003 conflict in IraqSt. Petersburg Times (Florida)3/25/2003

Dar Al-Hayat (Arab newspaper in London) 4/1/2003

• The Red Cross, one of the few aid groups with staff operating in Iraq, hopes to negotiate access to the main power station, which is said to be under control of U.S.-led coalition forces. But neither local staff nor specialists in neighboring Kuwait have been cleared to go because of continued clashes.

• “War In Iraq”

• Iraq said its troops were battling U.S.-led invasion forces inside Nassiriya and on the city's outskirts on Tuesday and inflicting heavy casualties.

• “War Over Iraq”

In pairs, change the wording to reflect a different perspective. Write your answers on the bottom half of the “Homecoming” paper.

1. Coalition Forces Begin Liberation of Iraq

2. University Students Protest Affirmative Action

3. Bloody Man Struggles with Fullerton Cops, Dies

Find someone with . . .A different number, different color

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On the other side of your paper, •Choose one sentence from the article,

“Homecoming Marred by Police Harassment” that contains an example of prejudicial, euphemistic or ambiguous language.

•Explain how the word choice affects the meaning of the author in the middle of the page.

Example•By describing the policeman’s actions as

“dragging” Professor Jeremiah, the writer is highlighting the forceful nature of the incident. It suggests that officer is being overly aggressive, which seems unnecessary especially because Professor Jeremiah is an older gentleman.

For your paper, explain in detail what makes the word ambiguous or prejudicial.Your explanation should go beyond just identifying it.

Example (about the death penalty)•The writer fails to label those who receive

the death penalty as a criminal. He continually refers to them as “human beings” and “defenseless prisoners.” This removes the label that those who are given the death penalty are, in fact, guilty of heinous crimes. This enables the reader to sympathize more with them.

Putting It All Together•We have spent a lot of the semester

analyzing arguments.•This is your opportunity to come up with

your own based on a topic.

Discussion Web

Should the government regulate fast food?

Should the government regulate fast food?•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=T9qqUhcqxQk

On your own, •Think of reasons that support or oppose

the position.•Write them on the chart.

Find someone with the. . .Same number, different colorThe person with the Wild card, joins later.

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With the partner, •Discuss your ideas and compare your

reasons.•Revise your paper to reflect the ideas

your partner provides.•Add reasons that your partner gives that

you may have missed.

Find another pair.•Form a group of four (or five).•Share your answers. •Eliminate any contradictions or

inconsistencies.•Reach a consensus on a pro or con view.•Write your answer under “Conclusion” on

your chart.•Choose one person to be the

spokesperson to share your view.

Please pass up the “Homecoming” paper and the Discussion Web.Make sure your name is on it.