I was told in class to find a piece of "biased writing" and use the knowledge about critical thinking. how would i know whether an article is biased?
really confused. also, it's a 1000 word essay, so it'd be really nice to get answer!
Look for anything written by a person with a strong political or religious message.
As you evaluate these articles, consider what you've learned in this critical thinking class.
One good place to find biased writing is in newspaper's op ed page, especially editorials and columnists.
what do you mean by newspaper's op ed page?
In the essay, I have to demonstrate that I recognize logical fallacies, but I don't understand how I can write that much about a message of somebody else when they have written so little. there's just nothing else to speak of, and I only have 500 words
The op-ed section of a newspaper is often also called the Opinion section. It's where the opinions, letters, and editorials are.
http://www.latimes.com
See the word OPINION near the top right? That section will have the opinion pieces in it.
http://www.nytimes.com
Here, OPINION is in the list on the left.
http://www.pe.com/
Do you see it here?
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/fallacies.html
Look in the list at the right to find different types of fallacies.
that's helps a whole lot! thanks so much Ms Sue and Writeacher! :D
Finding biased writing and evaluating it using critical thinking is an important skill when conducting research and forming your own well-rounded opinion. To determine if an article is biased, consider the following steps:
1. Understand the author and their background: Research the author's credentials, affiliations, and past works. This can provide insights into their potential biases or agendas.
2. Identify the purpose and tone of the article: Determine whether the article informs, persuades, or entertains. Pay attention to the language used; biased articles might contain emotionally charged or provocative language.
3. Evaluate the sources and evidence: Check if the article is supported by reliable and credible sources. Biased writing may selectively choose sources that align with a particular viewpoint, omit contrary evidence, or rely heavily on personal anecdotes.
4. Look for fallacies or logical errors: Critical thinking involves examining the reasoning within an article. Biased writing often utilizes logical fallacies, such as ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, or appeals to emotion rather than evidence.
5. Consider the overall balance: Assess whether the article provides a fair representation of different perspectives or if it presents a one-sided view. Biased writing may ignore or dismiss alternative viewpoints without valid reasons.
6. Seek multiple perspectives: Compare the information from the article with other sources. Look for diverse viewpoints to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.
When writing your essay, incorporate these steps and examples from the biased article to support your analysis. Remember to provide evidence and reasoning to support your own conclusions.
Lastly, it's worth mentioning that a 1000-word essay provides ample space to thoroughly analyze biased writing and apply critical thinking. Good luck with your assignment!