MYP English Lang & Lit Bias Notes

Bias Shapes What We Notice And What We Believe

1. Every text, whether it is a speech, an advert, a news report, or a biography, is the result of choices.
2. Writers and speakers choose what to include, what to leave out, and how to present information.
3. Those choices can create bias, which affects how audiences interpret events and decide what is true, fair, or important.
4. In English Language and Literature, analysing bias is not about deciding whether a text is "good" or "bad."
5. It is about recognizing the point of view a text promotes, the methods used to promote it, and how those methods influence an audience.

Objectivity, Subjectivity, And Bias Are Related But Not The Same

Texts often get described as objective or subjective, but these terms are best understood as a spectrum rather than two boxes.

1. A text can be subjective without being "wrong" (for example, a personal review), and a text can appear objective while still being biased (for example, by presenting only one set of facts).

Bias Often Works By Sounding Reasonable

1. Many readers expect bias to look like angry language or obvious insults.
2. In reality, bias is often more effective when it feels calm, factual, and "balanced." A biased text may:
   1. Use a formal tone and factual vocabulary to gain trust
   2. Include a few "safe" facts, then attach a strong interpretation
   3. Use statistics or examples without context
   4. Quote some voices and exclude others

Language Choices Reveal Attitudes Through Connotation

1. Loaded language is language with strong positive or negative associations (connotations).
2. Two words can refer to a similar idea but guide readers to opposite judgements.

Euphemism Can Hide The Reality Of Something

1. A euphemism replaces a harsh or unpleasant idea with a softer expression (for example, "passed away" instead of "died").
2. Euphemisms can be polite, but in persuasive contexts they can also reduce the emotional impact of a disturbing reality.

Persuasive Techniques Can Signal Bias In Speeches

1. A persuasive speech often mixes emotional appeal with claims that sound factual.

Opinion Stated As Fact Encourages Agreement

1. One strong indicator of bias is opinion stated as fact: evaluative statements presented like undeniable truths.

1. When a speaker presents conclusions as certainties, audiences may feel there is nothing to debate.