Bias, Assumption and Viewpoint “One of the biggest problems with the world today is that we have large groups of people who will accept whatever they hear on the grapevine, just because it suits their worldview—not because it is actually true or because they have evidence to support it. The really striking thing is that it would not take much effort to establish validity in most of these cases… but people prefer reassurance to research.”  ― Neil deGrasse Tyson

Bias A bias is a strong leaning in either a positive or negative direction. A bias is very similar to a prejudice Good critical readers must be aware of their own biases and the biases of others.   Sometimes writers simply state their biases; however, most biases are implied by the writer.

Reading Critically A critical reader will study the author’s line of reasoning, notice whether opinions are supported by facts and reasons, and then decide if the author’s bias has hindered the making of a good argument.

When reading… Their biases will influence the way they present the material. Such caution is especially important when the material deals with a controversial issue. Did you have any biases in play in your approach to the Super Bowl video?

Assumption An assumption is a point that the author doesn’t even try to prove. Rather than proving the assumption, the author simply assumes it is true. An assumption can be proved and disproved. An assumption can be expressed only as a complete, declarative sentence (not a question, not a word or phrase or fragment).

Viewpoint The author’s viewpoint is the very reason the author writes on their chosen subject. So how do we know what the author’s viewpoint is, anyway (and why should we care?) Think about the details the author includes to make a point about a subject. If we figure out the author’s views, we can understand what he/she wrote!

Subjective Vs. Objective Writing “The locus of the human mystery is perception of this world. From it proceeds every thought, every art.”  ― Marilynne Robinson

Subjective Evidence Evidence that you cannot evaluate—you simply have to accept or reject what the person says. It emphasizes: Personal feelings, thoughts, judgments, opinions How are bias and subjectivity linked?

Subjective Writing Subjective writing is found in personal essays, in autobiographies, and in the editorial section of newspapers where writers express their opinions about news events. It can find its way into most forms of writing if you are not aware of your biases.

Objective Writing Evidence you can see and evaluate for yourself. It emphasizes: Facts, figures, and imagery What the text itself is doing The historical context of the text

Objective Writing The ideal journalist who reports the news writes in an objective style. They would stick to the facts and figures of the events they report; their purpose is strictly to inform the readers. Not always the case of case. The critical writer should take the same approach, and simply relay what is going on with the text.

Warning! Some texts may combine objective writing and subjective writing. For example, a biographer may include his or her opinion of the person about whom he or she is writing, as well as report the facts regarding that person’s life. It is important to recognize which segments are written objectively and which are written subjectively.

Warning! Likewise, a inexperienced or unprofessional writer may inadvertently or on purpose mix actual facts related to their subject and his or her own opinions of that occurrence. Again, it is the critical reader’s responsibility to distinguish fact from opinion.

Examples Subjective: Objective: Someone “Beyoncé makes great music.” Are they lying? How is great quantified? What is this person’s idea of greatness? Do they have an underlying bias toward her music? to her as a pop culture icon? Objective: Beyoncé walks in with a cane and a knife stuck in his foot. There is physical evidence that he’s in pain.

Examples Subjective Adrian says that “Parker’s poems about Beyoncé are an important critique gaze and perception of beauty.” This is a great start, but compared to who? What is the criteria being used to judge importance? Can, or should Parker’s background be taken into perspective? Objective What is the objective way of deconstructing the relationship between Parker and Beyoncé?