1. Please come in quietly. Begin independent interest time.
Welcome!
Please come in quietly.
Begin independent interest time.

2. Persuasion & Bias in nonfiction texts

3. Our Focus
Today, we will analyze persuasion and bias in nonfiction texts.
I will know I am successful when I can analyze editorials for persuasive techniques and possible bias.

4. Persuasion & Argument - important terms
Claim: the writer's position on a problem
Support: the reasons and evidence used to prove the claim
Argument: expresses a position on an issue or problem and presents support for that position
Counter-argument: arguments made to address points that someone with an opposing view might raise.

5. Building an argument for or against something
Claim
Reason
Reason
Reason
Evidence & Support
Evidence & Support
Evidence & Support

6. Persuasion

7. Persuasive Texts Editorials Policy Speeches Opinion piece
Often seen in newspapers, magazines, newscasts, etc.
Policy Speeches
Speech
Recommends guidelines, rules, or a plan of action
Tries to convince the audience to support their beliefs

8. Bias
Bias is a tendency to favor one person, group, thing or point of view over another, often in an unfair way.
Bias can be a personal opinion or a more public opinion, such as a news story, that only presents facts that support one point of view.
Bias impacts the author’s purpose, the persuasive techniques used, and what information (facts and opinions) might be included.

9. How to Identify Bias Watch for loaded language.
Consider the connotation and denotation.
Is there omitted information?
Are both sides of the topic represented equally?
Consider the background experiences of the author/speaker.

10. Rhetorical Fallacies Ad Hominem Categorical Claim Exaggeration
attacks a person’s character rather than the claim
Categorical Claim
a claim based on an incorrect comparison
Exaggeration
overstatement of fact or idea (often meant to frighten)
Stereotyping
classifying a person or group in simple, often negative, ways

11. With a Partner
Read the “Bridge Creek Bulletin” newsletter and work together to answer the questions. Be sure that you can provide reasoning and/or text evidence to support your answers.
Read the AVID article titled “Mark Davis: Ban on texting while driving not the solution”
Access the Google doc for the article.
Work with your partner to locate the persuasive elements listed on the Google doc, analyze the bias in the article, and write a counter-argument.