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English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 30 minutes

Bias and loaded language in reporting

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RI.9-10.6CCSS RI.9-10.8England: GCSE English Language Paper 2England: Media literacy

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Bias and loaded language in reporting.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Spotting misleading statistics and graphs; Word choice that reveals a writer's attitude

Leads to: Evaluating research sources: primary vs secondary, authority, purpose; Evaluating AI-generated and edited media

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Spotting misleading statistics and graphs; Word choice that reveals a writer's attitude). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is the proposed answer correct? "The average salary at our company is £60,000!" But the boss earns £1 million and most staff earn £25,000. What's misleading? → one huge value pulls the mean up, so it doesn't show a typical salary (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Ask: how many people or cases is this based on, and who was asked?
  2. Is the proposed answer correct? The writer disapproves of the advert: "The advert ___ young viewers into wanting the toy." → manipulates (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Decide whether the writer's attitude is positive or negative.
  3. Read the question and choose. A company shows only the three months when its sales rose and leaves out the nine months when they fell. What is this called? (a control group / a random sample / cherry-picking data / a fair summary) → cherry-picking dataPrompt: Ask: how many people or cases is this based on, and who was asked?

Hook · 3 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: Bias and loaded language in reporting. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Read the question and choose. "The so-called expert claimed the river was safe." What does 'so-called' do?
  • Step 1: Bias can hide in loaded words, one-sided selection of sources, omission and framing; neutral reporting describes without judging.
  • Step 2: 'So-called' mocks or undermines.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: it suggests the writer doubts the person's expertise
  • Answer: it suggests the writer doubts the person's expertise
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is the proposed answer correct? "The so-called expert claimed the river was safe." What does 'so-called' do? → it suggests the writer doubts the person's expertise (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Look for words that judge rather than describe.
  2. Read the question and choose. Which phrase is the most NEUTRAL way to describe the same people? (heroes / demonstrators / troublemakers / rioters) → demonstratorsPrompt: Look for words that judge rather than describe.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Is the proposed answer correct? "Officials ADMITTED that the project was over budget." How does 'admitted' differ from 'said'? → it is exactly the same (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Look for words that judge rather than describe.
  2. Read the question and choose. A photo of a crowded beach is captioned "Thousands ignore safety advice". The photo was taken before any advice was given. What is the problem? (there is no problem / the caption frames the image misleadingly / the photo is too small / beaches can't be crowded) → the caption frames the image misleadinglyPrompt: Look for words that judge rather than describe.

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Spotting misleading statistics and graphs.
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Evaluating research sources: primary vs secondary, authority, purpose; Evaluating AI-generated and edited media.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-10.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Bias and loaded language in reporting

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Read the question and choose. Which rewrite of "The greedy landlord hiked the rent" is most neutral?

    • A. The heartless landlord squeezed tenants dry.
    • B. The landlord, as usual, cashed in.
    • C. The landlord generously adjusted the rent.
    • D. The landlord raised the rent by 15%.

  2. Question 2

    Is the proposed answer correct? Which rewrite of "The greedy landlord hiked the rent" is most neutral? → The landlord raised the rent by 15%.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  3. Question 3

    Read the question and choose. Which phrase is the most NEUTRAL way to describe the same people?

    • A. demonstrators
    • B. heroes
    • C. troublemakers
    • D. rioters

  4. Question 4

    Is the proposed answer correct? "The so-called expert claimed the river was safe." What does 'so-called' do? → it suggests the writer doubts the person's expertise

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  5. Question 5

    Read the question and choose. "Officials ADMITTED that the project was over budget." How does 'admitted' differ from 'said'?

    • A. it suggests pride
    • B. it suggests reluctance or wrongdoing
    • C. it is exactly the same
    • D. it suggests a joke

  6. Question 6

    Is the proposed answer correct? A photo of a crowded beach is captioned "Thousands ignore safety advice". The photo was taken before any advice was given. What is the problem? → the caption frames the image misleadingly

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

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Answer key: Bias and loaded language in reporting

  1. 1. D. The landlord raised the rent by 15%.

  2. 2. A. yes, it is correct

  3. 3. A. demonstrators

  4. 4. A. yes, it is correct

  5. 5. B. it suggests reluctance or wrongdoing

  6. 6. A. yes, it is correct