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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? An online poll on a cycling website finds 85% of people want more bike lanes. Why should we be careful? → 85% is too high to be real (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Ask: how many people or cases is this based on, and who was asked?
  2. Is the proposed answer correct? The writer approves of the plan's cost: "The scheme is ___." → economical (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. "Crime fell by 50%!" It went from 2 incidents to 1 in a small village. What's the issue? (a big percentage can hide a tiny real change / 50% is calculated wrongly / villages don't have crime / crime actually rose) → a big percentage can hide a tiny real changePrompt: 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? Which headline is the most NEUTRAL? → Council approves new housing plan by 6 votes to 4 (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. "The so-called expert claimed the river was safe." What does 'so-called' do? (it adds a fact / it shows respect / it suggests the writer doubts the person's expertise / it gives the expert's job title) → it suggests the writer doubts the person's expertisePrompt: 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? Which headline is the most NEUTRAL? → Council approves new housing plan by 6 votes to 4 (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 headline is the most NEUTRAL? (Council caves in to developers' demands / Council rams through controversial housing scheme / Council approves new housing plan by 6 votes to 4 / Heroic council saves town with housing plan) → Council approves new housing plan by 6 votes to 4Prompt: 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

    Is the proposed answer correct? Which phrase is the most NEUTRAL way to describe the same people? → demonstrators

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

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    Is the proposed answer correct? A news report quotes five people who oppose a new park and nobody who supports it. What kind of bias is this? → a statistical error

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

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    Is the proposed answer correct? "The so-called expert claimed the river was safe." What does 'so-called' do? → it adds a fact

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

  6. Question 6

    Is the proposed answer correct? A news report quotes five people who oppose a new park and nobody who supports it. What kind of bias is this? → bias in the headline only

    • 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. A. yes, it is correct

  2. 2. B. The landlord raised the rent by 15%.

  3. 3. B. no, it is not correct

  4. 4. B. it suggests reluctance or wrongdoing

  5. 5. B. no, it is not correct

  6. 6. B. no, it is not correct