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English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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? "Crime fell by 50%!" It went from 2 incidents to 1 in a small village. What's the issue? → crime actually rose (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. A graph of test scores has a vertical axis starting at 78 instead of 0, so a rise from 80 to 82 looks huge. What is misleading? (the cut-off axis exaggerates a small change / the change is actually a fall / graphs should never use numbers / the scores are wrong) → the cut-off axis exaggerates a small changePrompt: Ask: how many people or cases is this based on, and who was asked?

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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? "Officials ADMITTED that the project was over budget." How does 'admitted' differ from 'said'? → it suggests reluctance or wrongdoing (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. "Officials ADMITTED that the project was over budget." How does 'admitted' differ from 'said'? (it suggests reluctance or wrongdoing / it suggests pride / it is exactly the same / it suggests a joke) → it suggests reluctance or wrongdoingPrompt: Look for words that judge rather than describe.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 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 phrase is the most NEUTRAL way to describe the same people? → demonstrators (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? (rioters / heroes / demonstrators / troublemakers) → demonstratorsPrompt: 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/ 8

  1. Question 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

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

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    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? → beaches can't be crowded

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

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    Is the proposed answer correct? Which rewrite of "The greedy landlord hiked the rent" is most neutral? → The landlord, as usual, cashed in.

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

  6. Question 6

    Read the question and choose. Which headline is the most NEUTRAL?

    • A. Council approves new housing plan by 6 votes to 4
    • B. Heroic council saves town with housing plan
    • C. Council caves in to developers' demands
    • D. Council rams through controversial housing scheme

  7. Question 7

    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

  8. Question 8

    Read the question and choose. "The so-called expert claimed the river was safe." What does 'so-called' do?

    • A. it suggests the writer doubts the person's expertise
    • B. it adds a fact
    • C. it shows respect
    • D. it gives the expert's job title

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Answer key: Bias and loaded language in reporting

  1. 1. A. yes, it is correct

  2. 2. B. it suggests reluctance or wrongdoing

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

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

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

  6. 6. A. Council approves new housing plan by 6 votes to 4

  7. 7. A. yes, it is correct

  8. 8. A. it suggests the writer doubts the person's expertise