Source Detective Bias Worksheet
Historical Skills Lab
Source Detective: Spotting Bias
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Date:
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Vocabulary Key
Bias: Unfair preference for/against something; one-sided.
Neutral: Fair and balanced; presents facts without taking sides.
Sentence Starters
• "The author is biased because..."
• "The words '___' show bias by..."
• "The author favors [side] by..."
• "The passage leaves out facts about..."
Directions: 1) Circle BIAS or NO CLEAR BIAS. 2) Underline opinion/neutral evidence. 3) Answer the questions.
1 Passage 1 – The School Lunch
Verdict: BIAS | NO CLEAR BIAS
"The cafeteria's new pizza is the best lunch our school has ever served. The pizza is delicious, the crust is perfect, and everyone should be excited to eat it. Students who complain about the pizza simply do not appreciate good food."
a) What opinion does the author have about the pizza?
b) Does author give students who dislike it a fair explanation?
2 Passage 2 – The School Lunch
Verdict: BIAS | NO CLEAR BIAS
"The cafeteria serves pizza on Fridays. Students can choose pizza, a salad, or a sandwich. The pizza is made with cheese and tomato sauce, while the salad includes lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots."
a) Does the author clearly favor one food?
b) What specific facts does the author provide?
c) What makes this passage biased or not biased?
3 Passage 3 – Video Games
Verdict: BIAS | NO CLEAR BIAS
"Video games are a terrible way for kids to spend their free time. Instead of staring at a screen for hours, kids should go outside and do something productive. Video games are clearly making kids less active."
a) What does the author believe about video games?
b) Which words reveal the author's opinion?
c) Does the author mention any positive effects?
d) What makes this passage biased or not biased?
Historical Skills: Detecting Bias & Perspective Page 1 of 2
Part 2
Advanced Bias Analysis & Historical Application
Continue identifying loaded words vs. balanced facts
4 Passage 4 – Video Games
Verdict: BIAS | NO CLEAR BIAS
"Some students enjoy playing video games after school. Video games can include many different types of activities, including sports games, puzzles, adventures, and strategy games. Students may spend different amounts of time playing them."
a) Does the author clearly support or oppose video games?
b) Does passage use strongly positive or negative words?
c) What information does the author provide?
d) What makes this passage biased or not biased?
5 Passage 5 – Historical Example: The American Revolution
Verdict: BIAS | NO CLEAR BIAS
"The American colonists were brave heroes who stood up to an unfair British government. They risked everything to fight for freedom and independence. The British government unfairly tried to control people who deserved to govern themselves."
a) Which side does the author favor?
b) What words show author's point of view?
c) How does author describe the colonists?
d) How does author describe the British government?
e) What information about the British perspective is missing?
Extension Challenge: Can a source be biased and still contain accurate information? Explain using one passage:
Exit Ticket Why should a historian look for bias before deciding whether a source is trustworthy?
Historical Skills: Detecting Bias & Perspective Page 2 of 2
