BIAS- is a term used to describe a preference towards a belief or an idea.

UNDERSTANDING

BIAS

For example:

I have a bias FOR blue cars

I have a bias AGAINST red ones.

** REMEMBER, bias is what you prefer. And you can prefer (or have a preference) to believe in something or not.

You can prefer to support a feeling or not.

Analyze the following political cartoon. What do you notice?

What is going on in the cartoon?

What bias does the illustrator of this cartoon have about the topic?

In other words, what idea is he supporting? He has a bias for __________ .

What idea is he against? He has a bias against __________ .

The idea is the health care plan.

What about now?

Today what we will be talking about is a new tax that will help fund the proposed health care system that is currently being debated in Congress.

This health care system is designed to make health care free to families, but the money to support this has to come from somewhere.

This tax is sometimes called the "Soda Tax". What this means is if you buy a soda or any other food that is identified as UNHEALTHY (sodas, chips, candy, fast food) then you will pay more for these items because the extra money you are paying is a tax that will be used to for health care.

Think about it this way......

When you are at the vending machines today, you could have a choice between baked lays potato chips for 75 cents or regular Lays potato chips for $1.00. Why do you have to pay more for the regular chips?

Because your quarter is for the extra tax that goes to help fund health care.

If you want a drink too, you can pay 60 cents for a Diet Coke or $1.00 for a regular Coke.

Let's read a little bit about the Soda Tax proposal.

Do you think this illustrator has a bias for or against the Soda Tax?

For the next several minutes, you will be analyzing a series of 4 political cartoons.

Your job is to 1. decide what the illustrator is trying to say and explain.

And, 2. explain the bias. Does the illustrator have a bias FOR or AGAINST the Soda Tax?

There is NO talking. During this step of the activity.

NOW IN YOUR GROUP, SHARE YOUR FAVORITE CARTOON.

1. EXPLAIN WHAT YOU NOTICED WAS GOING ON.

2. EXPLAIN THE BIAS.

We are now going to read what other people say about this topic.

You have a job. Think about everything we've talked about and read about today.

Make a decision based on how you feel about this topic.

Create a political cartoon with a bias that is either for or against the Soda Tax.

Include a short explaination on the back of your paper explaining what is happening in your cartoon. Identify your bias.

You can have a bias

FOR

or

AGAINST

this idea or belief