Spotting Opinion Words
This type of word in a headline shows the writer’s feelings or beliefs, like 'amazing' or 'disaster.'
Daily Double
What is an opinion word?
This type of statement can be proven true or false.
What is a fact?
This is what we call words in headlines that are meant to make you feel strongly, like 'outrage' or 'miracle.'
What is loaded language?
Bias in a headline means the headline is not this.
What is neutral or objective?
If two headlines about the same event sound very different, you should do this.
What is compare them to find bias or different points of view?
Find the opinion word in this headline: 'Local Hero Saves the Day.'
What is 'Hero'?
This type of statement shows what someone thinks or feels.
What is an opinion?
Find the loaded language in: 'Greedy Company Raises Prices Again.'
What is 'Greedy'?
A headline that only shows one side of a story is showing this.
Triple Points!
What is bias?
Why might two newspapers write different headlines about the same event?
What is they may have different opinions or want to influence readers differently?
Why might a headline use words like 'shocking' or 'unbelievable'?
What is to influence readers' emotions or opinions?
In the headline 'New Law Is Unfair, Say Critics,' is 'unfair' a fact or an opinion?
What is an opinion?
Why do some headlines use loaded language?
What is to persuade or influence the reader’s opinion?
This is one way to identify bias in a headline.
What is look for opinion words, loaded language, or missing information?
Find the difference in tone: 'City Celebrates New Park' vs. 'Taxpayers Burdened by New Park.'
What is one is positive and the other is negative about the new park?
This is the reason why headlines with opinion words can be misleading.
What is they make the news seem more dramatic or one-sided than it is?
Explain why it’s important to tell facts from opinions in headlines.
What is to avoid being misled and to understand the true information?
Name one effect loaded language can have on readers.
What is it can make readers feel angry, excited, or scared?
Explain why it’s important to notice bias in headlines.
What is so you can make up your own mind and not be influenced unfairly?
How can comparing headlines from different sources help you spot bias?
What is it shows how different word choices and facts can change the story?
Rewrite this headline to remove opinion bias: 'Terrible Storm Destroys Town.'
What is 'Storm Damages Town'?
Give an example of a headline that mixes fact and opinion, and explain which part is which.
What is 'Mayor’s Brilliant Plan Reduces Traffic'—'Reduces Traffic' is fact, 'Brilliant' is opinion?
Turn this headline into a neutral one: 'Heartless Thief Steals from Elderly.'
What is 'Thief Steals from Elderly'?
Give an example of a biased headline and explain how you know it’s biased.
(Example) What is 'Lazy Students Skip Homework Again'—it uses the opinion word 'Lazy' to judge the students?
Rewrite this headline to show a different bias: 'School Board Approves Helpful New Policy.'
What is 'School Board Forces Unwanted Policy on Students'?