Bias, Point of View, and Sources

1. Bias, Point of View, and Sources 7th Grade Humanities

2. Bias: • A particular tendency or inclination, especially one that prevents unprejudiced consideration or a question; prejudice • Someone who has a bias in favor of a particular point of view may have difficulty evaluating a situation fairly • If you have a bias [noun], then you are biased [adjective]

3. Eurocentrism • An inclination to favor the point of view of Europe and Europeans—a belief in the superiority of Europe and European descendants • Eurocentrism is a specific kind of bias—people who are Eurocentric are biased toward the belief that European ideas are the best • Often a bias that people are unaware they have

4. How aware are we of our biases? • What causes bias? • Can you think of ways you might be biased toward or against a certain point of view? • How are biases demonstrated? Where can you find evidence of bias?

5. Museo de Americas • “Immigrants” v. “Servants” v. “Slaves” • http://museodeamerica.mcu.es/recorrido.html

6. What evidence for bias do you find in In 1492?Who is the “we” of the last page– and what biases might arise from that P.O.V.?

7. Sources • Primary Sources: Come directly from the event itself or the people involved in the event • Secondary Sources: Use and sometimes interpret primary sources • Examples?