After reading/viewing the resources for this week: How to Avoid Bias in Your Writing and Communications Community | GovLoop (and) Key Practical Tips on How to Avoid Bias in Writing (4writers.net)and visiting the NOTES: Recognizing GAB, identify language issues and attempt to correct each statement to reflect acceptable, factual, non-bias research language. There is a brief review and a suggested fix for each issue below; the options include:

O= Opinion:a quality, belief, comparison, or prediction that can't be proven

• The Fix:take out opinion words and replace with factual information, be specific and offer details

F= Fact to Check:information that appears to be factual but needs to be verified for accuracy

• The Fix:Check 2-3 different sources to confirm the info is accurate

G= Generalization:an opinion applied broadly to a group or concept

• The Fix:Take out opinion words along with language that identifies specific groups or concepts

A= Assumption:a fact-based idea that has been altered by an added opinion or generalization

• The Fix:Separate the fact from the opinion or generalization and check the info for accuracy

B= Bias Statement: an opinion about a group or concept followed by a direct or implied command to take some kind of action

• The Fix:recognize the opinion, the targeted group or concept, and salvage any facts to check

!= Excessive Punctuation:using exclamation to make information appear shocking or evoke emotion

• The Fix:replace punctuation with actually shocking or evocative facts that have been checked

Practice Identifying OFGAB!

Directions: Identify the following issues as:Fact,Opinion,Generalization,Assumption,Bias, or! (Excessive Punctuation), offer up your reasoning behind choosing that issue, then attempt to correct each statement to reflect acceptable, factual, non-bias research language. There is an example response for reference, but please do not , copy, or paraphrase it; simply create your own unique responses. Although each statement has an exclamation point, only 2 of the actual sentences are problematic due to excessive punctuation. For best results, copy this section into a new Word document and save it as [Your Last Name Workshop 4] but do not copy the instructions or reviews and suggested fixes listed above.

Example Statement: Tropical fish are not easy to take care of, so parents need to stop buying them as pets for their kids!

• Issue/Reasoning: B = This is bias, it starts with an opinion about tropical fish, them commands people to avoid owning them.
• Example Correction: Since tropical fish require special environments, equipment, and feeding regimens pet owners may wish to research all of the steps involved before purchasing any for themselves or their loved ones.

1. Tragically, "all of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names!"

Issue/Reasoning:

Correction:

2. College students are all in debt up to their ears!

Issue/Reasoning:

Correction:

3. When you dial 911, someone always answers!

Issue/Reasoning:

Correction:

4. Reality TV stars are just actors who never made it onto successful shows!

Issue/Reasoning:

Correction:

5. Most guys prefer sporting events to dinner dates!

Issue/Reasoning:

Correction:

6. A juvenile should never be tried as an adult...ever!

Issue/Reasoning:

Correction:

7. Consumers buy wireless technology more than anything else right now!

Issue/Reasoning:

Correction:

8. Adults are said to have an inner child!

Issue/Reasoning:

Correction:

9. Colonel Sanders actually served in the military!

Issue/Reasoning:

Correction:

10. A man cannot be crowned Miss America, it isn't fair!

Issue/Reasoning:

Correction: