1. Task 2
Abygail Jones
Should factual writing contain bias?
Bias is, ‘inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group, especially
in a way considered to be unfair.’ whereas factual is, ‘concerned with what is
actually the case.’ Quoted from the Oxford English Dictionary.
The main problem with using bias within factual writing is that it is written and
intended to be more fact than opinion, this is to educate the reader in the
subject at hand rather than mixing their opinions within and twisting words
which would result in an opinionated piece of writing rather than a factual one,
for example: there is a factual guide called, Survival 101 which is a zombie
survival leaflet created as a factual piece to inform the viewer on how to
prepare in the case of a zombie apocalypse; this example does not require
any form of bias as it is meant to instruct and inform rather than voice an
opinion, for example: ‘In the event of a zombie attack make sure you are in a
place you know inside out.’
Using bias within factual writing could also potentially confuse the readers, for
example: ‘find a safe place, easy to defend or just the closest small, dark
space within the immediate vicinity so you can hide from the zombies but also
potentially still be in quite a bit of trouble. Also don’t follow all of my
instructions, although they are actually vital for your survival in this kind of
situation and could potentially save your life.’
http://sweeneydesign.blogspot.co.uk/2010_12_01_archive.html
Another reason to not use bias is that, again, it’s factual writing – if someone
were to include their opinion within a factual writing piece there would only be
one persons perspective as opposed to the actual facts, there would also be
no alternative argument, for example, looking at the article: ‘The Beano’s
Gnasher gets microchip’ on the Guardian website, if after stating the fact, ‘The
Dogs Trust has teamed up with the creators of the Beano to encourage all
dog owners to microchip their pets…’ included their own opinion, something
like: ‘but I probably wouldn’t because I find it cruel to put an animal through
something like that…’ it would create mixed feelings within the reader and as
there is no alternative argument, they might choose not to follow the facts
even though they are more reliable than the opinion of the author.
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/06/beano-gnasher-microchip-
dennis-dogs-trust
This also brings me to why it would be a good idea to add bias in to factual
writing; I don’t think it would be a bad idea to include some opinions and
combine the two so long as the facts overrule the opinions. I feel that, by
doing this it would appeal to more readers and bring in a larger audience.
Because of the opinion being there, it could also lead to discussion and
debates, which would in turn, bring more interest to the subject at hand.
Bias would also make factual writing within things such as leaflets, a lot
easier. When it comes to certain subjects, for example: the C.A.R.I.A.D.
campaign which supports dogs rights and is against puppy farms and the
mistreating of dogs and puppies, it’s quite easy to talk about how bad this
2. Task 2
Abygail Jones
particular topic is and why it’s wrong and not justifiable which therefore makes
bias okay, in this case, owners of puppy farms have hard evidence against
them, both in photographs and in writing which makes me personally believe
there would be no point for an alternative argument.
http://cariadcampaign.wordpress.com/leafletsandposters/
Not only would bias be an opportunity for the author to have their say and
voice their opinion, but it also means that they can support their opinions with
other facts to justify the argument so, for an example, using the article, ‘Million
Mask March draws thousands in London on global day of protest’ from the
Guardian after saying, ‘The Metropolitan police had earlier imposed Section
60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 for a number of
hours, which provides powers to remove masks when police fear a crime will
be committed’ the author could reply with a comment such as: ‘which has
been frowned upon by many, including the Guardian, as it has been further
proven by interviews with members of the protest, including ‘Steve Foster, a
36-year-old store man from Liverpool, who said…’ the writer has been able to
express their own opinion by being bias, using supported facts to backup the
opinion.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/nov/05/million-mask-march-london-
russell-brand-anonymous
Bringing up my earlier argument, factual writing is concerned with what is
actually the case; it’s meant to be more fact than opinion because that’s what
it’s been written and intended for whereas bias means being for or against
one person or group, ‘especially in a way considered to be unfair’ – this
doesn’t link in with any sort of factual writing and it would make factual pieces
less trustworthy and a little more controversial, which shouldn’t be the case.
Although weighing both the good and the bad points, there could also be a
potential compromise, this would be by writing factual pieces and only using
opinions when it is really required because there are certain cases such as,
the C.A.R.I.A.D. campaign, which has a little bias to support their overall
campaign as the people they are campaigning against, puppy farm owners
and animal abusers don’t really deserve a say as what they’ve done is wrong
and unjustifiable. I still feel as though using bias within factual texts would be
confusing for readers/viewers and it would also be highly unfair for most
cases as there would literally be no room for an alternative argument,
therefore, in my own personal opinion I don’t think that factual writing should
contain bias.
