Objective Writing
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This document discusses objective writing and how to avoid bias. Objective writing presents all perspectives on a topic in a fair and balanced way, without favoring any one view. It defines bias as selectively encouraging one outcome over others. The document provides examples of biased content, like news articles that only present one side of an issue. It recommends writing in the third person to maintain objectivity and avoid appearing biased by including personal views. Objective writing in colleges focuses on research papers, lab reports, and analyses rather than personal essays.
Objective Writing
- 1. Objective WritingVicki Lague2011Objective writing is fair and balanced. It does not focus on one perspective alone, but is inclusive.
- 2. Objective Writing DefinedObjective writing is the kind of writing most often assigned and expected in colleges and universities. It provides an unbiased approach and presentation to the material. In college, students do not write personal essays very often. They write objective essays, like research papers, lab reports, and analyses.
- 3. Bias DefinedAn inclination to promote a particular outlook, especially a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment: prejudiceAn instance of such prejudiceSystematically selecting or encouraging one outcome or answer over othersThe third definition is the one we are most concerned about in this class.
- 4. Examples of BiasA news article about an important issue that presents only one side of the issue and not the otherA news article about an important issue that misrepresents the other sideA speech that does either of the above
- 5. Bias is all around us. Anything that gives only one side of a situation or issue is biased. Whether or not that bias is a problem depends on whether or not the originator means to hide important information with which he/she does not agree, hoping to persuade people without given them all the information they need to make an informed decision.
- 6. 3rd Person Writing Is ObjectiveYou can avoid the appearance of bias in your writing by writing in the 3rd person (objective) and avoiding 1st person (subjective).
- 7. 3rd Person Writing Is ObjectiveIn some cases, even 1st person examplesshould be avoided.If 1st person examples are appropriate, the writer must be careful to return to 3rd person when the example is finished.
- 8. 3rd Person IndicatorsUsing 3rd person personal pronouns, like he, him, she, her, they, them, etc.Avoiding1st person personal pronouns, like I, me, my, we, us, our, etc.You/your, etc., which speaks only to the current reader and is also very informal.