ENGL 2500: Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition

In academic research, you will come across sources that may seem biased, but in reality, the information is being told from a different perspective.

Perspective: How someone sees and thinks about an event or experience. A point of view that is often interpreted through one's worldview and experiences.

Take a look at History Skill's video on the difference between perspective and bias to decide for yourself:

According to the video:

Perspective: the point of view from which someone sees an event. Different people will have different perspectives on an event that is happening. This does not mean one perspective is right, wrong, or better than another; it only means that an event was seen through different viewpoints.

Bias: is the intentional use of language to present only one side of an event or person, often discrediting or leaving out other perspectives. 

To identify bias:

• look for specific words that imply the source is strongly against or in favor of one side/event/person
  • These words may be overly negative or overly positive that show bias