Keeping Your Distance: The Goal of Objectivity
Developed by:
Sandy Scragg
www.sandyscragg.coms
Murry Bergtraum HS
New York, NY

Instructional Objectives: 1) Students will understand the concepts of "objectivity" and "subjectivity;" 2) Students will learn to write as free from opinion as possible
 

Time Required: one 45-minute class period
 

Vocabulary, concepts, focus questions, key points: objectivity, subjectivity, opinion vs. fact
 
 

Procedures: Most of my students wrote a first draft which contained a lot of inflammatory statements interjected with opinion. I took lines from their articles and posted them for use in class the next day.

1) Explain to students the differences between objectivity and subjectivity. Direct them to the objectivity web page. (http://teachersnetwork.org/teachnet-lab/mbhs/scragg/objective.html)

2) Have students complete the objectivity exercise. Review it with the class to see if they understand.
 

3) Ask students to visit various sites to see if professional journalists follow their own standard of objectivity (suggested sites: Fox News, National Review, Village Voice, New York Times, New York Post).
 
 

HOMEWORK: Students must complete a final draft of Conrad using their newfound objectivity writing skills.