ACTIVITY 1
Read the paragraphs and answer the questions after each paragraph. For each paragraph, determine
what the author's bias is by looking for patterns in the author's diction (connotations) and the use of
evidence
(This paragraph examines the effects of beauty on people's (particularly women's) lives.)
Men's looks matter to heterosexual women only somewhat. Most women prefer men who are taller
than they are, with symmetrical features (a sign that a potential partner is healthy and parasite-free).
But, women across cultures are intent on finding male partners with high status, power, and access to
resources which means a short guy can add maybe a foot to his height with a private jet. And, just
like women who aren't very attractive, men who make very little money or are chronically out of work
tend to have a really hard time finding partners. There is some male grumbling about this. Yet, while
feminist journalists deforest North America publishing articles urging women to bow out of the
beauty arms race and "Learn to love that woman in the mirror!", nobody gets into the ridiculous
position of advising men to "Learn to love that unemployed guy sprawled on the couch!"
Now, before you brand me a traitor to my gender, let me say that I'm all for women having the vote,
and I think a woman with a mustache should make the same money like a man with a mustache. But
you don't help that woman by advising her, "No need to wax that lip fringe or work off that beer
belly!" (Because the road to female empowerment is...looking just like a hairy old man?)Questions:
1. To whom the author is biased for or against?
2. What are the negative connotative words used by the author that show bias?
3.what are the positive connotative words used by the author that show bias?​