Spin and bias — ready-made English lesson, C2

Lesson goal: Students can analyse how the media frames stories, identify bias and spin, and discuss misinformation using precise, hedged language.

Add the lesson to get your own copies of the word set and exercises; the lesson opens in the builder, where you can adjust the steps and teach it.

Lesson plan

1
Warm-up
Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.
- Where do you get most of your news from?
- Can you think of a story that was reported very differently by two sources?
- How do you decide whether a source is trustworthy?
- Have you ever shared something online that turned out to be false?
2
New words
Meet the words and practise them in games.
Find the matchAirplane
spin · biased · misinformation · sensationalist · credible · polarise · scrutiny · retract · outrage · echo chamber · censorship · defamatory · whistle-blower · propaganda · fuel the debate
All words in the set
3
Exercises
The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.
1. Fill the gap
  After the lawyers' letter, the paper was forced to ___ the story and publish an apology.
  Answer: retract
2. Fill the gap
  Online, we tend to follow people who agree with us, ending up in an ___ chamber.
  Answer: echo
3. Fill the gap
  The minister's every word has come under intense ___ since the leak.
  Answer: scrutiny
4. Fill the gap
  It is imperative that every claim ___ checked against at least two independent sources.
  Answer: be
5. Multiple choice
  Which word best describes a headline that exaggerates to provoke shock?
  sensationalistdefamatorycrediblebiased
6. Multiple choice
  Which version is most appropriately hedged for a careful news report?
  The data would appear to suggest a link between the two events.The data proves the two events are connected.Obviously, the two events are connected.
7. Multiple choice
  'Misinformation' and 'disinformation' differ in that disinformation is ...
  spread deliberately to deceivealways spread by governmentsless harmfulonly found on social media
8. True / false
  Read: "The documents, leaked by a whistle-blower, appeared to show that the firm had known about the safety risk for years. The company dismissed the reports as defamatory, yet within a week its chief executive had resigned." The company accepted the reports immediately.
  Answer: False
9. True / false
  Read the text again. The writer presents the documents' content with a degree of caution.
  Answer: True
10. Discussion question
  Should social media platforms be legally responsible for misinformation posted by their users? Present both sides before giving your view.
  Sample answer: Proponents argue that platforms profit from outrage and should therefore bear responsibility for what their algorithms amplify. Opponents counter that holding them liable would effectively amount to censorship, since firms would remove anything remotely controversial. On balance, I'd favour transparency obligations rather than liability for individual posts.
4
Speaking
The student answers using the new words.
- Is truly unbiased journalism possible, or even desirable?
- Should whistle-blowers be protected by law, even when they break their contracts?
- How far do echo chambers explain growing political polarisation?
- Where is the line between moderating content and censorship?
- How would you teach teenagers to recognise misinformation?
5
Review
A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.
Quiz

Lesson plan

Warm-up

Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.

Where do you get most of your news from?
Can you think of a story that was reported very differently by two sources?
How do you decide whether a source is trustworthy?
Have you ever shared something online that turned out to be false?

New words

Meet the words and practise them in games.

Find the matchAirplane

spin · biased · misinformation · sensationalist · credible · polarise · scrutiny · retract · outrage · echo chamber · censorship · defamatory · whistle-blower · propaganda · fuel the debate

All words in the set

Exercises

The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.

Fill the gap
After the lawyers' letter, the paper was forced to ___ the story and publish an apology.
Answer: retract
Fill the gap
Online, we tend to follow people who agree with us, ending up in an ___ chamber.
Answer: echo
Fill the gap
The minister's every word has come under intense ___ since the leak.
Answer: scrutiny
Fill the gap
It is imperative that every claim ___ checked against at least two independent sources.
Answer: be
Multiple choice
Which word best describes a headline that exaggerates to provoke shock?
sensationalistdefamatorycrediblebiased
Multiple choice
Which version is most appropriately hedged for a careful news report?
The data would appear to suggest a link between the two events.The data proves the two events are connected.Obviously, the two events are connected.
Multiple choice
'Misinformation' and 'disinformation' differ in that disinformation is ...
spread deliberately to deceivealways spread by governmentsless harmfulonly found on social media
True / false
Read: "The documents, leaked by a whistle-blower, appeared to show that the firm had known about the safety risk for years. The company dismissed the reports as defamatory, yet within a week its chief executive had resigned." The company accepted the reports immediately.
Answer: False
True / false
Read the text again. The writer presents the documents' content with a degree of caution.
Answer: True
Discussion question
Should social media platforms be legally responsible for misinformation posted by their users? Present both sides before giving your view.
Sample answer: Proponents argue that platforms profit from outrage and should therefore bear responsibility for what their algorithms amplify. Opponents counter that holding them liable would effectively amount to censorship, since firms would remove anything remotely controversial. On balance, I'd favour transparency obligations rather than liability for individual posts.

Speaking

The student answers using the new words.

Is truly unbiased journalism possible, or even desirable?
Should whistle-blowers be protected by law, even when they break their contracts?
How far do echo chambers explain growing political polarisation?
Where is the line between moderating content and censorship?
How would you teach teenagers to recognise misinformation?

Review

A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.

Quiz