aiMOOC

ABI - Balanced and one-sided presentation untersuchen

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Einleitung

Balanced and one-sided presentation is an analysis skill: you examine which perspectives a text includes, how much weight they receive, which relevant viewpoints or evidence are missing, and what effect this selection may have. You do not invent motives. Write what the text does and what the evidence supports.

Media starter: Before you watch, predict: What can make a report seem balanced? While watching, note one idea about sources, one idea about language, and one idea about verification.

Abi relevance, checked for 2027: The official Baden-Württemberg Facherlass for the 2027 English Abitur names, for non-literary analysis, the communicative strategy perspective, including balanced/one-sided form of presentation. In the Leistungsfach, the written examination includes analysis; in the Basisfach, text and media analysis remains part of course competence and assessment. The current curriculum differentiates BF and LF mainly by complexity, breadth, depth and independence. The target level at the end of the Kursstufe is B2, in parts C1.^[1]^[2]^[3]

I can ...

I can identify which perspectives, examples, data and voices are included.
I can compare how strongly different perspectives are weighted.
I can explain a relevant omission without claiming an unproven motive.
I can analyse how structure, language, references, quotations and statistics shape presentation.
I can write a clear evidence-based analysis paragraph and qualify my judgement.

Vorwissen aktivieren

Look at the scale. Balanced does not automatically mean “50/50”. A strong analysis asks whether relevant perspectives and evidence are represented proportionately and fairly for the text type, topic and available evidence.

Quick think-pair-share: Imagine two articles about the same school project. One quotes five supporters and no critics; the other quotes one supporter and one critic but ignores a large survey. Which information would you need before calling either text balanced?

Listening / Viewing

Watch the first video once for gist. Watch again with English captions if needed. Use German subtitles only as a final support.

After viewing, answer in English:

What makes a source authoritative for a specific claim?
How can a source's point of view affect what it includes?
Which point in the video helps you avoid simply labelling a source “biased”?

BF support: Use three note columns: claim – evidence – perspective.

LF extension: Add a fourth column: limitations / missing context and connect two claims from the video.

Reading: a fictional source pair

All data and quotations in this practice set are fictional.

Text A – school campaign post

“Our quiet-zone pilot is a clear success. Seventy-three per cent of respondents said they studied better. Students called the rooms ‘transformative’ and ‘exactly what we needed’. The school should therefore make the system permanent.”

Text B – school evaluation note

“In the four-week pilot, 73 per cent of 120 respondents reported improved concentration. Twenty-five registered participants did not complete the final survey. The pilot did not compare test results before and after the change, so the findings show self-reported impressions rather than measured academic improvement.”

Task: Do not decide first which text is “good” or “bad”. Mark included evidence, weighting, qualification, missing information and likely reader effect.

The chart is useful for a different reason: it makes selection and weighting visible. Ask what is measured, which comparison is made, what is not shown, and whether the title supports the data.

Kontextwortschatz

Use this help order before switching to German: context → word family → visual clue → English explanation → monolingual dictionary → short German help.

Word / phrase	English explanation	Word family / clue	German help if still needed
to foreground	to give something noticeable prominence	foreground / background	hervorheben
to omit	to leave out information or a perspective	omit → omission	auslassen
to weigh	to give a point a certain degree of importance	weigh → weight → weighted	gewichten
to qualify a claim	to limit or make a claim more precise	qualify → qualification → qualified	einschränken / präzisieren
underrepresented	present less than would be relevant or proportionate	represent → representation → underrepresented	unterrepräsentiert
counterevidence	evidence that challenges a claim	counter + evidence	Gegenbeleg
one-sided	strongly presenting one side while relevant alternatives receive little or no space	one + side + -ed	einseitig
balanced	presenting relevant perspectives and evidence in a proportionate, fair way	balance → balanced / unbalanced	ausgewogen

Analyse: the BALANCE check

Use BALANCE as a planning tool. It is not a formula and not every text needs equal space for every perspective.

Step	Question	Useful language
B – Baseline	What is the topic, text type, audience and context?	The text is a ... addressing ...
A – Actors	Which voices, groups or perspectives appear?	The text includes the perspectives of ...
L – Load	Which perspective gets more space, detail, order or emphasis?	The text foregrounds ... while ... receives less attention.
A – Accuracy of support	What evidence, examples, quotations or statistics support each side?	The claim is supported by ... / remains unsupported because ...
N – Not included	What relevant evidence or perspective is absent?	A relevant perspective not addressed is ...
C – Consequence	How may this selection shape reader understanding?	This weighting may lead readers to perceive ...
E – Evidence-based judgement	How balanced or one-sided is the presentation, and with what limitation?	Overall, the presentation is relatively balanced / noticeably one-sided because ...

Do not overclaim motive. Prefer The text omits X to The writer hides X. Prefer This may create the impression that ... to The writer wants to manipulate the reader unless the text or reliable context provides evidence for that motive.

Cherry-picking is one possible pattern of selective evidence, but do not use the label automatically. First show which evidence is selected, which relevant counterevidence is missing and how that changes the presentation.

Balanced does not mean equal time

Equal space can itself mislead when the quality or quantity of evidence is very unequal. A careful analysis distinguishes fair representation from false balance.

A useful question is: Would equal weighting help the reader understand the evidence, or would it exaggerate a weak position?

Speaking

60-second analysis: Use one visual or the fictional source pair. Speak in this order: context → included perspectives → weighting → omission → effect → qualified judgement.

BF scaffold: Use the sentence starters from the BALANCE table and one main piece of evidence.

LF extension: Compare two materials, connect at least three analysis features and include a limitation to your own judgement.

Recordings are optional. If you record yourself, keep the file private unless you deliberately choose to share it. The course does not require uploads.

Writing

Write one PEEL-style analysis paragraph, around 100–140 words for BF practice or 160–220 words for LF practice.

P – Point: Make a precise analytical claim.

E – Evidence: Refer to wording, structure, quotations, statistics or omissions.

E – Explanation: Explain weighting and likely effect.

L – Link: Return to the degree of balance and qualify your judgement.

Useful phrases: The article foregrounds ... / By placing ... at the beginning, the text gives ... particular prominence. / Although ... is acknowledged, ... receives substantially more detail. / The absence of ... limits the range of perspectives. / This creates a relatively one-sided presentation, though ...

Do not copy a model essay. Your paragraph should be your own analysis of the material.

Mediation

Situation: A German school newsletter asks what English-language media analysis means by balanced presentation. Explain it in German in about 80 words for readers who have not studied English media terminology. Do not translate sentence by sentence. Select the important ideas: proportional weighting, relevant perspectives, evidence, omission and no unsupported claims about motive.

Source checking and AI literacy

Use lateral reading when a source or AI output gives you factual background. Open other reliable sources, identify who is behind the information and check whether the cited evidence actually supports the claim.

AI rule for this course: You may use permitted tools for language support or question generation if your teacher allows it, but verify factual statements, quotations and sources. Do not submit an AI-generated replacement essay. Do not upload copyrighted compulsory texts, film clips, private recordings or personal data to external services. No external AI tool is required for this aiMOOC.

Hilfen und Differenzierung

BF – exemplarisch und strukturiert: Work with one main text plus one short comparison source, use the BALANCE grid, select two or three strong features, and build one well-supported paragraph.

LF – breadth, depth and independence: Work with longer or more complex texts, connect multiple materials, test the relevance and quality of evidence, distinguish genre expectations, and make a more independent AFB II/III judgement.

Language level: Aim for clear B2 English. Add C1 precision where it improves meaning, for example disproportionately, to qualify, underrepresented, counterevidence. Do not make sentences difficult just to sound advanced.

Feedback

Use this short feedback code on a partner's paragraph:

E = evidence is precise.
W = weighting is explained, not just named.
O = omission is relevant and justified.
M = motive claim is unsupported; rewrite it as a text-based observation.
Q = judgement needs qualification.

Finish with one sentence: The strongest analytical move is ... and one next step: To improve, ...

Fehleranalyse

Common repair moves:

If you wrote “The author is biased”, replace the label with concrete evidence about selection, order, language or omission.
If you counted two perspectives and called the text balanced, check how much weight and evidence each perspective receives.
If you listed techniques, add the effect on presentation.
If you claimed a hidden motive, remove it unless you can support it with the text or reliable context.
If you identified an omission, explain why that missing information is relevant to the text's claim.
If you wrote a very absolute judgement, add a qualification such as largely, relatively, to some extent or in this respect.

Transfer

Apply BALANCE to a new source. Separate two questions:

Accuracy: Are the claims supported?
Presentation: Which perspectives or evidence are foregrounded, weighted or omitted?

A text can contain accurate individual facts and still present them selectively. Conversely, a text can mention “both sides” and still create false balance.

Abi-Check

Before you finish an analysis, check:

Did I answer the operator and the exact analysis aspect?
Did I use evidence from the text or material?
Did I distinguish perspective from motive?
Did I analyse weighting, not just list viewpoints?
Did I identify only relevant omissions?
Did I explain reader effect carefully with may, can or another justified formulation?
Did I qualify my overall judgement?
LF: Did I connect several features and move clearly through AFB II/III?
BF: Did I keep the analysis focused, structured and text-based?

Folgekurs

Continue with ABI - Communicative strategies analysieren, ABI - Language and tone untersuchen, ABI - Structure and line of argument analysieren and ABI - Statistics and visuals auswerten.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is the safest analytical claim when a relevant perspective is missing? (The text omits a relevant perspective and this may narrow the reader's view) (!The author deliberately hides the truth) (!The author is dishonest) (!The text is automatically false)

What does balanced presentation mainly require? (Relevant perspectives and evidence are represented proportionately and fairly) (!Every side receives exactly the same number of words) (!Every claim is followed by an opposite claim) (!The writer avoids all quotations)

Which sentence analyses weighting most clearly? (The text foregrounds student praise while survey limitations receive only one brief sentence) (!The text has three paragraphs) (!The topic is interesting) (!The author uses English)

Why can equal space create false balance? (It can make weak evidence appear as strong as well-supported evidence) (!It always makes a text shorter) (!It prevents any reader response) (!It removes all statistics)

Which feature is part of communicative strategies in non-literary analysis? (Perspective such as balanced or one-sided presentation) (!Only rhyme scheme) (!Only character costume) (!Only spelling variation)

What should you do before using the label cherry-picking? (Show which evidence is selected and which relevant counterevidence is missing) (!Assume the author's intention) (!Count the adjectives) (!Translate the text into German)

Which phrase gives a qualified judgement? (The presentation is relatively one-sided in its treatment of the survey evidence) (!The text is completely biased) (!The author obviously wants to deceive everyone) (!The article proves nothing)

What is the best first step when an unfamiliar source makes a factual claim? (Check the source and compare reliable information laterally) (!Trust the design of the website) (!Copy the claim into your essay) (!Ask only whether you agree with it)

What is a relevant omission? (Missing information that matters for evaluating the text's claim or presentation) (!Any detail that could possibly exist) (!Every fact not mentioned in the title) (!A spelling mistake)

What is the strongest LF extension of a BF analysis? (Connect several materials and evaluate weighting and evidence more independently) (!Use longer sentences without more analysis) (!Add more difficult vocabulary at random) (!Remove all structure aids without replacing them)

Memory

balanced presentation	proportionate treatment of relevant perspectives and evidence
one-sided presentation	strong emphasis on one perspective with limited relevant alternatives
omission	relevant information left out
weighting	degree of prominence given to a point
qualification	wording that limits or specifies a claim
counterevidence	evidence that challenges a claim

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
foregrounding	giving one perspective special prominence
omission	leaving out relevant information
qualification	limiting a claim carefully
counterevidence	evidence that challenges a claim
false balance	giving unequal evidence an unjustified appearance of equivalence

...

Kreuzworträtsel

omission	What is the noun for leaving relevant information out?
weighting	What is the noun for giving different degrees of importance?
evidence	What supports an analytical claim?
perspective	What viewpoint is represented in a text?
balanced	Which adjective describes proportionate and fair presentation?
qualify	Which verb means to limit or make a claim more precise?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Perspektiven markieren: Colour-code the fictional source pair for included perspective, evidence and qualification.
Wortfamilien bauen: Create a mini word map for represent, weigh, omit and qualify and add one own sentence for each family.
Bildanalyse: Use the balance-scale image and write three English sentences explaining what the metaphor can and cannot show about text analysis.
60-Sekunden-Analyse: Give a short spoken analysis using one BALANCE step after another; recording is optional and private.

Standard

Vergleich zweier Texte: Find two short legally accessible English texts on the same non-political topic and compare whose perspectives are included, weighted or omitted.
Infografik prüfen: Analyse a freely licensed chart by checking title, scale, source, missing context and likely reader effect.
Absatz überarbeiten: Write an analysis paragraph, exchange it with a partner and revise it using the E-W-O-M-Q feedback code.
Mediation erstellen: Explain false balance for a German school audience in about 100 words without translating a source sentence by sentence.

Schwer

Materialverknüpfung: Link one article, one chart and one short video on the same topic; identify agreements, contradictions and gaps in perspective.
Genrevergleich: Compare how a news report, opinion piece and campaign post may legitimately differ in balance and explain where one-sidedness becomes analytically important.
Quellen-Audit: Trace two factual claims to their original sources and evaluate whether later texts represent the evidence proportionately.
Abi-Transfer: Create your own 250–350 word non-literary practice text with fictional data, then write an operator-based analysis task for BF and a more complex LF extension.

Lernkontrolle

Transferanalyse: Analyse an unseen short non-literary text and justify where its presentation lies on a continuum from relatively balanced to strongly one-sided.
Relevanz von Auslassungen: Given five possible “missing points”, decide which omissions are actually relevant to the text's main claim and justify your selection.
False-Balance-Fall: Explain why giving two positions equal space may sometimes reduce rather than increase fairness of presentation.
Materialvergleich: Compare a text and an infographic, showing how each medium foregrounds different aspects and how that affects interpretation.
Fehlerkorrektur: Rewrite an analysis that contains unsupported motive claims, vague labels and technique lists into evidence-based statements.
BF-LF-Transfer: Turn a structured BF response into an LF response by adding a second source, deeper evaluation of evidence and a qualified AFB III judgement.

Lernnachweis

For a successful Lernnachweis, you should be able to:

identify relevant perspectives, evidence and omissions;
analyse weighting through structure, language, quotations, statistics and order;
distinguish one-sided presentation from factual inaccuracy;
explain why balance does not always mean equal space;
avoid unsupported claims about authorial motive;
write a coherent evidence-based analysis with a qualified judgement;
check factual background and sources independently;
adapt depth and independence appropriately for BF or LF.

OERs zum Thema

Quellen und Medienrechte

Ministerium für Kultus, Jugend und Sport Baden-Württemberg: Abitur 2027
Facherlass Abitur 2027, Englisch
Wikimedia Commons: Balance scale.svg, CC0
Wikimedia Commons: Off-Balance-Scale.svg, CC BY-SA 2.5
Wikimedia Commons: Information bias.png, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wikimedia Commons: Cherry Picking Fallacy Icon.png, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wikimedia Commons: Fake Debate Fallacy Icon.png, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wikimedia Commons / Our World in Data: chart, license on file page
YouTube videos are embedded from the official TED-Ed and CrashCourse channels. Use the streams via the embed; do not copy full transcripts or re-upload videos.

↑ Ministerium für Kultus, Jugend und Sport Baden-Württemberg: Termine und Informationen zum Abitur 2027, abgerufen am 02.10.2026.
↑ Facherlass für die Abiturprüfung 2027, Englisch, Stand 09.09.2025, insbesondere S. 12–16.
↑ Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg: Englisch Basisfach, Text- und Medienkompetenz und Englisch Leistungsfach, Text- und Medienkompetenz.

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[1] Ministerium für Kultus, Jugend und Sport Baden-Württemberg: Termine und Informationen zum Abitur 2027, abgerufen am 02.10.2026.

[2] Facherlass für die Abiturprüfung 2027, Englisch, Stand 09.09.2025, insbesondere S. 12–16.

[3] Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg: Englisch Basisfach, Text- und Medienkompetenz und Englisch Leistungsfach, Text- und Medienkompetenz.

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