What is Truth?

1. www.legendsofamerica.com Is it a destination? (Like the city in New Mexico) What is Truth? A Review of the Essential Questions in The Crucible everydayfunnyfunny.com jackasscritics.com Or does it simply exist, regardless of our attitudes? Is it just something humans construct?

2. Introduction • The Crucible focuses on these Essential Questions: • How do individuals determine the truth? • What prevents individuals from speaking the truth? • What makes an individual trustworthy? • Consider your reactions to the following scenarios. What’s your reaction? How do you assess if something’s true? theangrypothound.blogspot.com Even Hollywood recognizes that people react to truth. For example, we interpret truth as “beautiful” or “ugly.”

3. Scenario #1: Special Someone • Special Someone agrees to attend Coro with you. Of course you’re excited. Three days before Coro, you receive a text message from Special Someone stating the worst: S.S. can no longer attend the dance. The message appears sincere, but no reason is given. Do you think Special Someone is telling the truth? How do you know? Explain. (3 sentences) donebrilliantly.com Think again, Fool. Special Someone said “no.”

4. Scenario #2: Essay Question • You’re an English teacher, and you’re grading an essay from a struggling student. Normally, this student doesn’t turn-in assignments. Initially you were excited that the student completed the work. As you read the paper, however, you realize that the writing doesn’t “sound” like the student. Do you think the student plagiarized? How would you find out? Should you even investigate the situation or assume goodwill? (3 sentences) teaching.monster.com The teacher WANTS the essay to be authentic!

5. Scenario #3: Cigarettes in the Car • You’re a parent. Since your car is at the mechanic’s, you borrow your child’s car. While driving the car, you discover a box of cigarettes in the glove compartment. Are the cigarettes your child’s? How do you know? Can you investigate and learn the truth? (3 sentences) www.thejournal.ie What if they’re just cigarettes from a friend?

6. Scenario #4: Broken iPhone • Your sister goes out one night, but her phone’s broken. As a generous sibling, you allow her to use your new iPhone for the evening. She returns several hours later and hands the phone back to you. You later try to make a call and realize that the phone’s broken. When you confront your sister, she appears sincerely surprised. What do you do? Is she lying? Or, is she telling the truth? (3 sentences) www.intomobile.com We love our phones

7. Scenario #5: Missing Cash • Your PE locker is temporarily broken, but the teacher assures you that it will be repaired by the week’s end. You decide to stash your wallet and backpack in the locker anyway. When you return from practice, you notice that your wallet is missing. You are surprised, given that there were 10 students in the locker room when you returned. As you search the gym, you eventually find your wallet in the trash can, but $40 is missing. No one claims to have seen anything. What do you do? Can you even tell if people are lying? (3 sentences) www.123rf.com