Question packet for Nothing But the Truth
English II
LTC Kopacz
Discussion/Study Questions for Nothing but the Truth by Avi
Deadlines: Due: Friday, September 4th: Chapters 1-5 with questions answered. (You receive grades for having the questions completed, and if you do not have them you will not be allowed to participate in the class discussions.)
- Do you agree with Miss Narwin that students today do not like to read? What could she do to motivate her students?
- Who do you know that reminds you of Philip? How are they alike? Would you want Philip Malloy as a friend? Why/Why not?
- Writer’s Style: A writer’s style refers to the way the ideas are presented and expressed. Usually a writer maintains consistent style throughout a single book, but in Nothing but the Truth, Avi presents a variety of styles, depending upon the character portrayed and the document conveying the words. For example, compare the styles of Philip’s diary and Miss Narwin’s letter. How are the styles meant to reflect two very different characters?
Deadline: Ch. 6-9 by September 9th
- Discuss how Philip’s parents deal with the issue of their son’s grades. Do you agree with how they deal with this issue? Why/Why not?
- Why is Miss Narwin’s request for a grant denied? Do you think she is justified in being angry about the denial? Why/Why not?
| Quiz Grade: Due September 11thChapters 6-9 Writing Response—Provide a specific, detailed answer to the following prompt.Imagine you are a good friend of Philip’s. What would you
advise him to do about his English grade and the track team? Write a letter giving him your advice.
|
- Irony—the use of a word or phrase to mean the opposite of its usual meaning. Irony of a situation occurs when there is a great difference between the purpose of an action or a statement and the result. What is ironic about the school district’s motto, which appears at the top of the Superintendent’s memo, and the decision about how to allocate (give out) special funds for teachers?
Deadline: Chapters 10-11 Due September 11
1. How does Cassius’ line from Julius Caesar –“for the eye sees not itself” – relate to Philip and his conflict with Miss Narwin?
2. Do you think Philip’s parents should take their son’s problem
directly to a candidate for the Board of Education, or should
they follow another path? Explain your answer. How is their
behavior similar to that of their son’s?
3. How does Philip explain his behavior to Mr. Palleni, the
assistant principal? Do you think the signing is a “patriotic
thing” with him? Why/Why not? Does Mr. Palleni take him
seriously?
4. Do Philip’s parents really support him? Explain your answer.
Deadline: Chapter 12: Due September 15th
1. Would you agree with Philip that Miss Narwin doesn’t like him and has it
in for him?
2. Do you think all rules should be obeyed? Do you think you have the right
to disobey rules that you think are stupid or unjust? Are there any
circumstances under which you might disobey a rule?
3. Do you think Philip has some second thoughts about the controversy he
has instigated? Support your answer with information from the text.
Chapters 13-14: Due September 17th
1. Based on the way Ms. Stewart gained her information and the information she
received, do you think she wrote an unbiased article for the Manchester Record?
WHY/WHY not?
2. Why do you think Philip “looked like he was reading his own funeral notice” when
he read the newspaper article about himself?
3. Why do you think Ted Griffin referred to Philip’s suspension from school in his
speech to the Harrison Sunday Fellowship?
Chapter 15: Due September 21st
1. What is your opinion of the fictional Jake Barlow and his talk-radio show?
Writing Activity—(You need to write more than one simple paragraph.)
Imagine that you are a student in Miss Narwin’s homeroom. Dr. Doane has asked
you to write an account of exactly what happened on the three occasions when
Philip hummed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Try to make your account as
objective as possible (meaning leave out your opinion and just write facts).
Chapter 16-19 : Due September 23
1. Do you agree that it is “probably for the best” to transfer Philip from Miss Narwin’s
English class? WHY/WHY not?
2. Do you think students should be transferred out of classes with teachers with whom
they are in conflict? WHY/WHY not?
3.Are there any circumstances that would justify a transfer?
4. In what ways were Philip’s parents as guilty as their son for what occurred?
5. Do you know or have you read of a situation in which a person was persecuted and
whose life was ruined by the media? Tell about it briefly.
6. Give your opinion about the ending of the book. It is totally pessimistic (negative)? Is
it realistic? Explain your answer.
- What lessons might be learned from this book?
Test on Friday the 25th!
Discussion/Study Questions for Nothing but the Truth by Avi
Deadlines: Due: Friday, September 4th: Chapters 1-5 with questions answered. (You receive grades for having the questions completed, and if you do not have them you will not be allowed to participate in the class discussions.)
- Do you agree with Miss Narwin that students today do not like to read? What could she do to motivate her students?
- Who do you know that reminds you of Philip? How are they alike? Would you want Philip Malloy as a friend? Why/Why not?
- Writer’s Style: A writer’s style refers to the way the ideas are presented and expressed. Usually a writer maintains consistent style throughout a single book, but in Nothing but the Truth, Avi presents a variety of styles, depending upon the character portrayed and the document conveying the words. For example, compare the styles of Philip’s diary and Miss Narwin’s letter. How are the styles meant to reflect two very different characters?
Deadline: Ch. 6-9 by September 9th
- Discuss how Philip’s parents deal with the issue of their son’s grades. Do you agree with how they deal with this issue? Why/Why not?
- Why is Miss Narwin’s request for a grant denied? Do you think she is justified in being angry about the denial? Why/Why not?
| Quiz Grade: Due September 11thChapters 6-9 Writing Response—Provide a specific, detailed answer to the following prompt.Imagine you are a good friend of Philip’s. What would you
advise him to do about his English grade and the track team? Write a letter giving him your advice.
|
- Irony—the use of a word or phrase to mean the opposite of its usual meaning. Irony of a situation occurs when there is a great difference between the purpose of an action or a statement and the result. What is ironic about the school district’s motto, which appears at the top of the Superintendent’s memo, and the decision about how to allocate (give out) special funds for teachers?
Deadline: Chapters 10-11 Due September 11
1. How does Cassius’ line from Julius Caesar –“for the eye sees not itself” – relate to Philip and his conflict with Miss Narwin?
2. Do you think Philip’s parents should take their son’s problem
directly to a candidate for the Board of Education, or should
they follow another path? Explain your answer. How is their
behavior similar to that of their son’s?
3. How does Philip explain his behavior to Mr. Palleni, the
assistant principal? Do you think the signing is a “patriotic
thing” with him? Why/Why not? Does Mr. Palleni take him
seriously?
4. Do Philip’s parents really support him? Explain your answer.
Deadline: Chapter 12: Due September 15th
1. Would you agree with Philip that Miss Narwin doesn’t like him and has it
in for him?
2. Do you think all rules should be obeyed? Do you think you have the right
to disobey rules that you think are stupid or unjust? Are there any
circumstances under which you might disobey a rule?
3. Do you think Philip has some second thoughts about the controversy he
has instigated? Support your answer with information from the text.
Chapters 13-14: Due September 17th
1. Based on the way Ms. Stewart gained her information and the information she
received, do you think she wrote an unbiased article for the Manchester Record?
WHY/WHY not?
2. Why do you think Philip “looked like he was reading his own funeral notice” when
he read the newspaper article about himself?
3. Why do you think Ted Griffin referred to Philip’s suspension from school in his
speech to the Harrison Sunday Fellowship?
Chapter 15: Due September 21st
1. What is your opinion of the fictional Jake Barlow and his talk-radio show?
Writing Activity—(You need to write more than one simple paragraph.)
Imagine that you are a student in Miss Narwin’s homeroom. Dr. Doane has asked
you to write an account of exactly what happened on the three occasions when
Philip hummed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Try to make your account as
objective as possible (meaning leave out your opinion and just write facts).
Chapter 16-19 : Due September 23
1. Do you agree that it is “probably for the best” to transfer Philip from Miss Narwin’s
English class? WHY/WHY not?
2. Do you think students should be transferred out of classes with teachers with whom
they are in conflict? WHY/WHY not?
3.Are there any circumstances that would justify a transfer?
4. In what ways were Philip’s parents as guilty as their son for what occurred?
5. Do you know or have you read of a situation in which a person was persecuted and
whose life was ruined by the media? Tell about it briefly.
6. Give your opinion about the ending of the book. It is totally pessimistic (negative)? Is
it realistic? Explain your answer.
- What lessons might be learned from this book?
Test on Friday the 25th!
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