Truth or Belief

Can truth change?

• Truth can be defined as the real state of things, or an agreement with fact or reality

• These definitions make the concept of “truth” seem simple.

• Yet deciding what is the truth and what is not can be a complicated matter.

• Often what we believe to be true is later proven false.

• Does “truth” change or does our understanding of the truth change?

• Can we ever really know what is a “truth” and what is just a “belief?’

• These are questions that writers explore in literature.

• And you as readers explore these questions with them.

The Big Question

• Start thinking about the Big Question by identifying different types of truths and facts.

Write Five (5) “truths”

• 1.• 2.• 3.• 4.• 5.

Write Five (5) “facts”

• 1.• 2.• 3.• 4.• 5.

• Truth can be defined as “the real state of things” or “an agreement with fact or reality.” These definitions make the concept of truth seem simple. Yet, deciding what is true and what is not can be a complicated matter. Often, what we accept as a truth or a fact at one time is later proven false when evidence shows the idea is wrong. Does the truth change, or does our understanding of the truth change? Can we ever really know what is the truth and what is just a belief? These are questions that writers explore in literature, and invite you, the reader, to explore with them.

• Start thinking about the Big Question by identifying different types of truths or facts.

• Connecting to the Literature• The readings in this unit will help you think about truth and whether or not

truth can change. Each reading will give you an insight into the Big Question. At the end of the unit, you will see how your ideas have changed.

• Use your journal to explore your thoughts about the Big Question

Keywords: • Big, Can, Question, belief,

change, convince, evidence, perceive, speculate, truth

California Standards• Aligned Standards: CA Gr.9 ELA Academic Content Standards, 1997 • Reading 3.2 Compare and contrast the presentation of a similar theme or topic

across genres to explain how the selection of genre shapes the theme or topic.• Reading 1.1 Identify and use the literal and figurative meanings of words and

understand word derivations.• Listening and Speaking 1.12 Evaluate the clarity, quality, effectiveness, and

general coherence of a speaker's important points, arguments, evidence, organization of ideas, delivery, diction, and syntax.

• Listening and Speaking 1.11 Assess how language and delivery affect the mood and tone of the oral communication and make an impact on the audience.

• Reading 3.5 Compare works that express a universal theme and provide evidence to support the ideas expressed in each work.

• Listening and Speaking 1.3 Choose logical patterns of organization (e.g., chronological, topical, cause and effect) to inform and to persuade, by soliciting agreement or action, or to unite audiences behind a common belief or cause.