Blog #1 - What is Truth?

 “Fiction is the lie that helps us understand the truth.”

― Tim O'Brien

Rough Due date: Friday, September 18
Rough Draft Minimum Words: 375

Final Due date: Friday, September 25
Rough Draft Minimum Words: 475

Remember to cite evidence from sources outside of your own opinion.  Use Tim O'Brien and other sources (both fiction and nonfiction) to help you illustrate and support your reasoning.

Use your writing from class on "How to Tell a True War Story" and your responses either in discussion or in the FlipGrid from this week to get you started.

We know that writers, especially non-fiction writers, are supposed to be loyal to the truth. That idea seems simple at first, but as we examine the concept more fully, it becomes apparent that truth is a difficult concept to define.

Here, Ken Burns, a respected American director of documentary films, talks about the difficulty storytellers can have with the truth and how filmmakers tell 24 lies per second to bring an audience closer to the truth.

Ken Burns: On Story from Redglass Pictures on Vimeo.

For the first week of Quest 8 English, we're discussing and expanding on your interpretations of the meaning of Truth. We'll come up with a wide variety of possible definitions and characteristics for the concept of truth, but we were unable to come up with a broad definition that could satisfy everyone. Your first blog entry should tackle this difficult situation.

Take a look at the following questions and respond in any way you choose on your blog. Try to include the word "Truth" somewhere in your post's title. Do not answer each of these questions like they are a quiz. Pick one, none, or a combination of questions and engage with them in a way that shows your developing viewpoint on the idea of Truth.

Here are some potential questions to get you started. Please do not attempt to answer all of these. 

1. What is truth to you?
2. What modern issues or current events highlight the conflict between Truth, belief, and fact?
3. What should all readers and/or writers know about the truth?
4. What does it mean to be loyal to the truth?
5. In what ways can a writer best find and report the truth?
6. Can you find or link to a story/video/podcast that exemplifies the pursuit of Truth.
7. What have you learned about the relationship between Fact, Truth, and Belief?
8. What ideas from "How to Tell a True War Story" seem to be most important when it comes to your understanding of truth?
9. Why don't people seem to be convinced by facts and logic? Why can so many facts be debated? 
10. Why are some matters of truth and science becoming matters of debate and politics?
11. How have you seen people manipulate the truth to convince others to change their minds or support an idea?

Your response should be thorough and personal, capturing your unique voice and perspective. Try to write at least 375 words for your rough draft and 475 for your final draft. A true blog will contain links to outside sources or responses to the thoughts of the other blogs in the class. 

Good luck.

• Here's an example of a post from last year.